Rhonda Bracey: At Random

The weekend after I returned from Europe, I went to an annual retreat up in the Avon Valley National Park. I love it up there in winter—everything is so green, the kangaroos and emus abound, and the raging Avon River can be seen from the top of the hill. I didn’t have anything I desperately needed to sew, so before I left for Europe, I’d decided I’d just make pouches for a wild animal rescue centre in the Perth hills (Kanyana, for the locals). I’d cut out a lot of the fabric before I left, and had asked the group to bring along any lengths of fleece or flannel they no longer wanted. Between what I’d cut out, what fabric I was given, and other fabric I’d brought along and got donated, I made 75 pouches of all sizes, suitable for small animals like baby joeys and quendas, and larger animals like wallabies and small kangaroos. One of the women in the group lives near the rescue centre and offered to drop them off for me. I’ll make more during the next retreat in October.

Sunrise, Avon Valley National Park, early July 2025

If you look closely, you should see a kangaroo or two

early morning fog, Avon Valley National Park, July 2025

75 animal pouches completed!