Dookie Women’s Shed started in 2025 when Neicey Brown and Katelouise Howard began trying to find a way to get into woodworking.
They came into contact with Gary Gray, a regular of the men’s shed scene in Greater Shepparton, who was willing to help and put up a board at the Dookie Show that said ‘I’m looking for women’.
That eye-catching title drew a handful of women, who put down their names to express interest.
When Mr Gray got the first meeting together, he wasn’t expecting much of a turnout, but 17 women, along with some of their partners and children, showed up.
“We started off with pencil cases, or ‘rat coffins’ as Gary likes to call them,” Ms Brown said.
“We have a lot of ideas, but we have to wait until we’re trained to use the tools.
“You don’t want to use these tools without training.”
The women have also built nesting boxes and have been milling their own wood.
Dookie Women’s Shed currently exists within the men’s shed, whose members are providing the space, equipment, knowledge and insurance, but meet on different days.
The women are looking to become autonomous and hope to raise funds through events and Bunnings barbecues.
While the turnout is strong now, a previous women’s shed in Shepparton fell apart five years ago due to declining numbers and disagreements between members.
Ms Brown and Mr Gray said they both hoped that would not happen in Dookie.
“We’re really hoping that it will grow,” Ms Brown said.
Mr Gray will hand over the reins at the end of April and hopes the group will have longevity.
The members of Dookie Women’s Shed are looking forward to what they will be able to achieve in the future, with skills such as metal working and a mosaics workshop on the horizon.
Another new branch is Murchison Ladies Shed, which meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, and has received similar support from the Murchison Men’s Shed.
16°C