General News
21 November, 2025
Red Cross marks 35 years of trauma aid
Along with many throughout Australia, Maryborough’s Red Cross branch is this week celebrating 35 years of creating and donating Trauma Teddies to children in need.
While the Red Cross and its volunteers help members of the community in a multitude of ways, there is one vital service they provide that many may not be familiar with — their colourful knitted teddy bears.
Known as ‘Trauma Teddies’, the project first began in 1990, initiated by a paramedic who made a request to his mother to knit teddies to bring comfort to ill and traumatised children.
Embarking on this movement at the time of its creation, Maryborough Red Cross have contributed ever since.
The group is one of around 600 branches across Australia that take part.
According to the Australian Red Cross, Trauma Teddies have provided comfort to millions of children, with around 50,000 created in Australia each year.
Their uses include comforting children in ambulances, hospitals, and during natural disasters like bushfires and floods. They also provide comfort to refugee children, victims of crime, and even dementia patients. They are calming and can make a frightening experience feel less lonely.
It is estimated three million Trauma Teddies have been gifted since 1990.
Three and a half decades on, the Maryborough Red Cross continue this work, telling The Advertiser about their efforts during the most recent donation drive.
“We have wonderful people locally who can knit. With their help, Maryborough Red Cross has just sent 85 trauma teddies to kids who are going through awful experiences with the floods,” Maryborough Red Cross’ Karen Aston said in March this year.
“It’s a gift of love and friendship.”
The Maryborough Red Cross branch are proud and appreciative of their knitters, sewers, and all volunteers involved in producing the trauma teddies, and are always welcoming new volunteers to help create them.
According to the Red Cross, it takes around five hours to knit each bear.
Locals who are interested in volunteering their knitting skills are encouraged to contact Margaret Lovett on 0418 301 917.
