{"id":139556,"date":"2016-03-23T23:19:44","date_gmt":"2016-03-23T13:19:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=139556"},"modified":"2020-10-20T10:23:57","modified_gmt":"2020-10-20T00:23:57","slug":"nannas-knit-against-mine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2016\/03\/23\/nannas-knit-against-mine\/","title":{"rendered":"Nannas Knit Against Mine"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Kingaroy Knitting Nannas share a joke at the O’Neill Square Markets … founder Rosemary Pratt, centre, describes the Nannas as the region’s most peaceful protest group (Photo: Bronwyn Marquardt)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

March 23, 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n

by Bronwyn Marquardt<\/strong><\/p>\n

A growing number of local “nannas” are angry and they’re not going to take it anymore!<\/p>\n

The grandmothers, mothers and businesswomen have formed a local chapter of the protest movement, the Knitting Nannas<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Rosemary Pratt, founder of the Kingaroy Knitting Nannas, said the group had been set up to protest developments which they believed would harm the community\u2019s health and quality of life.<\/p>\n

The local group has the proposed Moreton Resources’ coal mine project in their sights.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe value our healthy lifestyle, our rural surroundings, our clean air, and our neighbours,\u201d Rosemary said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe vast majority of people in the South Burnett do not want this mine, and the Knitting Nannas are making sure that the community\u2019s voice is being heard.<\/p>\n

“We\u2019re not just doing it for our generation but for future generations. We want to keep our land and water for the kiddies.\u201d<\/p>\n

The retired teacher came up with the idea after seeing a Facebook post about the mine.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Someone had commented: “Where are the Kingaroy Knitting Nannas?”<\/p>\n

\u201cI hadn\u2019t heard of them before but I looked them up and saw what they did and thought: \u2018I could do that\u2019,\u201d Rosemary said.<\/p>\n

With the help of other local women, a Facebook page and dedicated email address was set up, and a regular “knit-in” organised to coincide with the Thursday markets in O\u2019Neill Square, Kingaroy.<\/p>\n

The Nannas also attend public events organised by Moreton Resources, and have already knitted at meetings at Blackbutt and Wondai.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t cause trouble,\u201d Rosemary said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just go along, do our knitting and silently protest.\u201d<\/p>\n

The group has grown from about three to eight knitters but they want more.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have to be a nanna, you don\u2019t have to knit, you just have to not want a coal mine in Kingaroy,\u201d member Cassie McMahon said.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven grandfathers and grandchildren can come along. We can make people honorary Nannas. Everyone is welcome.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wool and needles have been donated, and knitters are asked to wear something yellow and black if they have it (the colours of the Lock The Gate signs).<\/p>\n

Rosemary admitted she had knitted her last jumper in the late 1960s.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve had to brush up on my knitting for the cause,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

For more information, visit the Knitting Nannas’ Facebook page<\/strong><\/a> or simply turn up between 11:00am and 2:00pm at O\u2019Neill Square on Thursdays.<\/p>\n

Related articles:<\/strong><\/p>\n