Steel knitting needles in 245mm long wooden case: Mrs Minnie Dunn, Mudgee

Cylindrical wooden slip case containing six large steel knitting needles.

Associated with Minnie Dorrington who was born at Mudgee in 1870 and in 1916 married William Fraser Dunn, State M.P. for Mudgee, just before he went overseas.

William Fraser Dunn was 39 when he enlisted in February 1916, and was appointed a lieutenant in a new battalion, the 35th, raised in Newcastle, which sailed to England in May. He travelled to France in November 1916 as the battalion quartermaster. At the end of March 1917, he suffered an accident with his knee and was set back to England where he was diagnosed with arthritis of the knee which he blamed on an old school football injury. He was put on the seconded list and was made an honorary captain. In July 1917 he was returned to Australia for 'change'. Dunn’s appointment was terminated in March 1918.

While her husband was serving in France, Minnie joined a knitting group which met at Government House Sydney. The group knitted 'comforts' for the troops serving overseas. She blamed knitting with these steel needles for her arthritis in later life.