Some of the knitted Izzy dolls made by 60s Up members.
Members of the Cambridge 60s Up group have enjoyed two decades of companionship, but it is a connection with knitted dolls aimed at comforting those in need that has taken their fancy in recent years.
60s Up national president Helen Michael, left, and Cambridge 60s Up founder Faye Gohns cutting the anniversary cake.
The Cambridge group recently marked its 20th anniversary at the Raleigh Street Christian Centre. They are part of a nation-wide network of 60s Up groups that were started in 1982 by the late Bill Sievwright who wanted to bring the fun back into retirement. He launched the 60s Up movement… there are now around 30 branches and 3500 members around the country.
Faye Gohns was a foundation member in Cambridge; she and her husband Trevor were on the first committee. It was during Covid, when Faye was ‘feeling isolated and bored’ that she looked for something to keep her hands occupied.
“You can only do so much knitting for grandchildren, so when I found the Izzy dolls information, I downloaded their pattern,” she said. “I made one and was hooked.”
The Izzy dolls were inspired by the late Canadian combat engineer, Master Corporal Mark ‘Izzy’ Isfeld following his first peacekeeping mission to Croatia where he noticed a child’s doll lying on the rubble of a bombed house. Inspired by his mother’s love of crafting, he launched the initiative to bring knitted dolls to communities needing comfort, children affected by war or living in crisis. After he was killed in 1994 during his next tour of duty, his mother kept the initiative going in his name.
Foundation member of Cambridge 60s Up, Faye Gohns, speaking at the recent anniversary.
Faye started making two a day during the Covid lockdown. She talked to the president of the Riding for the Disabled (RDA), asked her how many members they had and made about 50 for them.
“Then I rang our president [Sarah Henshaw], and we ended up getting our members involved. Some knit, others make them up.”
Each of the dolls has its own personality, she said. They are presented wrapped in cellophane, each with the Izzy dolls message for its recipient… “I am not lost, I am just alone. If I make you smile, please take me home”.
Cambridge 60s Up president Sarah Henshaw speaking at the event.
Faye and the 60s Up crew have distributed them to RDA members, to kindergartens and day-care centres and dementia units in rest-homes and retirement villages. They have also gone into Christmas parcels distributed by organisations like Cambridge Community House.
“I’ve probably made about 150 myself, and not one is the same,” Faye said, “and they can never be sold, that is the rule.”
They knit up boys and girls, and animals like cats and hedgehogs. The ‘people’ dolls have no mouths, essentially following the idea that the recipient can tell the doll anything without fear it will be repeated.
Cambridge 60s Up president Sarah Henshaw, who will step down in April after four years, said: “We are a charity, and are lucky enough to get funding from places like Jumble Around to cover our trips and outings. We have been to several very good exhibitions at Auckland Museum, we play sports and games, have regular speakers and do other trips around the region. The main aim is for people to remain social and engaged.”
A guest at the group’s recent anniversary was 60s Up national president, Pukekohe-based Helen Michael, and her husband.
Some of the knitted Izzy dolls made by 60s Up members.
