THE festive spirit was out of the bottle early for Wedderburn Patchwork Group’s Christmas and Arts Festival last week.
More than 300 entries from Wedderburn, Inglewood and Charlton filled the Mechanics’ Institute Hall.
And group president Irene Finch said at least half were from local school students.
Inglewood and Districts Health Service residents also entered this year after receiving a donation after the 2022 festival.
This year’s funds will be donated to Wedderburn Band Cricket Club and Irene said the festival was a positive role model “to the young people in our community”.
One of the successful exhibitors was Maria Perger, collecting three prizes for her patchwork.
“I taught myself in 2009 and I love it, there’s something to see at the end,” she said.
Irene said: “Having hobbies and interests are more important than ever. They give us a reason to get up in the morning.
“Hobbies help us connect to likeminded people and keep the brain active. 
“Passing on skills to others in the community is very rewarding. We are engaging in life long learning.”
Wedderburn CWA was awarded the prize for best Christmas tree with Jennifer Caruana winning the Almost Anything Goes section and picked up the viewer’s choice award.
RESULTS
Christmas tree (group): Wedderburn CWA. Individual: Leanne Burge. Children/School Group: Wedderburn Kindergarten. Christmas quilt: Leanne Holt. Christmas decoration for the home (Fabric): Irene Finch. Other materials: Cheryl Kemp. Small Christmas items: Sandra Francis.
Photography: Donald Sutherland. 2D Art: Sue Anne Hackett. Handcrafted Card: Moira Moody. Beading or Jewellery: Sandra Francis. Knitting: Jo Packhill. Crochet: Jo Packhill. Needlework: Rusty Nicholls. Large quilt: Colleen Fogarty. Small quilt: Maria Perger. Art or picture quilt: Irene Finch. Small article of patchwork: Colleen Fogarty. Recycled or repurposed article: Cheryl Kemp. Item not scheduled: Jude Raftis. 2023 Challenge: Jennifer Caruana. Children under schoolaAge: Albert Postle. School Foundation, Years 1& 2: Foundation-1 Stick Man. Years 3 & 4: Noah Dooley. Years 5  6: Piper Denney. Years 7 & 8: (Eq) Kayla Cramp, Lucy Rollinson, Nada Zec. Years 9 & 10: Ella Weber. VCE: Briana Sanderson, Rachael Humphry. Best Christmas tree: Wedderburn CWA. Best exhibit sections 4-22: Leanne Holt. Best exhibit sections 24-28: Briana Sanderson. Best Item religious theme: Year 3 Wedderburn College. Competitions - Raffle Quilt: Dorothy Kaye.