Interest high in new Namoi Women’s Shed

Narrabri has a new community organisation with plans to embrace a wide spectrum of practical, creative and educational interests for women from 15 years upwards.

The new group is the Namoi Women’s Shed.

It was formed on February 22, with the attendance of 40 women keen to be part of the Shed.

Enthusiasm was high, but at that point COVID-19 struck and further developments slowed.

However, the organisers were continuing to develop the concept and with the relaxation of rules around social gathering, the Namoi Women’s shed is powering on.

The new group is already a success and has so far about 80 women signed up to be involved.

Men’s Sheds are long established and successful across Australia.

Narrabri, Wee Waa and Boggabri have had Men’s Sheds for many years.

Now the community has a Women’s Shed.

The Namoi Women’s Shed was an initiative by Community College Northern Inland Campus co-ordinator Trish Dandridge.

“It is a joint community initiative between the Community College Northern Inland and Challenge Narrabri Recycling Centre, supported by Narrabri Shire Council,” explained Trish.

“The collaboration between the Community College and Challenge Services has led to a large shed space and training room being made available at Narrabri Challenge Recycling to house the Namoi Women’s Shed and other training provided by the Community College.

“Since the first meeting in February, we have approximately 80 women who have put their name down to be involved in the Women’s Shed.

“We had such a fantastic response and then had to go into a holding pattern while we managed through the changes COVID-19 bought to us all.

“We are now ready to start the set-up and make the Namoi Women’s Shed a reality.

“The name has been chosen in consultation with women at the meeting as it is inclusive and represents our whole Shire.

“Challenge Recycling is very pleased to be part of this project and partnership with the Community College.”

Manager of the Narrabri Recycling Centre, Matt Keeffe, said it was a great community initiative.

“It reinforces Challenge Services’ commitment to the Shire, its people and the continued support to our local people with a disability, who are an important part of our community,” he said.

“Narrabri Shire Council is very supportive of the initiative and have applied for grant funding to help establish the workshop area with resources, benches etc., with the 2020 Investing in Women funding program,” said Trish.

“The Namoi Women’s Shed will offer women, aged 15 and above, opportunities to learn practical skills, create and inspire together, socialise, network, support and enjoy each other’s company.

“It is an opportunity to provide a platform for skill development in trade and industry and is driven by a demand from local women to learn these skills and increase connection with other like-minded people.

“Women are looking to learn skills such as wood-working, welding, industrial art, general home maintenance, plumbing, how to use hand and power tools and more.

“This also provides us with an opportunity to promote trades based careers with our youth, reduce isolation in our Shire and is a great way to recycle and upcycle some of our waste.

“There is still a lot of work to be done to get us operational in the shed and all help and support is appreciated,” added Trish.