When Sharol Rudd set off to explore Australia in her van, she didn’t expect the journey to change her life. But what she discovered along the way — older women sleeping in cars, invisible and vulnerable — touched her deeply. “It broke my heart,” Sharol says. “Once I’d finished travelling, I knew I had to do something. I had no experience in anything like this before, but I was driven to help.”
That drive sparked a grassroots housing project now gaining momentum, thanks to the kindness of strangers and a shared sense of purpose. Just six months after planting the first seed, Sharol and a small group of volunteers are bringing their vision to life: converting second-hand vans and even a horse float into liveable spaces for older women without a home.
The transformation began with a surprising gift — a donated horse float. “We thought, ‘Why not make this into something someone can live in?’” Sharol recalls. In need of skilled hands, they reached out to the Logan Village Men’s Shed, where members welcomed the challenge.
Andy Boyd, president of the Shed, says while the organisation isn’t a traditional service group like Lions or Rotary, they’re always willing to lend a hand. “This was a way for us to give back,” he says. “We might not have a formal mission like other groups, but helping the community is a big part of what we do.”
Just as work on the horse float was getting underway, another unexpected donation arrived — a caravan. “So we’re doing that up at the moment,” Andy says, explaining the team is focused on repairing windows, sealing leaks, and making the space comfortable and safe.
Since beginning the project, Sharol says they’ve collected three caravans, now stationed at local showgrounds and home to women in need. A camper trailer, two campervans and the van at the Men’s Shed bring the total number of potential mobile homes to seven.
But not all challenges are solved with tools and goodwill. “Finding suitable locations has been extremely difficult,” Sharol says. Local council restrictions limiting stays to six weeks only add to the problem. “These women are vulnerable — many have experienced abuse. Stability is essential.”
Still, Sharol and her band of helpers press on. “Just when you think you might give up, something happens that keeps you going.”
If you have spare caravan windows or parts to support the Mens Shed renovation effort, please contact Sharol Rudd at [email protected] or call 0404 690 469.
