Tweed woman Karen Lockhart makes Queensland/ NSW border closure easier with patchwork project

Tweed woman Karen Lockhart has sewn little hearts to take to border families on Father’s Day. She hasn’t been able to see her mother since Christmas 2019.

One Northern Rivers resident is hoping to spread some love to heartbroken families as the border closure continues to devastate our community.

For Tweed resident Karen Lockhart, the heartbreaking scenes at the Queensland/ NSW border are a daily reminder of a community cut in two.

“I remember seeing an old man in a walker on one side of the fence with his family on the other side, and a birthday cake on the barricade,” she said.

“I think that motivated me to do something.

“People who aren’t in the border area don’t understand. If you put a barricade down the main street of Bundaberg and tell one lot to stay to that side, and the other lot to stay on the other - it would impact on people.”

An avid crafter, even her local patchwork group who sew for those in need, is cut off by the Bay St divide.

Sitting at home, Ms Lockhart started thinking about how she could use her talent to help the community.

Then a good Samaritan leaving balloons at the border captured her imagination and Ms Lockhart began sewing up a storm.

Along with friends, the Tweed resident has made about 80 hearts to take to border families this weekend, in time for Father’s Day.

“It is just to make people happy, whether the kids give it to their dads or not,” Ms Lockhart said.

“It’s a symbolic thing to have and show support for people who are separated across that horrible barricade.

“There’s nothing you can do except to do something nice.”

The gesture is also a reminder of her own Sunshine Coast mother who she’s been unable to see since Christmas 2019.

“Everyone just has to put themselves in other people’s shoes,” she said.

“People might want to see their family or earn a living but unfortunately that’s 200 metre down, on the other side of the barricade.”