New women’s workshop chair excited for what 2025 brings

THE Bellarine Women’s Workshop’s newest chair says the local community group will be looking to build upon the success of 2024 in 2025.

Workshop chair Julie Merrifield noted various accomplishments the women’s workshop had achieved this year, stating the group had plenty to give over the next 12 months.

“We’ve been growing each year, connecting with other local women’s sheds in Geelong, Ocean Grove and Torquay, but also keeping our sessions engaging, exciting and fun,”

“We also have our two big events each year such as The Biggest Morning Tea and our Oaks Day Luncheon, while also creating items for charities across the region.

“We created well over 200 items to donate to Our Village (formerly Geelong Mums) for example, as well as a sensory wall mural donated to the Sea Views Manor in Ocean Grove.

“There’s a lot going on heading into next year, we have our fingers in a lot of different pies to say the least.”

The Bellarine Women’s Workshop is committed to increase its amount of paying members moving forward.

It has continued to increase its network, growing its closed Facebook group community to over 1,700 members.

Ms Merrifield hopes the workshop can bring in new faces to the party and continue to make tangible differences on projects across the region.

Ms Merrifield was elected only the group’s second chair mid-way through this year, following three years of service from Davine Pitcher as the driving force behind the group’s start-up towards the end of 2021.

She noted her appreciation of Ms Pitcher’s leadership in previous years.

“Davine has been such a driving force behind the establishment and day-to-day running of the workshop since its inception,”

“To be honest, she was doing everything, from being the chair to running activities, so there came a point where she knew she couldn’t keep that up and needed to step down as chair.

“I was happy to take that on given how comfortable I am with meetings and minutes and stuff like that.

“It feels me with great pride to be the new chair and it allows Davine to focus on more of what she loves.”

The Bellarine Women’s Workshop will hold its first session in 2025 on January 30 from 10am to 1pm at the Portarlington Girl Guides Hall.

Head to bellarineww.org.au for more information.