Community donates to Women’s Shed

WORK is continuing to establish a Bendigo Women’s Shed with the group receiving a financial boost from the Rotary Club of Bendigo last week.

Bendigo Women’s Shed chairperson Prue Clarke said there are “lots of options” the $1000 donation could go towards.

“We have to have a meeting and discuss what direction it’s going to go in,” she said.

“We’re looking at having a start-up open day which now means we can maybe provide some better activities to do on that day and a bit of catering.”

Immediate past president of the Rotary Club, Graeme Clarke, made the donation at his final meeting in the role and said it was an emotional day.

“I felt really rewarded because here’s something in its embryonic stage… we hope it will go a long way, but I felt really pleased and emotional about being able to hand over that cheque,” he said.

“I just hope the outcome is what the aim is originally; that women can feel independence and be able to do some maintenance around the home without having to call in people… and to develop a place where women can sit together… and they’re feeling safe because they’re amongst friends.”

Bendigo Women’s Shed communications officer Jo Haynes said the group have also recently received support from Epsom Bunnings.

“They have given us a massive donation of tools and they’ve given us safety equipment,” she said.

“Even possibly Ryobi want to get involved and come and show the girls how to use basic power tools,” Ms Clarke said. “That’s almost a workshop in itself.”

To get involved with the Bendigo Women’s Shed, contact [email protected] or join their Facebook group.