Six women completed an all-female woodworking course with the Woodend Men’s Shed this month.
The women were selected by ballot to take part in the course, which had attracted a large number of applicants from across the Macedon Ranges.
Designed to teach the participants basic woodworking skills, the women produced a toolbox, a bird nesting box and a decorative outdoor lantern (which had 22 individual parts) during the six-week course.
Skills learned included measuring and cutting timber, drilling, applying glue, sanding and assembly of their projects.
Participants were presented with certificates of achievement by deputy mayor Jennifer Anderson on the final night of the course.
“It has been very satisfying for the Shed members who participated in teaching the woodworking skills to the ladies and everyone learned something from the experience,” Shed spokesperson Bob MacDonald said.
The Men’s Shed was supported in the project by the Macedon Ranges Shire Council and the Woodend Neighbourhood House.
Feedback from a survey conducted at the conclusion of the course reflected that the participants had thoroughly enjoyed it and appreciated the skills they had learned.
A second Ladies Woodworking Course is planned for later in the year and participants will again be drawn by ballot from the large list of those who have expressed interest.
