New women’s shed to open in Geelong’s north

WOMEN in Geelong’s northern suburbs will soon have access to a new judgement-free space when a women’s shed launches next month.

Lara locals and friends Jade Walters and Naomi Worrall-Thornton are hoping to launch the North Geelong Women’s Shed in May, initially with a small set of programs, to provide women across the region a safe space to socialise, learn new skills, engage in the activities they love and begin building their own “village”.

The women’s shed will operate primarily out of the Lara Community Centre, and will welcome women of all ages, cultures and backgrounds, with a zero-tolerance policy for disrespect firmly in place.

“There’s some people out there who are incredibly skilled at the DIY, at craft, and all those things. We want to get people together and just have a purpose again,” Ms Walters said, sharing concerns that many women in the community are struggling with loneliness.

She believed much of the disconnect can be traced back to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Connection is really hard to rebuild again because everyone’s still so scared. When you’ve lost a connection and you’re a woman, whether it be you’re a single mum or married or whatever your walk of life is, it’s really hard to go build those connections as an adult.

“We just want to offer the space and the time.”

As the duo work towards the launch, they are eager to connect with any businesses interested in sponsoring the women’s shed, community members will share tools that might be willing to donate and expressions of interest from those with skills they’d love to share with the community.

“We’ve very conscious of the fact that we need to be adaptable, and our programs will change depending on the feedback we receive,” Ms Walters said.

“We plan to have the good old suggestion box with a notepad and pen. So while you’re here, tell us what you want to see and if we can facilitate it, absolutely we will.”

Ms Worrall-Thornton said the duo are committed to the longevity of the project and the role it can play in reducing isolation in the community, with big plans for the future, including programs aimed at supporting young girls to learn helpful life skills and become the community’s future leaders.

For more information, email the North Geelong Women’s Shed on [email protected] and to stay up to date with announcements, follow its Facebook page.