A WOMEN\u2019S Shed is on the way for Ballarat following the recent founding of an organising committee.<\/p>\n
The push got underway in November and is in part driven by Meredith Huggins after she experienced family violence, causing changes in her living situation.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had to move into a terrible rental and had a lot of friends with maintenance skills that came and helped,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a really supportive village for me and so I wanted to create that for other women that might be going through a hard time.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve found a lot of women especially during COVID have been experiencing anxiety and finding it difficult to meet up.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a good avenue for them to get together and just work on projects and not have that pressure of socialising.<\/p>\n
Since starting in November, the group has more than 2500 followers on Facebook with a committee of about 20 members.<\/p>\n
Phoenix P-12 College in Sebastopol will be used as a temporary host space and Ms Huggins said the group is putting the call out for donations to secure a permanent facility.<\/p>\n
As part of the initiative the group is planning to run DIY events.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got some skilled women onboard to host workshops,\u201d Ms Huggins said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ll be driven by community interest. We\u2019ve had people asking about things like welding, knife-sharpening, basic maintenance.\u201d<\/p>\n
Women\u2019s Shed co-organiser Megan Holman said she\u2019s looking forward to seeing how the group can benefit women in the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had our first informal meeting with about 16 or 18 women and I got excited by the idea because I used to be a painter and decorator and now, I\u2019m a mindset coach,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, I loved the idea of women in trades and learning skills and empowering women in that respect.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Huggins said she and Ms Holman work especially well together.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got a very big picture, creative ideas brain whereas she\u2019s really good at organising and getting the ball rolling,\u201d Ms Huggins said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, we\u2019ve become great friends and we\u2019re collaborating really well to get things happening.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Women\u2019s Shed\u2019s first workshops are expected to begin no later than March.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A WOMEN\u2019S Shed is on the way for Ballarat following the recent founding of an organising committee. The push got underway in November and is in part driven by Meredith Huggins after she experienced family violence, causing changes in her living situation. \u201cI had to move into a terrible rental and had a lot of […]<\/p>\n