Harrisville Women’s Shed were successful in their bid for a grant that brought almost $5,000 into the organisation’s coffers.
The founder of the shed is Charmaine Standfield, and she formed the group in 2011 when she was 72.
“The grant isn’t really about the shed at all,” she explained.
“Rather, the money is used to pay for the fireworks during carols on the field at Christmas time.
“This is our forth year and the grant helps with the expenses.”
While the money explodes into colour and goes out with a bang, it’s the experience that makes it a worthwhile spend.
“We had a really good year last year because it went on for longer,” she said.
“We were able to buy them cheaper and it was a really good fireworks night.”
There’s also free sausage sizzle and hamburgers, cakes and coffee are on sale.
“Then there’s the carol singing and last year the kids club did their bit, it’s a real community effort putting it on,” she said.
Charmaine said she started the Women’s Shed after a priest at her church told her hospitality was one of her gifts.
“Then she asked me if i’d do a coffee morning for young mothers but I didn’t think there were many in Harrisville,” she said.
“After two or three months thinking about it, I decided to open it to all women and that in turn led to establishing a Women’s Shed.”
