It’s no wonder the kindest soul in Queensland—maybe even the whole country—calls Logan home.
Meet 77-year-old Pamela Tatt.
Twenty years ago, Ms Tatt created a charity that has knitted, crocheted and sewn almost one million gifts for those most vulnerable in society.
When you walk through the front door of her Eagleby home, you are greeted by tubs overflowing with handmade teddies, blankets and toys, and more yarn than you can count.
She hasn’t had the easiest last few years, but Ms Tatt said her charity, called Knit4Charities, helped her through all the tough times.
Last week, national retailer Black Pepper crowned Ms. Tatt the kindest person in Queensland, and now she’s in the running for the title of Australia’s kindest.
Just as the kindest person in the country would, Ms Tatt modestly detailed the significant impact she has had on others.
She didn’t seem too fussed about the title—she’d rather just live it.
“I don’t know, I just like to do what I do and give it away,” Ms Tatt said.
“I like to help people.”
Knit4Charities has continued to grow since its inception in 2004 and has seen more than 970,000 handmade items gifted to foster children, prematurely born babies, the elderly, dogs, cats and wildlife across Australia.
Ms Tatt said the charity started simply as a way for her to make new friends.
“This all started from me being lonely one day, and wanting someone to talk to about knitting,” she said.
“We moved to Broken Hill because my husband’s family was down there and it was very hard to make friends.
“I looked for somewhere where I could talk to people about my love, which was knitting and crocheting, but couldn’t find anything so I decided to start my own group.
“And here we are.”
Now she works on the charity seven days a week, performing admin and operational tasks between 9am and 3pm, then picking up her needles and knitting well into the night.
She has dozens and dozens of charities constantly asking for gifts – 50 organisations at the start of this year alone – and around 800 official charity members.
It’s a “huge” endeavour for Ms Tatt, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Knit4Charities served as an escape following the sudden death of her husband, Desmond, two years ago.
“It gave me a reason to get up in the morning,” she said.
“It’s been very rewarding for me – every day something happens that melts my heart.
“Maybe it’s someone who put a little comment on Facebook or sent me an email to say thank you, or a photo of a baby in one of their tiny outfits or of a dog wearing our dog coats.
“Little things like that are all I need to keep going.”
Ms Tatt really only had one tip for locals hoping to follow in her kind footsteps.
“If you have a passion for something, go for it – just get out there and do it.
“I always believe that if you put things in, you get it back.
“I give as much, or as more as my volunteers that I possibly can.”
The official kindest person in Australia will be announced on 13 November, which is recognised as World Kindness Day.