July 09 Newsletter

Welcome Marketeers! This month’s BCM has pounced upon us due to our regular 3rd Saturday in June postponed and rescheduled to the 27th June, and three weeks later here we are again.

I know anecdotally that those attending our rescheduled BCM thought it worth their effort and the crowds definitely were not disappointed by an under cooked soufflé, we looked ‘dressed for guests’ and it was a beautiful ‘vibe’ about the day.

As best we can estimate we last postponed a BCM back in the mid 90’s so we haven’t had such a bad run really. It was obviously quite some time ago because many forgot the procedure. For more on that aberration read “X FACTOR”.
Fee changes advised in May’s newsletter will begin as of our next BCM (15th August). Our last increase was back in January 2006, prior to that there had been 3 rises over 5 years and each time purely to meet rising insurance costs. So effectively we have been with out any increased revenue to meet actual operational and overhead costs which have significantly increased since 1996, if not 2006. Increases range from $2 - $3 on average. Turn over to see a comparative fee schedule.

Ironically given the above reference to operating costs, advice just received from Handybins and unknown when fixing the new fee structure could impact on us greatly if we aren’t diligent. Curious? Read, “WASTE NOT” for a cure.

We are without two of our three bridges for the fourth month in a row. I will at this point stress that any works undertaken within the precinct of the Park are solely the responsibility and concern of Council. And qualify that, by saying that this is a Shire’s community and council still visibly and actually experiencing the ravages and demands of 4 flood events in short succession and all that brings with it. My latest approach was by email to the Mayor and General Manager on the 13th July. The latter, Mike Colreavy replied to my email within 5 minutes. He wrote, “I will look into the matter you have raised and get back to you shortly.” I’ll withhold publishing this newsletter hoping to have the answer we all seek by print time. Mean time we will, with your cooperation and patience, make what adjustments we can and overcome this inconvenience and turn it to our advantage.

Now to other happenings items of interest. Importantly our burl carving bon vivant and recent absentee Colin is now at home and with family but still fragile according to reports. A speedy and complete recovery Col, old timber is tough stuff. The Knicker Parlor lady Rebecca isn’t here today but her knickers are (so to speak). She’s selling knickers to revelers at the famous Glastonbury Festival in the U.K. as well as at WOMAD. At BCM you can get the knickers sans Rebecca until our August outing. Flu has left us without several of our little Market mates today, speedy recovery to you all. Good news for Jane in B Section and vindication of the powers of positive thinking hers and yours. Both a happening and interesting is the Mary Snowball Puppet Show. Mary made her debut 30years ago at the BCM when she was 17 and we were still at Bellingen Showground. A puppeteer, an entertainer and an educator all rolled up into one little (Snow) ball. There are 3 free shows 9.30, 10.30 and 11.30 (approx), a delightful addition to a school holiday BCM for lovers of nursery rhymes and imagination. Delivering the entertainment is Lea Gillard. Her band, a tight, solid, foundation from where Lea’s vocals take flight, delivering the entertainment! Our Community Group are some of the RFS’ finest, Kalang Brigade assisting us to put it together and then pull it apart. Forget the Spanish Inquisition when the Kalangers are at a gate, donation bucket at hand. It’s all in good fun and apart of what makes it the BCM not just a marketplace but a great place to be.

X FACTOR
Spare a thought for the already (well sometimes) pressurized task of organising a any BCM, let alone a rescheduled one; only knowing 50% of your Permanent attendees and the dilemma of knowing how many Casuals to book in. Book in too many and run the risk of them turning up to fill sites now being claimed by a Permanent Marketeer who hadn’t advised their intentions, assumed usual conditions and just turn up.

There is a great effort put toward achieving a good balance and placement of stall types and numbers to everyone’s mutual advantage. We maintain our core commitment of over 30 years, too promoting the Arts, Crafts and Produce of the Shire and our region.

Ultimately, in an attempt to insure our Visitors have choice and you an income we avoid over-duplication of goods and products. Not immodestly our BCM does have a great reputation. Nurtured over the years that reputation continues to grow and that presents a risk as reputation becomes expectation. We all want the best BCM we can put on, no matter what the circumstances for our ‘expectant’ Visitors. We none of us want another postponed BCM but in the future I know we’ll all be enlightened by re-reading the BCM Guidelines (available form the BCM Info Office or on our web site), particularly the excerpt pointedly reproduced below.

“If market postponed, ALL TRADERS must then reconfirm their site by calling the BCM Office on Monday following the cancelled BCM. Permanents need only call, give their name, site number and confirm their intention to attend. Casuals will need to re-book.” BCM Guidelines

WASTE NOT
Lets breakdown all cartons and dispose of by 4pm into the Yellow Skip. Cardboard, paper or wood stained with food is a compostable item and must go in the Green bin (if a small item or flattened out and put into the bins after 2.30pm and by 4pm. Any of the Bellingen Shire Council’s brown, cylindrical bins which are found on fences, posts and around the grandstand, are not to be used for stall generated waste.

Make certain if you serve food in plates, cups, containers etc that they are as required under BCM Guidelines. In short; wood, paper, cardboard.
Recycling needs greater diligence by us all to promote an environmentally sustainable planet. An added incentive too greater diligence has been provided by Handybins who have advised us they are increasing waste removal charges and tightening up on allowable taint rates in recycling (yellow) and compost (green) bins and skips. Bins considered tainted will stickered by collectors and charged at waste (red) bin rates which have just increased by 100% in one go.
“It’s not that easy being green” Kermit.