Warwick favourite Jumpers and Jazz sees winter streets alive with winter creations again

A cold morning didn’t stop artists from hitting the streets to dress their trees and show off months of hard work ahead of Warwick’s 2021 Jumpers and Jazz festival. Take a sneak peek here:

Kylie Wickham and Kerry O'Mara with their tree jumper (Photo: Zilla Gordon).

An enthusiastic crowd was out and about in the cold Wednesday morning weather to piece together months of work and dress their trees for Jumpers and Jazz.

About 100 trees will be jazzed up for the 10-day festival, with artists challenged to tackle the theme of ‘crackers’.

QCWA Condamine Valley president Michele Slater said this year’s tree jumper was inspired by a country garden.

Mrs Slater said the group had entered for a few years and thought the best thing about Jumpers and Jazz was the community involvement.

A positive message was embedded into the jumper, with the description stating “watered with droplets of encouragement, laughter and love, we aim to discourage weeds of negativity”.

Members from the Warwick Zonta Club had made crackers embroidered with wishes for womanhood.

President Janet Platz said the 80 handmade crackers had taken some time to craft.

“We had a few working bees to get everything done,” she said.

Sue Platt, Bob Platt, Greg Platz, Marianne Whitby and Janet Platz installing the Zonta Club tree (Photo: Zilla Gordon).

Some groups took a more active approach to their creations.

WIRAC administrative co-ordinator Terri Gilbert said the group wanted to highlight the importance of being active and healthy.

She said all those who helped make the tree jumper were active members of WIRAC and took classes regularly.

WIRAC members Terri Gilbert, Jack Jones, Coralie Stewart, Betty Wells, Fran Hockings and Jenny Eldridge with their tree jumper (Photo: Zilla Gordon).

While most were erecting tree jumpers, others were busy knitting away creations for other parts of Palmerin Street.

Jeanette Braithwaite and Val Grayson said they had taken part in the festival for the past four years and loved the community connection the event created.

“The council has moved the bollards out of the road while we knit,” Mrs Braithwaite said.

Val Grayson and Jeanette Braithwaite knitting bollard covers (Photo: Zilla Gordon).

Solo knitter Kerry O’Mara said her tree jumper was inspired by a caravan trip.

Getting a bit of help to install her creation from daughter Kylie Wickham, Mrs Wickham her mum had participated in the event for about half a decade.

“Mum just loves knitting,” she said.

Kylie Wickham and Kerry O'Mara with their tree jumper (Photo: Zilla Gordon).

Entering her first tree jumper, Angie Duggan said she had recently moved to Warwick and was excited to show of her ‘crackers’ interpretation.

Mrs Duggan, along with fellow creators Yvonne Woolacott and Ray Doro said they had recreated an afternoon tea setting.

Yvonne Woolacott, Angie Duggan and Ray Doro with their first tree jumper creation (Photo: Zilla Gordon).

Jumpers and Jazz officially kicks off on Thursday.

Originally published as Warwick favourite Jumpers and Jazz sees winter streets alive with winter creations again