Every state and territory has a quilters' guild that nurtures and promotes the art and craft of quilt making. So get in touch with your local guild and take advantage of the activities, resources and support it offers.

	New South Wales The Quilters' Guild of NSW Inc meets on the third Saturday of every second month and holds a quilt showcase on the first Friday of every month with a guest quilter speaking about their experiences and displaying their work. An annual exhibition is held at Darling Harbour, attracting quilters from all over the state with merchant stalls, doll, bear and art exhibits and – of course – many beautiful quilts. The 2008 exhibition will be held June 11 to June 15, at the Sydney Exhibition Centre in conjunction with the Craft and Quilt Fair. Members also take part in an annual challenge, make community quilts and organise a weekend getaway for some well-earned pampering and shopping. The guild also offers members extensive resources, including a quarterly magazine, access to its library, workshops, a quilt valuation service and a teacher accreditation program. You can even head to its blog and find out all the latest developments and hot quilting topics being discussed at www.quiltersguildnsw.blogspot.com. The Guild President is Lorraine Trezise. Enquiries Phone: Phone (02) 9283 3737     Write to: Level 5, 276 Pitt St, Sydney NSW 2000     Email: enquiries@quiltersguildnsw.com     Website: www.quiltersguildnsw.com

	QUEENSLAND The Queensland Quilters Inc meets on the second Tuesday of the month at Greenslopes Bowls Club, where members listen to guest speakers, catch up on some hand-stitching, use the library and occasionally attend a mini workshop. It publishes a newsletter, runs a teacher accreditation program, offers quilt valuations, holds a biennial challenge and organises bus tours to quilt shows and patchwork shops. There are more than 500 individual members and almost 60 affiliated groups across Queensland and northern New South Wales. The annual Queensland Quilt Show is held in October in conjunction with the Craft and Quilt Fair at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Bank. The Guild President is Kate Oszko. Enquiries Phone: Phone 07 3165 7461     Website: www.qldquilters.com

	VICTORIA The Victorian Quilters' Inc has quarterly gatherings, which are hosted by member groups around the state, two in regional Victoria and the others in the suburbs of Melbourne. Members receive a newsletter and participate in a Quilts for Love challenge, plus the guild offers grants to encourage quilters or groups. The annual Quilt Showcase is held in conjunction with the Craft and Quilt Fair and the next one will run from July 24 to 27, 2008 at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, Southbank. The Guild President is Laurene Horsnell and the Secretary is Margaret Parkinson. Enquiries Phone: 1300 738 827     Write to: PO Box 264, Essendon North Vic 3041     Email: info@victorianquilters.org     Website: www.victorianquilters.org

	SOUTH AUSTRALIA The Quilters' Guild of South Australia Inc meets on the first Thursday of every month except January. A different quilt shop is in attendance at each meeting for members’ and guests’ crafty purchases. The guild also invites a guest speaker to the meetings and encourages members to use the library resources, which include a comprehensive collection of books and an extensive range of stencils and DVDs. A newsletter is printed six times a year and the guild offers a quilt valuation and judging service. Its major annual exhibition, Festival of Quilts, is held in November each year in conjunction with the Craft and Quilt Fair at the Adelaide Showgrounds, Wayville. Enquiries Write to : PO Box 993, Kent Town SA 5071     Email: info@saquilters.org.au     Phone: 0437 322 577     Website: www.saquilters.org.au

	AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY The Canberra Quilters Inc has three meeting times each month to suit its extended membership of up to 500 – evening meetings are on the first Thursday, the north-side meeting is on the fourth Tuesday, and the south-side meeting is the third Wednesday. Members enjoy a number of activities including guest speakers, show and tell, a lending library and supper or morning tea. It also offers an array of workshops, an annual retreat, a teacher accreditation program and a quilt valuation service. There’s an annual exhibition of members' quilts and creative clothing each August in conjunction with the Craft and Quilt Fair. New members and visitors from other quilt groups are most welcome at any meeting. The Guild President is Deborah Shaw and the Secretary is Jocelyn Green. Enquiries Write to : Write to PO Box 3297, Weston Creek, ACT 2611     Website: www.canberraquilters.org.au

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	WESTERN AUSTRALIA The Western Australian Quilters' Association holds a business meeting with a guest speaker on the first Wednesday of every month. There are also sewing meetings on the third Tuesday and third Wednesday evenings, which include show and tell and a quilt shop. Members take part in community quilts and hold a challenge each year. The annual members' exhibition, QuiltWest, is held in conjunction with the Craft and Quilt Fair and this year it will run from May 21 to 25. The association also holds an exhibition of contemporary quilts called Stitched & Bound at Mundaring Arts Centre from July 4 to August 3, 2008. Enquiries Write to: PO Box 188, Subiaco WA 6904.     Phone: (08) 9277 5050     Email: janstyle@iinet.net.au

	NORTHERN TERRITORY The Alice Springs Quilting Club meets on the fourth Monday of every month except December and holds an annual quilt exhibition in October at the Araluen Centre for Arts. Enquiries: Wendy Collits, phone (08) 8953 2862. The Darwin Patchworkers and Quilters Inc meets on the first Monday evening of the month and the Saturday Stitchers meet on the third Saturday. Quilters Down the Track meet on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. Members are sent a monthly newsletter, attend workshops and contribute to community activities such as Quilts for Love, and there is also a quilt valuation service. The exhibition, Territory Quilts, is held every year in the Northern Territory with the venue alternating between Darwin and Alice Springs. The 2008 Territory Quilts exhibition will be held in Alice Springs from November 1 to 9. Enquiries Enquiries: Shirley Graham, phone (08) 8935 8333     Email: djg555@bigpond.com

	TASMANIA The Tasmanian Quilting Guild Inc meets quarterly for general business, show and tell, to listen to guest speakers and do a bit of shopping at the merchants' mall. It offers a quilt valuation service and also organises a yearly retreat, Friendship Day and Christmas function. The major exhibition is held annually and this year's is from June 27 to 29, at the Derwent Entertainment Centre, in conjunction with the Craft and Quilt Fair. Enquiries Enquiries: President Beryl Cross at PO Box 181, North Hobart Tas 7002     Phone: (03) 6427 3563     Website: www.tasquiltguild.org.au

	NEW ZEALAND The National Association of New Zealand Quilters Inc is the main contact for quilting information in the country. The Association distributes a quarterly newsletter to all members, holds an annual juried show in association with the Craft and Quilt Fair in Hamilton, and a biennial challenge and touring exhibition. Enquiries Write to : President Nancy Neilson at PO Box 5181, Waikiwi, Invercargill New Zealand 9810     Email: nanzq@wave.co.nz     Website: www.nanzq.org.nz

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