Crocheted roses will be appearing between Cooktown and Ayton this Valentine’s Day as a show of one local mum’s unwavering dedication to her child. Photo: Supplied.
A rose on Valentine’s Day is a classic show of love, but not many of them will last forever like the ones handmade by a dedicated Rossville mother.
To raise funds for her daughter Ingrid’s continuing brain tumour treatments, Belle Newman has crocheted 120 roses ahead of 14 February, which are currently being sold at local businesses across Cooktown and Ayton.
Ms Newman said the project, which she announced on her daughter’s sixth birthday last week, was one of the bigger challenges she had taken on since starting her small business, Crocheting for Ingrid, just over a year ago.
She encouraged community members wanting a rose to get in quickly before they sold out.
“There are no extras – I ran completely out of red yarn,” she said.
“A friend taught me a couple of years ago and I really enjoyed it, and then someone wanted to buy something that I made, and I thought it’s something I could keep going with.
“Last year was when it really mostly took off and I created the [Facebook] page, and I got a few stores wanting to have my stuff in town.”
The roses have been sent out for purchase from Monday (10 February) and are available at Bektopia, the Cooktown RSL, Sovereign Hotel Resort bar, Cooktown Pharmacy, Carrots Fruit and Veg, Top End Tucker, Cooktown Hardware, IGA Cooktown, the Lion’s Den Hotel and IGA Ayton.
Ms Newman said the businesses held a special place in her heart, as they were run by people who knew of Ingrid’s condition and had supported the family through its journey.
“I’m friends with the people who manage or run those businesses, so it means something more to have them at those certain businesses,” she said.
“I originally started going to other places but I didn’t know them, and I did a quick blurb about what I was doing and about Ingrid, and one of them was like ‘oh, I’ll have a look’, and I thought ‘nah, this is not somewhere I want them’.
“I wanted them to be with people who know Ingrid and know what she’s been going through, not just have them anywhere, so it’s all people that are friends with us and have supported us.”
