A call to arms in last Thursday's Advertiser generated emails from more than 400 volunteers and sewing enthusiasts eager to contribute to Gowns for Doctors.
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One of those volunteers is Alison McDiarmid who is using her workshop in Sailors Gully and years of sewing experience and industry contacts to help sew gowns for doctors.
"I knew I'd be able to offer to help because I can sew, run a small business and have the equipment they need," Ms McDiarmid.
Her business, Saddle & Carriage, located in Sailors Gully, produces custom made equestrian clothes and accessories for carriage driving and general wear.
"What we will be able to do is use a cutting wheel, which is like a big electric pizza cutter, that can cut out a lot of fabric at one time," Ms McDiarmid said.
Gowns for Doctors is an initiative created by staff at The GP Clinic in Lucan Street, Bendigo, to address a nationwide shortage of single use protective gowns.
The aim is to create 1000 gowns that can be distributed across central Victoria to health services who need them most.
Ms McDiarmid is using her industry expertise to help others who are keen to help.
"I'm going to try and come up with a design that still works, is simpler and utilises more of the fabric," she said.
"I will also make an instructional sheet for people to follow and maybe a video for people to look at.
"Ideally, you want to make a gown that each person can have with them as a sample, so they know what it is supposed to look like."
Donations of fabric are welcome, but only 100 per cent cotton is suitable.
"To make one gown involves up to 2.5 metres of fabric and at the moment, the cheapest we can source the fabric is $4 per metre," Ms McDiarmid said.
A strong sense of community and stepping up in times of need is what drew Ms McDiarmid to the cause.
"Regardless of your background or skills, somewhere along the line everyone has something to give," she said.
One of the creators of Gowns for Doctors, Dr Nicole Townsend said if she hadn't sewn her own gowns, her practice would have run out last week.
"We are really keen to do something with our pattern so we can get other communities to use it in their local area," Dr Townsend said.
Bendigo Smiles Dentist made a significant fabric donation, according to Dr Townsend, with 500 metres of fabric purchased from Spotlight and Lincraft.
"We have had a practice in Bendigo and Castlemaine reach out and ask if we would be able to provide them with gowns because they are running out," Dr Townsend said.
"We hope to have some gowns ready to deliver by the end of the week."
Volunteers are asked to email gownsfordoctors@gmail.com for more information.
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