May Newsletter

Warmest greetings to our May BCM, a month synonymous for the gathering of nuts, or in our case a gathering of Marketeers. Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea comes to the BCM! As you might have already read in Bellingen’s Courier Sun, Coffs Coast Advocate, or last month’s BCM newsletter we are proud to host this positive, life affirming and community supported event at our Market. Volunteers from the NSW Cancer Council will be wearing the mantle of May’s, BCM Community Group. They’ll be stationed at each gate, buckets in hand to accept any contributions. It’s been an outstanding effort from the community, groups, individuals and our youth. Go on shout yourself an extra cup or two you deserve it and so do the Cancer Council.
“Into every life a little rain must fall”; and so it did for our April BCM. Unfortunate fact of life for any outdoor event when subject to weathers whims. If, as a Permanent Stallholder of this Market you did not choose to attend a BCM when it was open and operating then a stall fee is applicable for that missed BCM. That missed fee is also applicable if you fail to attend our Market due to conflicting dates with other markets/events. Casual Stallholders are not (currently) subject to any missed fee if they choose not to attend. For further details on your rights, responsibilities and options see, “Missed Fee”.
Marketeers and other Market happenings. The observant will notice the beginnings of a few structural changes to the central toilet, bar & canteen block and there’s more to come. With funding from Council, FRRR and BCM the final stage will be in place prior to our June Market. B Sections, Dot Heron has left to put her feet up after heart surgery. I’m sure she won’t mind me sharing this extract from her email to me, “I am now in my 80th yearguess I have had a great run, I have10 years as astall holder, loved every market& will really miss what has become an extended family for me. I congratulate you & all your section managers ontowardsstall holders & the business like way you run the market,’s the best.” One thing I’m sure Dot wants me to pass on is that she has a tent for sale it’s a 3×3m (+ 3 side walls) pop-top. If you’re interested leave your name at the BCM Info tent and we’ll pass it on to Dot. Marketeers Sue & Bill, of chili sauce and chopping boards fame, are absent from E Section today. Our best wishes and I’m sure yours for Bill who will be under taking vital surgery. Ironic that today we host ABMT to find a cure for cancer in its many forms. Still in E Section; as I write Steve (try the croissants or Turkish sanger) maybe passing out the cigars by this BCM. In case you were wondering who the two new & highly trained BCM Traffic Control Staff are who waved you through the gates today they’re Dennis & Buck (be gentle). Bellingen High School music students provide our entertainment from the Market Stage. They stepped forward to support our Biggest Morning Tea efforts and from 10am you will see and hear some remarkable performances from our youthful talent.
*More reasons why BCM is not just a marketplace

It’s been some very long time since we’ve experienced a wet start to our morning as was the case last month. Of total stalls, Permanent & Casual we were down 50%, so a timely reminder might be worthwhile.
Permanent Marketeers of long standing are aware of their obligations under our BCM guidelines that a stall fee will apply if, a BCM goes ahead and you choose not to attend. For the few Permanents who chose not to trade this will be the case. A missed fee is also applicable if you chose to trade at another event/market in preference to your obligations as a BCM Permanent Stallholder. Casuals, on the other hand are not liable for a fee if they did not attend.
We are an outdoor, all weather market and for 26 years, except in flood or if a threat to public safety or property (i.e. Bellingen Park) were probable, we go ahead. It is that surety that saw our ‘wet’ April Market visited by yet again more tour coaches. I was aware of three, they came from Armidale, Port Macquarie & it may have been Grafton (?). As in these conditions radio covering the mid north coast were advised and people reacted to the bulletins and came, one Marketeer reporting one of his customers commenting that she’d heard it in Port, another reporting a Coffs resident who heard it on the airwaves (ABC Regional & Star fm respectively). The point is they came!
A possibility to consider as a Permanent is that if you don’t want to or feel you can’t trade in fair weather and foul or, want to have the flexibility to pick and choose which BCM you’d like to attend that you entertain the idea of returning to Casual status. No veiled threat there only a genuine concern for an outcome that will suit you best and enable the Market to ensure a presentable attendance for visitors. If you would like to discuss your options or if you have any difficulty or queries on your missed market fee come by the Info Tent and ask for Neil; or phone the BCM office.