KORUMBURRA Women’s Shed members celebrated their long-awaited move into the former goods shed at the Korumburra railway precinct, Vicki Evans of VicTrack handing the keys to Shed president Jen Belsar on Friday January 31.

While the revamped former home of Korumburra Men’s Shed will be a hub of creativity where women also learn practical skills in a friendly environment promoting positive mental health, the first step is to arrange required works on the inside of the building.

VicTrack renovated the structure the women can now call home, a site they initially hoped to be able to move into prior to the middle of last year, but it is currently a shell without internal fittings.

“There is nothing in there, so we have to start from scratch; we have to put in a kitchen,” Jen said, describing the interior as “gutted”, including removal of the water tank and plumbing.

Organising fundraising events and investigating available grants to assist with the internal works will be a priority. 

Once a kitchen and plumbing are installed and the electrics are assessed and connected, the women will set about partitioning the shed and dividing it into the spaces they need, then creating workstations.

Storage for tools also needs to be factored in.

President Jen is relieved the women now have the keys, noting there was competition for the shed, and is taking a positive outlook toward the required internal works.

“We’ve got lots to do but I think we’ll enjoy it because the core of it is us being together and working together,” she said, expecting that setting up and refitting the building will be just as much fun as the creative projects that follow.

Jen previously opened a Women’s Shed in the Melbourne suburb of Alphington before relocating to Korumburra, and has since run ‘Women on Tools’ courses auspiced through Milpara Community House.

Basic carpentry, power tool use and welding will be among the practical skills women can learn at the Korumburra Women’s Shed.

The concept of having a Women’s Shed in town was quickly embraced, the organisation attracting substantial interest from local women wanting to be part of the shed community and easily filling its committee positions.

As well as practical skills, art will feature prominently in the Shed, with plenty of artists keen to come and teach there, sharing skills in areas such as pottery and painting.

The Women’s Shed is a great way for women to meet and support each other and with the practical skills they gain, increase their independence.

The women intend to have exhibitions, music and other events at the shed, inviting members of the broader community and ensuring everyone feels welcome.

Jen expressed her appreciation of support from community and politicians who wrote to VicTrack encouraging it to grant the Korumburra Women’s Shed group a lease for the former goods shed.

Member for Gippsland South Danny O’Brien, Member for Eastern Victoria Melina Bath. Member for Monash Russell Broadbent and Cr Nathan Hersey all threw their support behind those at the Korumburra Women’s Shed.

Korumburra Women’s Shed gets a hand from ‘brother shed’

ROWVILLE Men’s Shed generously donated a substantial collection of tools to the members of Korumburra Women’s Shed who have just received the keys to their new home in the Korumburra railway precinct.

The Rowville men also invited the Korumburra organisation to be their ‘sister shed’, an informal arrangement the women were pleased to accept.

The relationship between the two organisations sprang up because the father of one of the members of the Korumburra Women’s Shed belongs to the Rowville Men’s Shed.

Some of the women were invited to the Men’s Shed last year, the Rowville men showing them around, offering advice and cooking lunch.

During that visit, the ladies were shown a shipping container in which the men were collecting surplus donated items for them.

The Rowville men recently posted on Facebook about their contribution to the Women’s Shed.

“Over a period of time we have accumulated excess tools, machinery and hardware from very generous donations,” the Men’s Shed stated, adding that those making the donations would be delighted to know the tools are valued and being used for new projects.

It took three cars and two loaded trailers to deliver the haul to Korumburra Women’s Shed.

Items such as a thicknesser, sliding mitre saw, a drill press, a Triton workbench, a mini fridge and shelving are among the recently delivered haul, with a number of boxes yet to be opened.

Committee member Linda Fisher, who is the Tools Officer, responded to the men’s Facebook post, expressing her thanks on behalf of the Women’s Shed members.

“Thank you so much guys! Your donation of a ‘shed starter kit’ is very much appreciated, and we also appreciate your advice on all things shedding,” she said.

Speaking to the Sentinel-Times, Linda explained the Rowville men detailed what went into setting up their shed, the women appreciating their helpful advice.

“Hopefully, we can catch up with our ‘brother shed’ soon as we continue our journey,” she said, the women having returned the men’s hospitality by providing lunch, cake and biscuits.

Linda also thanked the men for “the yummy biscuits” they provided during their visit to South Gippsland.