One of VicTrack’s newest community leases is providing a home for Korumburra’s Women’s Shed and Gallery, giving local women opportunities to learn new skills and form friendships.
The Women’s Shed is setting up in the former railway Goods Shed after the building was made available through VicTrack’s Community lease program that sees underused land and buildings made available to community organisations. There are more than 400 community leases in place across Victoria.
Korumburra Women’s Shed President, Jen Belsar, who has previously set up Women’s Sheds in Alphington in suburban Melbourne and Garfield, is excited to bring the concept to the Gippsland town.
“We’re thankful for the lease and the faith and trust shown in us,” Jen said. “And we’re just excited to build something for our community.”
The group, known as ‘Women on the tools’ before being incorporated as a Women’s Shed, offers courses in a range of practical and artistic skills.
Teaching them skills like welding, carpentry and how to use power tools means that they can repair things themselves, which can actually empower women to stay in their homes.
Jen said women who want to take part are mainly from two groups: those wanting to explore an artistic and creative side and those who want to learn practical skills to repair their homes.
“Houses are always needing fixing or falling into disrepair,” she said.
“A lot of women are on their own and struggle to pay tradespeople and can’t afford repairs.
“Sadly, I've seen women being on the verge of having to sell their homes because they can’t afford the upkeep.
“Teaching them skills like welding, carpentry and how to use power tools means that they can repair things themselves, which can actually empower women to stay in their homes.”
Once the group is fully set up at the Goods Shed Jen hopes to expand the programs with artists teaching mediums including painting, mosaic, fabrics, pottery or jewellery.
“If we have a teacher for it, and people that want to learn then we hope to offer a course,” Jen said.
Forming friendships and a strong community of women who help each other are also important benefits women can get out of the Women’s Shed, Jen explained.
“A lot of us moved to the Korumburra area for semiretirement or retirement because it’s just a beautiful place. But when some women got here, they didn’t know anyone.
“Women have made friends instantly when joining our group.
“Watching these groups of women become best friends is really magic, and it's bigger than what happens in the shed, so that's just beautiful.”
The Women’s Shed programs are already in demand. More than 1,000 members of a Facebook group have been following developments, while around 100 are on the waiting list to join in classes.
“We see this as something not just for our immediate group, but we feel like we're starting something for generations of women, that this is something that women have not had access to, and it's really necessary,” Jen said.
“We feel like we're starting something that will pass those skills on to other women and provide real connection in our community.”
One of VicTrack’s newest community leases is providing a home for Korumburra’s Women’s Shed and Gallery, giving local women opportunities to learn new skills and form friendships.
The Women’s Shed is setting up in the former railway Goods Shed after the building was made available through VicTrack’s Community lease program that sees underused land and buildings made available to community organisations. There are more than 400 community leases in place across Victoria.
Korumburra Women’s Shed President, Jen Belsar, who has previously set up Women’s Sheds in Alphington in suburban Melbourne and Garfield, is excited to bring the concept to the Gippsland town.
“We’re thankful for the lease and the faith and trust shown in us,” Jen said. “And we’re just excited to build something for our community.”
The group, known as ‘Women on the tools’ before being incorporated as a Women’s Shed, offers courses in a range of practical and artistic skills.
Teaching them skills like welding, carpentry and how to use power tools means that they can repair things themselves, which can actually empower women to stay in their homes.
Jen said women who want to take part are mainly from two groups: those wanting to explore an artistic and creative side and those who want to learn practical skills to repair their homes.
“Houses are always needing fixing or falling into disrepair,” she said.
“A lot of women are on their own and struggle to pay tradespeople and can’t afford repairs.
“Sadly, I've seen women being on the verge of having to sell their homes because they can’t afford the upkeep.
“Teaching them skills like welding, carpentry and how to use power tools means that they can repair things themselves, which can actually empower women to stay in their homes.”
Once the group is fully set up at the Goods Shed Jen hopes to expand the programs with artists teaching mediums including painting, mosaic, fabrics, pottery or jewellery.
“If we have a teacher for it, and people that want to learn then we hope to offer a course,” Jen said.
Forming friendships and a strong community of women who help each other are also important benefits women can get out of the Women’s Shed, Jen explained.
“A lot of us moved to the Korumburra area for semiretirement or retirement because it’s just a beautiful place. But when some women got here, they didn’t know anyone.
“Women have made friends instantly when joining our group.
“Watching these groups of women become best friends is really magic, and it's bigger than what happens in the shed, so that's just beautiful.”
The Women’s Shed programs are already in demand. More than 1,000 members of a Facebook group have been following developments, while around 100 are on the waiting list to join in classes.
“We see this as something not just for our immediate group, but we feel like we're starting something for generations of women, that this is something that women have not had access to, and it's really necessary,” Jen said.
“We feel like we're starting something that will pass those skills on to other women and provide real connection in our community.”
