Women of Whittlesea have launched the Whittlesea Women’s Shed, with hopes to grow the shed for other members to enhance their confidence and skills.
The first members of the shed held an induction last Wednesday, working out of the Whittlesea Men’s Shed when the men are not utilising their own tools at the Whittlesea Showgrounds.
The shed was born from the previous Mernda women’s shed after funding ran out, and the women’s shed closed in December last year.
But Whittlesea Women’s Shed Chairperson Jill McKeever and Secretary Cathy Finster were not ready to leave it there.
Mrs McKeever said the shed provided women an outlet to start their days.
“There’s several ladies in that group, it gave them a focus to get out of bed, get the kids off to school and then go to something else – so it gives them a reason to get out bed and get on the with day,” she said.
“We just wanted to continue the group so we thought ‘let’s do it ourselves, let’s go out there’, and see how we can get a women’s group going.”
The shed start will start properly next term with an induction on July 17 for new members to join, with the first of the woodworking sessions to be held every Wednesday on July 24.
Mrs Finster said she hoped for women to join the shed as they had great plans.
“We will have new members come along, and we’ll have a program where they can build possible a toolbox, a jewellery box, a chair, so for the people that have a good knowledge of tool and woodwork, they can build what they want,” she said.
“We will have group building sessions where we’re hoping to build things for the community.
“It would be great if we could get more women involved because it gives you the confidence to get out there and it would be great for other women to join so that it could happen with them.”
Mrs McKeever and Mrs Finster thanked all the participants that supported the shed, including Whittlesea Community House, Whittlesea Men’s Shed and Neami National.
The shed currently operates from 10am to 2pm each Wednesday at 30 Whittlesea-Yea Road, Whittlesea.
People interested in joining can contact Mrs McKeever on 0439 966 896 or pop in between 10am to 11am to have a look around at the shed.