Golden oldie bids farewell to club
92-year-old Colleen Price from Musgrave in Durban bids farewell to the Siyathunga Sewing Club after dedicating over a decade to the group.
SIYATHUNGA Sewing Group bids farewell to one of its longest standing members following her retirement this month.
The Siyathunga Sewing Group was founded under a tree in Cator Manor in the year 1993, by the late Moireen Stacey, a retired social worker. She taught unemployed women how to sew and subsequently provide an income for themselves. The group has been kept alive by Val Cotterell, the daughter of the founding member.
Ninety-two-year-old Colleen Price, a resident of Musgrave, hung up her needles this month after being with the group for 15 years, since joining them in 2011.
Price, who had just retired from working as a nurse, joined the group after seeing an advertisement on the Berea Mail newspaper calling for volunteers.
Also read: ABC councillor candidate driven by passion for politics to serve
“During Covid, three of our sewers that lived in Cato Manor and myself sewed over a thousand masks for distribution and I was able to purchase two new sewing machines for the ladies with the money we made.” she said.
Price said she drew motivation from the group. “I draw motivation from the sewers themselves. They are very lovely human people and I made some good friends,” she said.
She called for the return of some school subjects.
“I never needed to go to universities to learn how to sew but I used that skill my whole life. These should be taught at school so that children can get this skill from a very young age.
“I feel a sense that younger people could add new and interesting ideas,” said Price.
The mother of two daughters and five grandchildren said that the most challenging moments for her, while she was with the group, was marketing their work and the maintenance of the machines used in production.
Price said she also took away some memorable moments during her stint in the organisation.
Also read: Durban preferred to bid for 2036/2040 Olympics, Paralympics
“The most memorable moments for me was when the ladies showed gratitude by singing grace before their lunch,” she said.
Price said that she did not have many plans in store following her retirement. “I will do a little sewing – my skills are on the decline and possibly only good for mending,” she said.
For more from Berea Mail, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.
Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here
