North Queensland school kids provided back-to-school essentials sewed by female inmates

With the talent of female inmates and the generosity of local community groups has seen 1100 North Queensland schoolchildren receive vital back-to-school supplies.

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THE talent of female inmates and the generosity of local community groups has seen 1100 North Queensland school children receive vital back-to-school supplies.

More than 100 schools will receive handmade library bags containing essential school items including a pencil case, exercise books and coloured pencils for students. Twenty-two Townsville Women’s Correctional Centre inmates sewed the 1100 library bags as part of a prison sewing workshop run by Soroptimist International Townsville Breakwater.

President of Soroptimist International Townsville Breakwater Janet Askern, Ergon Energy Linesman Jarrad Jeffrey and President of Joyful Foundation Grace Vigar with prison made library bags for kids. Picture: Alix Sweeney

President Janet Askern said the female inmates were proud to be part of the worthy cause. “(The inmates) are absolutely thrilled about it and that is why they are so enthusiastic about making the bags,” she said. “Every bag is unique and each one is an individual piece of art.”

Joyful Foundation president Grace Vigar said the school supplies were purchased from donations they received from the community. The care packages will be distributed by Ergon Energy south to Home Hill, north to Mareeba and west as Mount Isa.

President of Soroptimist International Townsville Breakwater Janet Askern, with prison made library bags for kids. Picture: Alix Sweeney

Six Ergon Energy workers put down their tools for the day to help pack the bags. Linesman Jarrad Jeffrey said it was “fulfilling” to be part of the project.

“It is rewarding to be able to do something for disadvantaged children going back to school,” he said.

Originally published as North Queensland school kids provided back-to-school essentials sewed by female inmates