Building a Women’s Shed from the ground up

THE catalyst to establish a Women’s Shed in Bendigo occurred when most great ideas do these days: at about 10pm on Facebook.

Co-founder and recently elected Women’s Shed chair Prue Clarke proposed the idea on a Facebook group and caught the eye of Jo Haynes who was already working on starting a similar initiative as part of her TAFE studies.

The post quickly gained traction and Ms Clarke said other women were keen to voice their support in comments.

“The response was just incredible from women that just went ‘yes this is absolutely what we need in Bendigo’,” she said. “Women are screaming out for it, there is definitely a need.

“We want to learn basic home maintenance skills, from refurbishing, how to pack a trailer, how to fix a hole in the wall.

“I really like to build stuff and I don’t have anywhere to do it because the shed at home is the man’s space and it’s the same for most women, they don’t feel like they’re part of the shed at home.”

Ms Clarke hopes the initiative will provide women a safe space to develop practical skills in a social setting, and in turn allowing them to develop their confidence.

“We want to actively contribute to gender equality by allowing women reach their potential in an environment that they feel comfortable in,” she said.

“Bendigo Women’s Shed would be an avenue for increasing confidence in a slightly different delivery. Many women contacting us are saying they are feeling like they are living under a rock, disconnected from social structure.

“Yes, COVID plays some part but this feeling has been there since the dawn of time.”

Since the initial social media post, Ms Clarke, Ms Haynes and other members have met to vote for their board and are now in the process of establishing sub-committees for planning and fundraising.

The group has also received offers for an official location and is in the process of negotiating a space that can accommodate a workshop and even ‘Nana’s Loungeroom’ where women can connect over a cup of tea.

“Everywhere I’m going at the moment I meet women and I mention Bendigo Women’s Shed to them and immediately their ears prick up and they get excited,” Ms Clarke said.

“Women deserve a shed, a physical space for women to connect. We want to manage our own initiative, we want to own our own sanctuary where it truly feels like we belong.”