As bushfire recovery across NSW continues, a popular program in the Bega Valley Shire has enabled women to develop empowering skills.
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Chicks with Chainsaws, a two-day training course, aimed to assist women to build their skills and confidence in the safe handling of machinery for property maintenance and in emergency situations.
An initiative of the Eden Community Access Centre's (ECAC) Rural Support Workers Project and funded through Smart & Skilled NSW, the program has had a strong response, with many women in bushfire-impacted areas keen to hone their abilities and become more self sufficient.
Training organisation Walan Miya secured Smart and Skilled funding to cover the cost of running the nationally recognised courses.
ECAC manager Carina Severs said the project had been inspired by a course held in Cobargo earlier in the year.
"We thought it would be a terrific way for local women to build their self-esteem and independence following the bushfires of 2020," Ms Severs said.
Cuttagee resident Reka Upward was instrumental in getting together a group of women located in the northern part of the Bega Valley Shire to undertake the program.
Within a short time of putting out feelers, Ms Upward had a list of 25 women express their interest in joining in.
"It was really well done, the first day was theory - mostly going through safety, sharpening, dismantling, cleaning and fuelling chainsaws, and on the second day we were able to put it all in practice."
Ms Upward had used a chainsaw previously, but said being taught by such fantastic and patient facilitators helped her to build confidence.
She said most women involved sought to gain skills to equip them to cut firewood, but a driving force for participation was the desire to become more self sufficient.
"It was also about getting out of a jam if there were fallen trees on the roads, for property maintenance or in an emergency situation," Ms Upward said.
"It was really good timing. I feel if we had jumped in straight after the bushfires we wouldn't have had enough space from the events yet.
"But recently I have been sitting at home and have recognised all the things that need to be done on the property."
Wonboyn resident Sue Hinson said prior to the course she was terrified of chainsaws, mostly because her first experience had been with a 'FarmBoss', which was a very big chainsaw.
"A number of the participants were quite frightened initially as well," Ms Hinson said.
"It's one of those things, men don't have to be the only people who can do it, getting rid of that fear was fantastic."
Ms Hinson said she believed women in regional areas, especially in the bush or on farms, should learn properly rather than buying a chainsaw and "just winging it".
"It was a lot of fun and very informative. We pulled them apart and learned about all the parts, which was good to know because there are a lot of safety issues," she said.
"We were taught to judge what the risk factors are before cutting and learnt about positioning logs safely, it was amazing."
Ms Severs said 59 expressions of interest were received from women across the shire and so far courses had been conducted in Wonboyn, Wyndham, Bermagui and Kalaru, with further courses now planned at Kiah and Towamba this month.
"To date, approximately 25 ladies have successfully been awarded units of competence in Trim and cut felled trees and Maintain chainsaws," she said.
For further information contact the Eden Community Access Centre on 6496 3970 or email admin@eden.nsw.au.
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Leah Szanto
Regional journalist covering the Far South Coast of NSW.
Regional journalist covering the Far South Coast of NSW.
