Ten women representing various community groups and those with an interest in taking part, joined an open forum to discuss ideas for the shed on Wednesday.

The event will start once a week at the cottage at 144 March Street, Orange.

Orange City Council director of community recreation and cultural services Scott Maunder and council choices at home support worker Paula Beattie are involved in setting up the new women’s shed.

Ms Beattie said this would be the first women’s shed that she knew of that would have a trades theme rather than stereotypical women’s activities such as sewing, crafts and knitting.

“It’s also about women talking to women and social aspects of mental health and places for women to come that are safe and peaceful and to give skills to women to use at home,” she said.

Initially the shed will be aimed at women such as choices at home clients such as older women or women with a disability who have no live-in support and want to develop skills to stay at home longer.

“Traditionally the men would do a particular role at home and the women do a role but if they have lost their husband or are just single then they can learn the things their husband did,” Ms Beattie said.

She said among the skills women could learn was changing a tap washer, fill a lawnmower with fuel or find a stud in a wall as well as learning how to communicate with a tradesperson.

Over time she and Mr Maunder said the number of classes would increase, hopefully a permanent location would be found and a wider variety of women could take part.

“The men’s shed was pitched at retirees initially and then mentoring became a bigger thing so younger men could go along,” Mr Maunder said.

He said the council would also work in partnership with Bunnings and Tafe.

Among the ideas discussed so far were workshops on using power tools, using non-powered tools, maintenance and gardening.

On Wednesday, those interested in joining the women’s shed can also meet at the HACC centre at 10am for a tour of the men’s shed to get an idea of what’s involved.

tanya.marschke@fairfaxmedia.com.au