Sharing Shed to nurture enterprise and young minds

CHRIS Ardrey and Linda Wong have lived in Meredith for nine years, closely connected with their neighbours and forever looking for opportunities.

As members of the local Lions Club, the pair have a strong relationship with Meredith Primary School, and established their own charity in 2016.

“At Hands of Change, our mandate has always been to engage with the community to see what sort of issues or challenges we need to address,” Ms Wong said.

Champions of experiential learning, and with links across town, Mr Ardrey and Ms Wong were energised to see the Meredith Interpretive Centre’s lease recently up for grabs. With all the right tools and contacts, they knew they could positively activate it.

As CLAW Enterprises, they are the space’s new tenants, renaming it the Meredith Sharing Shed. With business backgrounds, they’ll aim to promote the hidden talents of the area, nurture and share ideas, and “cross pollinate” with the Meredith Community Centre.

“We’re going to set up the ability for people to showcase their business’ products and services,” Ms Wong said.

“We have a lot of home and cottage businesses that can’t afford to have the bricks and mortar, so we want to give them a pop-up shop type environment.”

As Runway’s chief entrepreneur, Ms Wong is planning to offer mentoring and coaching opportunities to those with ideas to start a business, or who want to improve their current trade.

Mr Ardrey said local businesspeople have already raised their hands to become mentors to others.

“We are looking for other people who want to mentor and share their skills, so that’s open to anyone,” he said.

“We’ve received a lot of support from the community for the concept, although COVID has slowed it down a bit. We’re now getting ready to launch online training modules that we’ve developed ourselves.”

Meredith Primary School Principal, Steven Trotter is in talks with the couple about a pragmatic skills program they’re also set to run through the Shed; Nurturing Young Minds for the Future.

“Now with local people who are passionate about ongoing improvement of the town and engagement in the community, the centre can only be a really positive step forwards,” he said.

“The big discussions have been around how we can include the school and wider community in using the space as a resource that brings groups together in a central location.”

In collaboration with Ms Wong and Mr Ardrey, Mr Trotter is keen to establish the entrepreneurial program for his student leaders.

“We’re looking at managing and running projects, with one idea linked to a community garden over there.

“Instead of getting a contractor in to develop and plan it, we would engage the students to be a big part of that project, source the equipment and other contractors that they need, and calculate the costs involved,” he said.

“That would run over a period of time that will allow the kids to develop those 21st century learning skills that you don’t necessarily get within the four walls of the classroom.”

Ms Wong and Mr Ardrey said the Golden Plains Shire has been incredibly supportive of their plans. Mayor, Cr Owen Sharkey sees “so much potential and possibility.”

“Council went through an extensive EOI process to find a suitable tenant for the Meredith Interpretive Centre because it’s our goal to see this wonderful community asset activated and utilised,” he said.

“CLAW Enterprises Pty Ltd demonstrated that they would be able to do this, and by doing so, generate social and economic outcomes for Meredith and surrounds. We are delighted to have them on board.”

CLAW Enterprises has applied to the Geelong Community Foundation for a two-year grant to help fund the Nurturing Young Minds for the Future program. They are paying an $11 peppercorn rent for their first year on site.

Visit meredithsharingshed.com.au.