The local communities of Newcastle, the Lower Hunter Region, and Lake Macquarie have rallied in support of refugee women and children, responding to an appeal by the Hunter Adults Financial Collaborative (HAFC) for sewing machines, overlockers, and sewing equipment.

The initiative was sparked when Cherylin Beever, a regular volunteer at Zara’s House in Jesmond, Newcastle, was asked if HAFC could help provide sewing machines to support the centres’ sewing program. After internal discussions, the HAFC board decided to purchase reconditioned second-hand machines and reached out to the community through social media for additional donations.

Thanks to the great response, HAFC was able to gather an impressive collection of 19 sewing machines, 2 overlockers, and a wide range of sewing materials, including fabric, scissors, threads, needles, and other essentials. Cherylin and Doug Beever personally delivered the generous donations to Mary, a representative of Zara’s House, to further support the centres’ efforts.

Zara’s House is a community organisation that provides support to refugee women and children, offering a safe space where they can meet local Australian women, share hospitality, exchange ideas, and access cultural learning and local opportunities.

“The response from our local community was truly overwhelming. These donations will allow the sewing classes at Zara’s House to continue, helping refugee women and children gain skills and independence through creating their own clothing. At Hunter Adults Financial Collaborative, we are proud to support this project, which fosters creativity and self-reliance among our local refugee community,” Cherylin said.

She also extended her gratitude to the local community. “We want to thank everyone for their generous donations, which are helping to make a real difference in the lives of these women and children,” she said.

In addition to supporting the sewing project, HAFC continues to strengthen the local refugee community by offering free services such as resume writing, interview preparation, and assistance in starting or growing small businesses.

This collaborative effort demonstrates the powerful impact of community involvement and the ongoing support available to refugees in the Newcastle, Lower Hunter Region, and Lake Macquarie areas.

IMAGE | Donations made to Zara House