The newly formed Castlemaine Women’s Shed celebrated National Women’s Shed Week last Saturday at Castlemaine Community House.
The women’s shed originated from a Facebook group established in 2017 by Zoe Astrid.
“I originally came up with the idea when I noticed so many single women were living in town and didn’t have handy skills that would enable them to do things for themselves,” Zoe said.
The shed operated as a Facebook platform for followers to communicate and connect until 2021, when Johanna Winchcomb and Alona Kanigher organised (and cancelled) a series of public meetings throughout the era of COVID restrictions.
By 2022, a working group had formed and over the past 12 months the group has explored many options for seeking a suitable venue for their activities and a legal structure for the group.
A survey of the Facebook followers gave the group a clear indication of the skills followers wished to learn including; carpentry, welding, home maintenance, car maintenance, and access to a tool library.
Late in 2022, the working group approached Castlemaine Community House and were thrilled when they agreed to support the initiative.
Castlemaine Women’s Shed is currently running demonstrations and workshops on the first Sunday of the month with the ultimate aim to have a shed of their very own one day.
The Shed has set up a Go Fund Me page to raise funds to assist with spray painting and fitting out their generously donated trailer.
“The trailer needs a lot of tizzing up, so we are hoping that members of the public with the relevant skills can donate their services to our cause,” Johanna said.
“We would really like to thank Castlemaine Community House for supporting us and providing a venue without any costs, Josie Berto, our secretary who set up the Go Fund Me, which has raised $600 to date, and a very big thank you to Peter Bettens from Country Wide Building Services for the donation of his old tradie trailer,” said Johanna who told the Express that she was in the right place, at the right time, when she met Peter.
“We also really want to thank Robert Buckler for the donation of his father’s tools, Tim Grey who donated a range of hand tools, and Di Forrest from Guildford and Anna Brown for helping out with storage.”
The women’s shed recently held a bird box-making workshop that was well supported by local businesses (Like Butter, Mount Alexander Timber and Hardware, Mitre 10, Dales Paint Right) with support from Phil Pengelly at Castlemaine Men’s Shed, Erin McLaine and Sue Hauck.
“Mount Alexander Timber and Hardware also donated a $50 gift voucher to go towards our logo competition winner and John the Potter (Gleeson) donated three coffee breakers for our guest speakers,” Johanna said.
If you would like to donate to the group visit: www.gofundme.com/en-au and search Castlemaine Women’s Shed.
