It was a wonderful turn out at the Stirling Adriatic Centre for the WAQA AGM on Wednesday evening.
Aside from the changes to the Committee for 2021, we were treated to a wonderful presentation from Kerry Moore about the origins of the Rajah Quilt and Kerry was also the instructor, when the ladies required help.
You can also read more about the history of the Rajah quilt here:-
https://nga.gov.au/rajahquilt/
Many books have also been published about the Rajah quilt:-
My name is Lizzie Flynn; A story about the Rajah quilt by Claire Saxby. This is a junior fiction book and is an ideal read for young children.
Patchwork Prisoners: The Rajah quilt and the women who made it by Trudy Cowley and Dianne Snowden
The Rajah Quilt by the National Gallery of Australia.
The above title is currently sold out, though may local public libraries have the title.
1788: The Brutal truth of the First Fleet by David Hill
The ladies gave their own twist or followed as closely as possible the history of the Rajah quilt that was made by women convicts bound for Tasmania, so long ago. They gave themselves two years to complete their quilts. These quilts were going to be shown at our annual Quiltwest exhibition, however with Quiltwest not happening in May, we are delighted that we could view them at our AGM.
Well done ladies.
Maker: Paula Nichols
Maker: Deb Costarella
Maker: Merle Fellows
Maker: Jill Linton
Maker: Robynne Vallence
Maker: Jan Reid
Maker : Edwina Woodin
Maker:Kerry Moore
Maker: Val Gorey
Maker: Cherie Mincherton
Maker: Ann Thomson
Maker: Sandra Jorgensen
Maker: Pippa Savill
Maker: Cheryl Price
Maker: Glenda Olesen
Maker: Helen Dalgleish
Our guest speaker & instructor, Kerry Moore pictured with her Rajah Quilt.
Outgoing WAQA President- Leone Formentin & Incoming President- Lesley Clugston
Deb Costarella & Cherie Mincherton – two of the fabulous Rajah Quilt makers.
I do seem to be missing a photo of Wendy Stacey’s quilt who also participated. If you know Wendy, or Wendy if you are reading this post, I would love a picture of your Rajah quilt to add to this blog post please contact me via waqablog@gmail.com – thank you.
Wow! Thank you so much for the photos of all these beautiful quilts! And congratulations to all the makers. My Rajah has been languishing for 18 months or so, but seeing these I finally feel like working on it again.
That’s good news Vireya. I look forward to seeing it. Lorraine.
What a great evening it was. Thank you Kerry for your very interesting presentation. I dont think many migrants to WA or even WA born [non Eastern staters] know much about the white settlement of Australia seeing as the early convict days were in NSW etc.. I would also like to thank Glenda Olesen whose presence at the Adelaide quilt fair as a judge, saw her meet with the originator of the pattern Lessa Siegele,see what the SA quilters had made and decide that it would be something for us in WA to try. She organised the arrival and distribution of the patterns.Glenda ran the day groups and Kerry ran the evening ones. I just wish Lessa had made one in the quite large original size. I may have then possibly have finished mine beyond the central panel. LOL Thank you ladies.
Thank you Ginny, for providing quilters with even more information. I know Kerry touched on all of this but could not keep up with all the details in my notebook!! Much appreciated. Lorraine.
Congratulations to all the quilt makers. Your quilts are amazing
Wishing you a speedy recovery, I will be posting photos of the exhibition soon.
Beautiful quilts. A lot of talented quilters. Congratulations
There certainly is.