Until recently, the Tamworth local known affectionately as Granny or Nan, had more than 400 of the dwarfish creatures in her front garden.

"I don't mind what you call me as long as you don't call me later for dinner," Julia Gregory said, laughing in her living room surrounded by a few of the gnomes that remain from her extravagant collection.

Known as The Home of Gnomeville, Ms Gregory had amassed an impressive 400 gnomes since 1972 up until recently, when she sold them to raise $1600 for Can Assist.

The obsession started when her truckie husband bought her a set of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs for her birthday, and it's continued to grow since then.

"I've sold them all now, now I only have little ones," she said.

"My grandson died of pancreatic cancer, it was three months off his 50th birthday and he told me he didn't have long to go - I said he would be right and he would make it but once they put him in Nioka that was it, he only lasted a few weeks.

Read also:

"The kids didn't want them and I didn't want them to go to the tip, and I can't take them with me when I die.

"I never thought in my wildest dreams I would make what I made."

With the help of the local leagues and diggers' clubs, Ms Gregory raised $1600 for Can Assist.

Volunteer Robyn Fitzgerald said the organisation relies on donations from generous people like Ms Gregory.

"We don't discriminate, any cancer patients that need help, we help them."

Cancer patients who need help can contact Ms Fitzgerald on 0409 384 997.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: