Beanies are winter warmers

Road patrollers from West Gore Primary School stay warm with knitted hats organised by Senior Constable Linda Graham. Also pictured are Liam Rae, Josh Walker, Angus Carse and Tineachsa Gutschlag, with school patrol volunteer Rosemary Cowan. Photo: Sandy Eggleston, The Ensign

School patrol can get a bit chilly down in Southland, where winter temperatures frequently fall below zero.

Senior Constable Linda Graham of Youth Education Services in Gore looks after 108 school patrollers from six schools, and says temperatures of -3 degrees made her feel sorry for them.

“I put a notice in the school newsletter asking for balls of wool. I then went around a few of the rest homes and older people I know and asked if they could knit beanies for the children. They jumped at the chance because they can’t get out much in winter.”

There are now enough hats for all the school patrollers – including seven Linda knitted herself. Each patroller keeps their own beanie to wear.