Antica knits up a storm for wildlife

Sanchia Tolomei with Leighton Aged Care Home resident Antica Melvin.

Australia’s recent bushfire crisis has devastated native animal populations across the nation, but Leighton Aged Care Home resident Antica Melvin is determined to help.

A life-long knitter, Antica has been extra busy for the past few months creating blankets and pouches for injured kangaroos and koalas.

She followed a pattern for the pouches created by the Australia-based group Animal Rescue Craft Guild, and used wool donated by visitors to the home.

Leighton Occupational Therapy Assistant Kate Newlands then helped put Antica in contact with Sanchia Tolomei, who was coordinating a collection of knitted items for distribution to local wildlife rescues.

Sanchia works at Curtin University while also running her own business called Porze, which takes waste products such as coffee grounds and recycles them into beauty products.

Proceeds from Porze’s sales are then donated to animal welfare organisations to help creatures of all shapes and sizes.

Sanchica was able to utilise office space at Curtin’s Bentley campus a central drop-off hub for the wildlife fundraiser, and ended up with entire meeting room full of donated items.

Sanchia headed to Leighton on Saturday, February 1 to meet Antica after hearing about her incredible efforts.

The items Antica created have already begun to be distributed throughout Western Australia to wildlife carers in Bunbury, Esperance, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie and surrounds.

“Antica is very happy and a bit emotional that her work is being distributed and would be appreciated around WA to help animals in need,” Kate said.