Pearl is sew dedicated

Murray Wenzel | 30th May 2009

PEARL Kuorikoski has sewn so many athletics uniforms over 20 years, she claims she could do it with her eyes closed.

“It's something I always enjoyed doing, an absolute pleasure ... it gave me a chance to talk with the young athletes and the older ones as well,” Mrs Kuorikoski said.

Pearl began sewing uniforms for her husband, Les, a former champion athlete, and as she was unable to buy striped material, she had to cut strips and then sew them together again before she could make the shirt.

The result was a black and gold striped athletics top that drew interest from the remainder of the club, so much so that in 1988, when the club moved from Drinan Park to Kuorikoski Oval, she became responsible for the entire club's ensemble.

“I would have been making 100, to 180 uniforms every year, I guess word got around about them and people were all interested to have one of their own,” she said.

She continued to manufacture, from the latest materials, the Bundaberg Athletics and West Bundaberg Little Athletics shirts until last season, when it became too difficult to source the correct material.

“The committee had to find a new 'ready-made' uniform, we made sure Pearl approved of the new style and she liked it, so we went ahead with the new black and gold top,” club spokesperson Judy Grummitt said.

Pearl will be trackside cheering on her three grandchildren, Hallie, Nash and Harrison.