A quilt, made during World War 1, has been framed and was unveiled by Carol Ball, a regional manager for Red Cross, at a small ceremony last night before the organisation’s annual meeting.
It is made of up of 60 small pieces and was put together by Green Island Red Cross branch volunteers during World War 1.
Red Cross Otago humanitarian development engagement manager Steve King said Ms Ball had ties of her own to the historical quilt.
Embroidered with red wool on calico are the names of the Harraway family, notable for their Green Island cereal manufacturing company. Ms Ball is a family descendant.
The quilt, which was sent to a military hospital in England to be used in the care of wounded soldiers, was a “significant historic taonga,” he said.
It was returned in 2009.
“It reminds us how long Red Cross has been active in New Zealand and the histories that connect us,” Mr King said.
Messages on the quilt included "Good luck to our boys", "Every winter turns to spring", "Noble by birth, yet nobler by great deeds" and "There is no safer place than the path of duty".
