Written by 3:06 pm Australia, Good news, Positive Stories

Riverland Woodworkers Group A Place For Women To Explore Passions Denied As Children

A regional woodworking group is welcoming more women into the workshop, making their childhood dreams a reality and giving a more diverse face to the craft.  In the South Australian town of Renmark, the Riverland Woodworkers group meets weekly with members who tinker with and create their own passion projects. Among them is Liz Bull, who dreamt of crafting with wood as a child. The retiree said the 1960’s school system did not allow girls to step behind the bench because woodworking was considered a male domain.

“I really wanted to do woodwork but girls weren’t allowed,” Ms Bull said.

While Ms Bull did not pursue woodwork for much of her life, she did become a teacher, which fed her passion for learning. But the pull of the trade reared its head again when Ms Bull stepped away from the classroom.

“I always thought woodwork clubs were men’s sheds but when I retired, one of the members suggested I might like to get involved,” she said.

“Off I went to restore a cupboard and I’ve been there ever since.”

Ms Bull said she had since done “all sorts of things I never imagined I would do”.

“In fact I’ve taken over the shed at home,” she said.

“I know why men like working in their sheds now.”

At a nearby bench in the workshop is Trudi Haynes. Ms Haynes’ wood projects started small, but she has created furniture as large as cupboards and beds.

“After I left work I didn’t have anything to do and decided to join and give it a shot,” she said.

Ms Haynes encouraged people of all ages and backgrounds to consider giving woodwork a go.

“You can bring your children. It’s a really good hobby and it’s amazing what you can learn,” she said.

Women have been discovering woodwork outside of the Riverland as well. Judy Wheeler is secretary for the trade’s national representative body, Council of Woodwork Clubs. She said her journey into woodwork came from her time as a teacher, but escalated when she joined a group called the Dawncaster Carvers, founded in 1992, and a ladies woodworking club in 1995.

“By this stage there was quite a development of woodwork clubs throughout Victoria and we would host wonderful festivals,” Ms Wheeler said.

“Then we discovered we needed insurance, organisation … so, with all of this, there were quite a lot of women involved.”

Like the Riverland women, Ms Wheeler said there were many reasons people should consider taking up the trade as a hobby. She said advancements in tool technology also made it much more accessible.

“Once upon a time you’d be peddling a lathe, but now you just turn the motor on, and the same applies to almost all woodwork equipment,” she said.

 

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