Open Day turnout a welcome sight for local women’s shed

A RECENT open day turnout has given a local women’s shed confidence there are residents on the Surf Coast eager to join its group.

The Women’s Sharing Shed Torquay, based out of Torquay Community House, held its Open Day earlier this month, welcoming prospective new members and showing off the group’s work.

Women’s Shed member Cynthia Powers said it was a terrific Open Day event, welcoming more than 20 people to the shed alongside her fellow members.

“Last year I think one person stopped by, so this year we expected something similar, but no… we probably had almost two dozen people show up,” Ms Powers said.

“A couple signed up to join, a few more signed up to hear more about it at a later stage, which was very pleasing for us.

“It’s relatively unknown how much demand there is to join a group like ours, but this year we had the word out there a bit more about our Open Day.”

Ms Powers said joining up at the shed is an extremely simple process, advising women to consider dropping by the shed on a Friday afternoon during the group’s weekly meetings from 1pm to 4pm.

The group has been running since 2016, allowing local women to learn new skills and take part in different community projects.

Ms Powers believes a women’s shed can have a very important role in local communities like the Surf Coast.

“We have a couple of women who were widowed years ago with one of them at home doing nothing for close to four years, then she decided to give the shed a try and it has really turned her life around,”

“We’ve taught her things, she’s taught us things, that’s why we are called a sharing shed, we share knowledge with one another and teach each other solutions to life’s problems.

“It’s a place you can always drop into too, the companionship and support are the main things we preach, and having said that we like to have fun too.”

Any other enquiries can be made either via email at [email protected] or by contacting Cynthia via mobile at 0437 620 450.