‘It’s a lifesaver’: Wagga ladies celebrate five years of the Women’s Shed

Wagga Women’s Shed is celebrating five years of being a part of the local community with an upcoming market this Saturday. Find out why it’s a vital part of many women’s lives.

For Vickie Donnelly, the Wagga’s Women’s Shed has been a “lifesaver” after the passing of her husband 12 months ago.

She had just recently moved from Canberra and said being involved with the shed had given her a new lease on life.

“I moved from Canberra 12 months ago to make a new start after my husband passed and I wanted to throw myself into everything with the help of speaking to people in Wagga. I was able to find the Wagga Women’s Shed and it has been a lifesaver to me,” Ms Donnelly said.

She’s not the only one. For the past five years the shed has been a place of community and friendship for long-term residents and those new to the area who find a sense of belonging in participating in a range of activities.

Wagga Women’s Shed president Ros Levett with member Vickie Donnelly. Picture: Patrick Morrow

Those activities range from maintaining a community garden, doing arts and crafts and also coffee catch-ups to encourage interaction with others.

This Saturday, members will be celebrating the shed’s fifth birthday.

President Ros Levett said the shed helped her get through retirement.

“Five years is a big milestone, I joined the shed when it first started after I retired and after six weeks doing everything on my bucket list I was bored and I thought I needed to do something,” she said.

“Here we are now, I really enjoy being part of it and I helped in the background to get the ground running for the creation of the shed all those years ago.”

Shed secretary Bev Rankin said being involved was an important part of getting to know the local community better after she moved from Moama.

“It is important to me because I was new to Wagga and moved here in late 2019, I used to live in Moama and was involved in multiple activities including the Moama garden group,” she said.

“Before I came here I googled what type of groups there were for Wagga in terms of women’s groups. I saw the Wagga Women’s Shed come up on my search and I thought ‘why not join’.

“Once I saw they do meditation which I was eager to do, I joined in.”

With the help of a grant of $11,000 from the Community Justice department, Mrs Rankin said the newly built community garden was a chance for people to come together after the last two years of isolation.

Money from the market will support the shed’s community garden. Picture: Patrick Morrow

“People are taking notice of the veggie garden and this helps people come together and is a much needed resource because women in Wagga do not know where to turn to have a chat,” she said.

Another member of the shed, Wagga resident Lee Broadley, is happily retired and said the shed had given her extra meaning in life.

Plus she’s found a new passion for knitting.

“This place keeps giving me lessons and trying new things which is vital as I live on,” she said, as she knitted away.

“I love knitting and currently we are knitting slippers for the market which is great fun and it keeps my hands sharp.”

Lee Broadley enjoys knitting at the shed. Picture: Patrick Morrow

Wagga resident Patricia Douglass, a committee member, also joined the shed after she retired.

She enjoyed the activities that she took part in but realised the need to help out.

“I love yoga and it was great to do that but I saw the shed needed help on the admin side of things and I decided to go onto the committee and this has taken over my life but I love it,” Ms Douglass said.

She said that the shed was important to many women in Wagga in need of an outlet.

Lynn Rattenbury, who was encouraged by her daughter to join, said it was really important for her mental health.

“I love all the woman and making myself useful, especially with the upcoming market, has been great,” Ms Rattenbury said.

Wagga women’s shed offers a range of activities including arts and craft, yoga and meditation. Picture: Patrick Morrow

“It is more about making friends and friendships that you make at the shed because they are so important.”

Ms Rattenbury, who is in charge of running the markets, added: “Having the market can help us have more people be aware of the Women’s Shed because it is important for those who are new to Wagga but also those who lost partners to join a collective of women in building new friendships.”

On Saturday, the market will include garden, jewellery and arts and crafts stalls, as well as face painting and a coffee van, with all proceeds going towards the shed and the veggie garden.

The market will be selling all things arts and craft. Picture: Patrick Morrow

It will be held at Wagga Women’s shed at the Beckwith Tennis Court Club Room on Beckwith St. Entry is via gold coin donation.