This year, we celebrate 32 years of fundraising at our biggest CMRI event—the Annual Quilt and Craft Show—held at Gerringong Town Hall on Friday 8th and Saturday 9th November, from 10am to 4pm, and Sunday 10th November, from 10am to 2pm.

32nd Quilt & Craft Show - by the Children's Medical Research Institute - Gerringong

Admission is $5, with morning and afternoon tea and lunch available. The event features a quilt raffle and a wide range of stalls offering quilting supplies, crafts, clothing, children’s wear, jewellery, homemade cakes, sweets, slices, and more. Great Christmas gift ideas await!

This year’s Quilt & Craft Show will be the last, marking the end of an era. Since its inception in 1991, under the guidance of CMRI Life Member, the late Dorothy Hanbridge, the show has been a successful fundraising and community event.

Gwennie Wishart and Sue Dmetreson

Thanks to the continued support of locals and visitors, the profits from this event have been significant. Along with funds raised through catering, the Jeans for Genes campaign, and special events such as movie screenings, High Tea, and Melbourne Cup luncheons, the CMRI Gerringong Committee has contributed an impressive $2.3 million since 1959—a fantastic achievement!

Mena Sharpe and Joyce Sharpe

The success of the Quilt Show and all our fundraising efforts is built on the hard work of dedicated members who cook, serve, sell raffle tickets, and organise events. The most popular stall has always been the Craft Stall, featuring exquisite handmade children’s wear, toys, satin-embroidered coat hangers, quilts, carry bags, toiletries bags, hand towels, Christmas runners, and decorations, as well as baby clothes. These items have been sought-after Christmas gifts, treasured for their quality fabrics, workmanship, and creativity.

The Monday Ladies Group has met every year since 1991 in homes across Gerringong and Willowvale. Now, with some members in their 80s and 90s, the time has come to put away the sewing machines and enjoy a well-earned rest.

Barbara Donald and Suzanne St Claire

Looking back on years of remarkable work are Dawn Miller, Marg Weir, Edith Burgess, Mena Sharpe, Joyce Sharpe, Gwen Wishart, Suzanne St. Claire, Sue Dmetreson, and Barbara Donald. Their contribution to fundraising, attention to detail, and flair for design and colour is beyond compare. Their deep friendship, sense of fun, and commitment to medical research have made a lasting impact.

Life Members Kate Quinn, Marg Weir OAM with Professor Roger Reddel

Special tribute is also due to Life Member Rhonda Bailey, who has been a key organiser of the Quilt Show and Jeans for Genes for over 34 years. Don’t miss this final CMRI Quilt & Craft Show! Along with the stunning display of quilts and wall hangings, there will be handmade felt, wool, teddy bears, fabrics, threads, buttons, cutting boards, sewing machines, and patchwork books available for purchase. 

The quilt raffle will be drawn on Sunday 10th November, with the prize being a beautiful wall hanging crafted by award-winning quilter Merelyn Pearce. The design, based on Margaret Preston’s woodcut Cinerarias, measures 127 x 127 cm and features a hand-appliqued centrepiece bordered by Australian flora, including waratahs, wattle, bottlebrush, grevillea, and Geraldton wax. This stunning prize has been generously donated by Merelyn Pearce. 

Merelyn Pearce and Rhonda Bailey

Raffle tickets will be available at IGA Gerringong on Thursday 24th, Friday 25th October, and Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd November, as well as at the Quilt & Craft Show.

REMINDER:

The CMRI Melbourne Cup Luncheon will be held on 5th November at the Gerroa Boat Fisherman’s Club. Tickets are $60 and can be purchased here.

Check out our What's On here: CMRI: Melbourne Cup Luncheon