Goulburn Women’s Shed members (from left) Kerrie Scarborough, president Clare Delaney and vice-president Eve Langham, who are looking for a venue in which their members can meet and learn. Photo: John Thistleton.
Thrilled to receive a drill and drop saw from her husband for Christmas, Eve Langham still smiles over his astute choice of gifts.
“Now, how many women would be happy to receive these for Christmas?” she says with a laugh.
In her case, they were the perfect present.
“I’ve now taken over one of the sheds at home, and I don’t know if my husband and son are very happy about that,” Eve says with another smile.
Eve and her colleagues in the new Goulburn Women’s Shed would like an even bigger workspace to use their power tools, welders, and even spraypainting equipment.
In an ideal world, they would like a 30-metre x 15-metre shed with power. They’re looking for space to put their tools, all their workbenches in the middle, a breakout area for older members who might want to come, and a quieter area for light handwork.
But as a start, they would be happy with a double garage.
After inspecting numerous potential properties, they found they were either unsafe, unsuitable or too expensive to rent. Some landlords with vacant property believe taking on tenants is more trouble than it’s worth.
The women are considering two railway-owned properties. One may be too expensive for them to rent. The other, known as the gatekeeper’s house, is not big enough, but has a kitchen and toilet. It needs a lot of work to upgrade it, but in the distant future the members could add a shed to create more space.
The new club has 21 financial members and a following of more than 900 women on Facebook, including many who are keen to join the camaraderie and learn new skills.
The executive is holding off on signing up and registering more members until they secure a venue. Meanwhile, they are well on the way to being incorporated and registered and finalising their insurance.
Women’s Shed president Clare Delaney said their foundation members came from the Tarago Women’s Shed, which had been operating for four years.
The women had initially used Tarago Showground’s pavilion and were now using the Tarago Men’s Shed on Sundays.
The Tarago Women’s Shed has proven to be an ideal icebreaker for some women who did not go out much socially, and now feel comfortable among like-minded members.
Goulburn Women’s Shed will aim to give women the opportunities they have enjoyed at Tarago, to learn how to use tools while making new friends.
Eve, who is vice-president, said belonging to a Women’s Shed was perfect for making friends.
“I’ve been here for five years. I didn’t know anyone when I came here. I went out to the Tarago Women’s Shed, where I was welcomed and made heaps of friends,” she said.
Confident with power tools, the shed members still feel more comfortable working alongside other women while teaching and learning new skills. They provide one another with a safe space.
“Say we have someone who has been a victim of domestic violence or something like that, they feel very comfortable coming in with other women because there is not that threat there,” Eve said.
“Or some women who are anxious, or anything like that, they feel quite comfortable coming in with another group of women.”
She said Goulburn had craft groups for women who wanted to crochet or knit, but nothing for women who wanted to work with tools.
“Women teach differently to men,” Clare said.
She was once petrified of using a drill, fearing she would hurt herself.
“We had an introduction to power tools workshop, and I sat the entire time just watching. I didn’t touch anything because I was too scared,” she said.
She needed some time to work out things on her own first.
“Now I can use all the drop saws, band saws, drills. I don’t know what I was worried about,” she said. “It built confidence away from your husband, away from your dad.”
Another member, Kerrie Scarborough, recounted a workshop at Tarago on how to make a toolbox. She has several power tools and enjoys using them at home.
“I make things with wood; I like sanding them back. I make things for knives, I make a lot of the bread boards,” she said.
- If you can help these women establish their facilities, please email goulburn [email protected].
