They call themselves the Bobin Sew 'n' Sews, a group of women — and one man — who meet each week to sew and most importantly, talk.
The group was formed in the small village of Bobin, on the NSW Mid North Coast, in the aftermath of devastating bushfires, which ripped through the area two years ago.
Eighteen homes and the local school were destroyed in the November 2019 disaster.
The sewing group started as a weekly class to help people connect.
Bobin Hall president Peter Schouten, the sole male member of the Sew 'n' Sews, says the group is helping people on many levels.
"A lot of people had quite substantial anxiety problems after the fires and the best way of overcoming that is to be amongst friends and other community members.
"I happen to be the only male member of the group but that's okay because I am learning to sew, and I am really enjoying it."
Mr Schouten says the bushfires affected people on a deep emotional level and the impact was lingering.
"You get one of those hot days, high 30s or 40s, and that immediately brings the anxiety on," he said.
"You become so cautious after what happened, and we just don't want to see that happen again."
'Why don't we do some sewing?'
Deanna Oxley formed the sewing group more than 12 months ago.
"After the fires, once things all settled down and we needed to get the community back together again, we were trying to come up with ideas," she said.
Each week Ms Oxley provides some sewing instruction, and a home-made lunch for the group.
"The first thing we learnt was how to maintain your sewing machine, needles and thread and basic things … some ladies didn’t have a sewing machine because they were burnt, they now have bought them, or have second-hand ones," she said.
"It's been fabulous and you catch up.
'It lifts my spirits'
Dianne Moteby, 71, says she's finding solace in the group.
Two years since the devastating fires, her partner is still in the process of rebuilding on his Bobin property, slowed by a shortage of supplies and labour.
They are living in an old shed on the property in the meantime, and it can be very cold.
"It could mean months of us still having to go on in primitive conditions," she said.
"The sewing group really helps me because I get to mix with other people.
Vanessa Byma says she also finds the weekly catch-up therapeutic.
The group has also created a thank-you banner for those who helped the town during and after the bushfires.
'Town of murals'
When they aren't sewing, Bobin residents have also been bringing their town to life through wildlife-inspired community murals.
Mr Schouten, who is a well-known Australian wildlife illustrator, took the lead on the project after obtaining grant funding after the bushfires.
"Well, Bobin seems to be turning into the town of murals it seems," he said.
Mr Schouten says about 20 people took part in a series of workshops.
"I put them together as a composition and then we painted a mural on a container we have at the hall.
"So it has this magnificent community mural … you can see the pride on their faces when they look at it."
