The “Wishing Chair” was made by South Pambula artisan Liz McLeod, who was inspired by second-hand love and the Nepalese earthquake in April this year to donate the chair for a good cause.

“I started the project five years ago,” Ms McLeod said.

“I’ve always been a "hunter and gatherer" of op’ shops and I started to notice the crazy characters and off beat beauty of the soft knitted toys.”

Ms McLeod found a couch in a Merimbula op’ shop, and proceeded to decorate it with the toys.

“I decided to create an art work, initially for an exhibition, as well as create a personal statement about the delightful benefits of recycling, and the value of local op’ shopping.”

Ms McLeod said 90 percent of the toys originate in the Bega Valley, and believes many locals will recognise their contributions.

With the couch almost completed, Ms McLeod went travelling with husband Pete to Nepal.

It was there, as the result of a life-changing experience, that the chair’s destiny was decided.

“We were hiking in a remote area of the Himalayas when the earthquake hit,” Ms McLeod recalled.

“The mountains came down around us, and we were kilometres away from anyone. We hiked to the nearest village, which was totally destroyed. We immediately started to help. Pete is a builder and erected shelters. And I cooked for everyone.”

Four days later the pair left the village, and flew home to Australia.

“We were traumatized, and I remained so concerned for the Nepalese situation, constantly feeling we should return and help out. But we couldn’t.” 

“Then I had the revelation that to help out on this planet anywhere was still a valuable contribution. So I came up with the idea of converting the knitted toy couch into the ‘Wishing Chair’.”

Ms McLeod contacted the new Bega Hospital committee to see if they needed any help, and it was suggested she could help raise money for the “finishing touches fund” for the beautification of the hospital.

The gift shop of Oaklands Event Centre became the chair’s new home, with a sign donated by Tim Wilson of Wilson Signs instructing people to take a seat, make a wish, and place a donation in a nearby box. 

“To date the ‘Wishing Chair’ has raised $1300 for our community and will remain at Oaklands over the summer holidays,” Ms McLeod said.

“The chair will then retire, and be donated to the children’s section of the Eden Library…and so the recycling continues.”

Ms McLeod said there’s a story behind each toy on the chair, from a cross-eyed penguin discovered by her daughter in a remote second hand store in Tasmania, to a knitted green crocodile purchased from the Pambula op’ shop by her father, to a “bizarre” stuffed Friar Tuck rescued from Cooma.

The chair is becoming a talking-point around the Shire, and Ms McLeod believes some of its popularity is due to the simple pleasure of taking a seat, closing eyes, and making a positive wish.

She encourages locals and visitors alike to make the most of the experience over summer, and help the cause.