Kiama Quilters Guild has marked a significant milestone, celebrating its 40th anniversary with a special high tea at the Joyce Wheatley Community Centre.

Founded in 1985 by friends who shared a common interest in sewing and quilting, the group has grown from meeting in members' homes to becoming a community group with 36 active members.

Kiama Quilters Guild president Sue Lovett, joined the group 14 years ago following in her mum's footsteps.

“My mum was a founding member as well, but they used to do it in their homes, and then they got too big and came to the group," she said.

The Kiama Quilters have found a home away from home in the Joyce Wheatley Community Centre for the past 35 years, with inaugural members Pat Stewart and Margaret Carmichael among those present at the 40 year celebration.

Meeting every Wednesday from 10am to 2pm, the group has an impressive attendance rate with approximately 26 to 28 members regularly participating. Most members live locally but one member travels from as far as Wollongong, and some travel from Gerringong to be a part of the close knit community.

Kiama Quilters Guild high tea celebrations

“We're branching out into doing lots of different stitches and stuff like that, and that keeps us all going,” Sue said.

The group is committed to giving back, with members regularly supporting various charities and causes, including the Children's Medical Research Institute, a ‘Jeans for Genes’ quilt every year, local raffles and donations, and contributing to Share the Dignity bags.

“We've had a gentleman come and his grandson needed surgery, so we've made a couple of quilts for him to raffle to raise money,” said Sue.

The Kiama Quilters welcome new members and actively teach new skills, running a monthly in-house workshop for members to learn from each other.

Sue says she thinks the group will run for a long time, with recently gaining two younger members, the guild has an optimistic future ahead of them.

“Come along, if you've got something to share... we welcome anybody that wants to come and join us,” she said.

The Kiama Quilters Guild longevity not only lies in their skills and community service but in their ability to foster a creative and social space that creates long lasting friendships that span over four decades.

Kiama Quilters Guild President Sue Lovett