Shed’s sharing programs go virtual

LINDA Wong and Chris Ardrey’s plans for Meredith Sharing Shed at the town’s interpretive centre have been impacted by the pandemic, but initiatives will launch via the web instead.

A major project planned for facility’s outdoor space is a community garden, to be created through the Nurturing Young Minds for their Future program and facilitated by the pair’s charity, Hands of Change.

“That was going to be delivered at the Sharing Shed, but with Meredith Primary School, and all schools home-schooling, we’re turning that into an online program from September,” Ms Wong said.

“The essence is still the same, looking to build the community garden at the Sharing Shed and teaching grade 5 and six kids the basic business skills they’ll need as they progress into the next grade.

“The community garden is the business, or the project, and we’ll be looking at helping them round out their skills in terms of planning, budgeting, and working as a team.”

The Geelong Community Foundation has granted Hands of Change $35,000 for the initiative, the Golden Plains Shire Youth Development Team has put in $5000, mayor Cr Owen Sharkey has provided a personal donation, and Vasili’s Garden is a supporter.

“We’ll do it through a mixture of videos, workbooks and virtual reality. We’re going to be sending out a cardboard VR viewer to each of the students and do some videos to make it interesting for them,” Ms Wong said.

“We’ll have special guests videoed ahead of time, including Vasili who will help with design, and a local horticulturalist from Teesdale who will teach what to plant.

“We’ll get together virtually once a week on Mondays for 15 or 20 minutes on Zoom, and we might invite parents to sit in, participate and volunteer with the building of the garden beds.

“The program is delivered to the kids, but it will be a great community aspect once built.”

With business backgrounds, Ms Wong and Mr Ardrey are aiming to promote the hidden talents of the district, develop and share ideas, and “cross pollinate” with the Meredith Community Centre.

Eventually on the Sharing Shed site, there will be a pop-up shop style space where people can showcase their small business’ products and services, and access mentoring and coaching opportunities if they’re keen to launch an enterprise, or improve their established trade.

An online alternative will launch next month, with mentors Roxie Bennett, Charles Balnaves, Mark Valena, Catherine Moolenschot and David Pagotto on board and accessible for advice.

“We’ve got a diverse range of mentors, from the CEO of GMHBA to a radio announcer,” Ms Wong said.

A community food pantry will be set up on site, and Ms Wong hopes signage at the Sharing Shed will be up by October.

Visit meredithsharingshed.com.au.