VOLUNTEERS
Dr Brenda Hayman
VOLUNTEER
Dr Hayman is a registered nurse of 35 years. Her areas of nursing expertise are in aged and palliative care, with particular interests in wound management, infection control, mental health and the care of people who have dementia. She also holds qualifications in research and domestic violence. Additionally, Brenda has a Masters (Honours) in Nursing, a Masters of Public Health, and a PhD. Her research for her PhD was on lesbian mothering in Australia.
Brenda is part of the Women’s Advisory Committee and the Access Advisory Committee for Blacktown City Council. Her current areas of interest are domestic and family violence and violence against people with disabilities. Recently her focus has been on dowry abuse, reproductive coercion and violence perpetrated against people with disabilities in the Blacktown Local Government Area.
Lyn
VOLUNTEER
Lyn started her journey with BACC formally known as Marayong House in a small centre on Tattersalls Rd Marayong. Lyn has always loved craft and worked as a secretary at a local Architects office. She was excited at the opportunity of learning new skills when a TAFE outreach course was offered at Marayong House in 1986. Lyn loved attending these sessions and speaks fondly of learning multiple crafting skills including broom stick weaving.
She was so inspired by the enjoyment that craft can offer that she stayed on as a volunteer with Marayong House, seeing Marayong House move premises to Falmouth Rd Quakers Hill and then become an incorporated organisation now known as BACC. Over the years Lyn has volunteered her time and skills and is very happy to support others in their crafting journey.
Marti
VOLUNTEER
Marti has been the driving force with reestablishing Blacktown Women’s shed, working with Blacktown City Council and BACC to bring it back to life. Marti is an electrician with Blacktown City Council, an impressive woman working in a male dominated industry and is the volunteer at the women’s shed. A whirl wind of a woman who is dedicated to empowering women, building their confidence and capacity as well as teaching them how to use power tools and build. Marti is the proud mother of two daughters and a few fur babies.
MEGAN
VOLUNTEER
Megan first started attending the Women’s Shed so she could learn how to safely use power tools under the guidance of someone experienced. She hoped that she would become confident enough to use tools on her own to do little tasks and DIY improvements around the house. Prior to this Megan hadn’t even picked up a drill. Feeling extremely intimidated but also excited about learning, expanding her social circle, and sharing a space with like-minded women, Megan attended the shed and has become a confident and capable woman with all the power tools that are on offer. Through her passion to share these skills Megan became a volunteer at the Women’s Shed with BACC.
Megan works in both the Hospitality and Transport & Logistics industries, while studying Psychology at University part time; however, University often takes a back seat in her priorities as work demands don’t leave much time to dedicate to study. The further into her studies Megan gets the more she finds Psychology as a personal interest rather than a career goal. Working with her hands seems to bring much more reward & enjoyment. The Women’s Shed has really opened the prospect for Megan in becoming a ‘lady tradie’ and the more projects she completes, along with the knowledge she gains the more she feels that it may be her career path for the future. To date Megan has completed tonnes of smaller projects around the house, but her proudest achievement is completing a mini laundry renovation completely on her own, building both upper and lower cabinets as well a separate broom cupboard.
Pamela
VOLUNTEER
Pam started her journey with BACC in 2023 when she offered to volunteer her time and skills in running a knitting group. This led to the creation of a new group at BACC. Pam along with a group of dedicated knitters continue to be involved in local projects by knitting for charities and the 2023 knit bomb project led by Blacktown City Council’s Women’s Advisory Committee which raises awareness about family and domestic violence as part of the 16 days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
Pam and the knitting group also hosted an Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea event at Marayong House in 2023 and worked tirelessly to knit and bake items for this event. Pam and the knitting group will be supporting BACC in hosting the 2024 Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea at Marayong House.
Pam is also a host of the Hills Chirpy Plus Australia group and loves meeting new community members at these groups.