Over the years Jill Larsen has collected many memories, particularly on the sporting field. So what is the best way to display those memories with pride – by converting your shed into a space where you can sit and reflect on what you’ve achieved. Jill’s “nan cave” at Red Cliffs is a perfect example. She took Sunraysia Life journalist Angus Dearlove and photographer Louise Barker through her special place.
JILL Larsen says all wives should tell their men to clean out their sheds.
Years worth of clutter and the like, tends to fill up a lot of space, and can be an arduous task to clear up.
But once you do the possibilities are endless – just ask Jill.
Drop into her quiet property on the outskirts of Red Cliffs and you may find her in her “nan cave” – an old shed converted into a shrine of Jill’s passion, particularly on the sporting field.
With 49 years of basketball (ended only by a broken ankle) and 50 years of tennis under her belt, Jill has collected plenty of memories – and a few jerseys and trophies along the way.
These all take pride of place on her shed’s mezzanine floor and around the walls, with a bar and table completing the space.
“The death of my husband (Peter) started it all. We had a houseboat and everything off the houseboat I didn’t know what to do with so I put it on the wall in the shed and it just went from there,” Jill says.
“I decided I’d hang up all my basketball uniforms and trophies.
“It’s been probably two years’ work … one thing led to another and now I’ve got a lovely result.”
From her various jerseys, to dip tins converted into display cabinets for her medals collected at more than two decades of Master’s Games, Jill says she is proud of how it all came out.
“It’s been a lot of work, a lot of thought went into it,” she said.
“The mezzanine floor was already there, once I had all the electrical gear cleared out of there I just decided this is what I’d do.
“I have my own little space … I have lots of visitors who come and have a cool drink, and a few nibbles.”
There’s even the odd bit of St Kilda paraphernalia to be found.
“I was nine when we won our last premiership (in 1966), I’m a die hard,” Jill says.
The naming of the space sort of spoke for itself.
“I just decided it’d be the nan cave, seeing as I’m a Nan,” Jill laughs.
Three grandkids living locally and another two in Perth can sometimes be found admiring their Nan’s little space.
“They like to come and have a play around,” she says.
So what’s next for Jill?
Her tennis career is continuing, with a win in the doubles at the recent Red Cliffs Annual Tournament showing there’s plenty of life left in her.
But what if that means more trophies are on the horizon?
“I haven’t got any room left,” Jill laughs.
