CELEBRATIONS to mark Goulburn’s 150th birthday turned woolly when a local group decided to accessorise the town’s biggest icon last week.
The Goulburn branch of the Knitters Guild set themselves a challenge in June last year to knit the Big Merino a colourful scarf in time for their town’s birthday.
More than 100 sets of hands and 2300 hours later, their mission was complete.
Sussan McDonald (pictured with fellow guild members Fiona Oliver and Betty Graeber) said the garment, which mostly comprises garter stitch and crochet, was a total community effort.
“For me it’s been a very humbling experience,” she said.
“Getting women from our local aged care facilities, Warrigal Care and Gill Waminda Aged Care Complex, to knit was particularly fantastic, because there may not have been a way they could physically celebrate the 150 years otherwise.”
Mrs Oliver said she has been suffering a bit of anxiety since council members wrapped the scarf around the big Merino – known as Rambo – from a cherry picker last Friday.
“I’ve had trouble sleeping because I’ve been having dreams of it blowing off!”
The giant scarf is 30 metres long by 1.5m wide, weighs 30 kilograms and used 71 kilometres of yarn – enough to stretch to Moss Vale.