The Department for Child Protection wishes to extend its condolences to the family and friends of long-time supporter of children in care, Pauline Glover.

Pauline, pictured above with her friend Doone Winnall, was a founding member of Rugs with Love – a volunteer group established to knit rugs for children in residential care and raise money for various charities.

Over the past 20 years, the group knitted more than 3200 rugs for children, and held its final exhibition on Saturday, 16 May, before Pauline passed away.

Along with the incredible impact Pauline made in child protection, her work contributed deeply to the health sector as she was a champion for midwives.

7 News Adelaide this week shared a Ray of Sunshine segment (external site) about the group’s work, and its final exhibition.

On Saturday, Plympton’s Church of the Good Shepherd was adorned with more than 200 colourful creations that the core group of 11 retired women have made, in the hope of brightening up someone’s days.

In the lead up to the event, Pauline said the group rarely met the young beneficiaries of their toils, but feedback demonstrated how their rug donations were making an impact for children in the Department for Child Protection’s care.

“We try and match a blanket to the child, so (for example) if there’s a 10-year-old who likes the Crows, we’ll try and knit them an appropriate size blanket that’s blue, yellow and red,” she said.

“Apparently their little faces light up and they take them down and put them in their room. One child said, ‘I’ve never had anyone make anything for me before’.

“The feedback we’ve had is that it can make a big difference in someone’s life, and that’s all we can ask for.”

Pauline, a former Associate Professor of Midwifery at Flinders University, said a nursing student gave her the idea of donating rugs to children living in residential care homes. She’d mentioned a girl she was caring for was about to enter the child protection system.

“I gave her a blanket and the young girl used to pick it up and take it to school with her,” she said.

“I just believe every child deserves a chance in life and if we can give them a rug to keep them warm, they can have a cuddle and put the rug over them if they feel sad.”

Pauline recalls one young girl with a disability, who was “absolutely lusting after” a pink rug at one of the group’s exhibitions.

“I said, ‘Do you like that rug?’ and she nodded, and I took it down and put it on her wheelchair and said, ‘That’s for you,’ and she started to cry, then I started to cry.”

Pauline and a friend formed Rugs with Love 20 years ago, and as well as having a deep community impact, it’s given members a social outlet. Since then, they’ve supported each other through illnesses, deaths, grief and the highs and lows of relationships – and also strengthened their own friendships.

The group’s annual exhibitions have raised $30,000 for charities including Zonta International and The Smith Family.