Peggy Beech may be 92 but she proves you are never too old to help others.

Her exhibition of 130 hand knitted dolls dresses in the People's Gallery – Toi ka rere, will raise funds for Auckland's Starship Hospital with donated dresses benefiting the children at Starship.

Peggy has collected dolls over many years and has spent hundreds of happy hours in her retirement gathering wool and knitting bespoke dolls dresses, each one unique in its style, colour and design. Peggy never follows a pattern.

The exhibition of 130 dresses will benefit Starship in two ways.

Visitors will be invited to purchase dresses of their choice to be donated to Starship, along with the proceeds from the purchase.

A certificate stating who bought and donated the dresses will accompany the gift to a child at Starship Hospital.

Purchasers will also have the option to keep the dresses themselves with the funds going to Starship, or buy two and donate one.

Much of Peggy's knitting has been completed in the living room of her Maketu home overlooking the beautiful Bay of Plenty coastline.

Peggy has lived in Maketu since 1962. Her husband, Jack Beech, set up the Maketu Beach Holiday Park and Seaside Café which is still run by family members.

Peggy has eight children and many grand and great grandchildren. Several of the family still live in this close-knit community.

Her interests include gardening, sewing, watching sport, and most importantly, knitting.

Peggy, who turns 93 this June, grew up in Kerikeri and went to school at Takapuna Girls High School.

When World War 2 broke out she returned to the Bay of Islands to help with the war effort by working in the telephone exchange. After the war she established a boutique selling her self-designed and manufactured women's wear range.

The creativity displayed in the dolls' dresses is testament to her artistry and flair.

Peggy is understandably a bit daunted by her first exhibition at 92.

This exhibition has been ‘in the making' for several years and any nervousness is over ridden by her own love of dolls and dresses and her desire to use her knitting to support vulnerable children and their families.

'Starship is thrilled with Peggy's kind-hearted support,” says her son John Beech who is helping his mother fulfil her dream.

Pegtops – a stitch in time Knitting Showcase

The People's Gallery Toi ka rere in conjunction with The Incubator

Tauranga Historic Village, 17^th Avenue

Opening Sunday 13 May 11.30 am

Open Mon – Fri 10am - 3pm / Sat – Sun 9am - 2pm