‘Meet my crew of handywomen’
Mandy is building confidence in hundreds of widows just like her
After losing her husband Laurie to cancer, Mandy Gosetti was left feeling lost and overwhelmed when it came to managing odd jobs around the house.
Frustrated at having to rely on a handyman every time a tap was dripping, the 58-yearold Victorian decided to take matters into her own hands. She created the not-for-profit business I’m Still Learning, which offers hands-on courses to people struggling with loneliness and doubt over how to manage jobs around the house.
“When my husband Laurie died in 2014, I didn’t realise how much I didn’t know about doing stuff around the house,” says Mandy. “It took me a few years to realise I wasn’t the only person struggling. So I emailed my local council to pitch the idea to start running classes for people like myself.”
Three years on, Mandy and her team of 25 volunteers have helped and empowered more than 250 people who have either lost a partner, live alone or care for others in their home to gain new skills and friendships.
For eight weeks, each participant – the majority of them being women over 50 – learns an array of household skills, including how to change a car tyre, patch and paint a wall and fix a leaking tap.
“Some of them classify themselves as groupies.
They’re always looking for more classes,” Mandy laughs.
“But really the best part of my job is getting to know our participants at the courses, watching their confidence grow and seeing them successfully complete projects.”
But it’s not just the participants who have picked up new skills along the way. Mandy, who was once terrified of the electric drill, now has no problems helping her friends and family with their DIY requests.
With plans to expand the programs, thanks to a grant from Westfield as part of its 2020 Westfield Local Heroes initiative, Mandy couldn’t be more proud of how far she has come. She knows her late husband Laurie would be overjoyed at her success.
“He’s always watching over my shoulder and he’s never far from my mind,” says Mandy. “I think he’d be so proud of what I’ve created – he was a very generous man. It’s sort of like I’m giving back to him in a way, carrying on that generosity.”