August 09 Newsletter

This August our BCM becomes ‘Le Hot Club du Bellingen’ and the epicentre of excitement on the 20th Bellingen Jazz & Blues Festival weekend. Once again the town has come together to support the Festival which has for all these years fortuitously and cleverly coincided with the BCM 3rd Saturday. It is a synchronistic ‘double act’ that has proven to be an irresistible ‘must do’ for day trippers and for the weekend Jazz & Blues devotees. Returning to the mix this year is the post-Market, BJ&BF Saturday Street Party. This will mean the main street being closed in the afternoon, more details in ‘Street Party Plans’.

The bridges are back and functioning!!! Rejoice! I know my aching feet will. Much thanks to Council who despite their still considerable work sheets, resulting from our series of flood events, completed the work a couple of weeks ago. Also thanks to the steadfast, loyal, and patient Marketeers who endured with patience and understanding.

August will see the fee increases we’ve been advising of over the past few newsletters. This is no reaction to any GDT (Global Down Turn) or a cynical revenue raising exercise. Given the several years without fee increases I know you will appreciate the fee adjustment is long over due and not an unreasonable amount.

BJ&BF Saturday Street Party starts at 5.30 going to 8.30 this will mean afternoon, main street road closures. To avoid traffic snarls and hassle see ‘Saturday Street Party’ for details.
Our Bellingen Valley & Dorrigo Rugby League Football Club (BVDRLFC) are at a critical point in their competition and will be on field here tomorrow in a crucial match to put them in contention for a place in the Top 4. There must be absolutely NO CARS ON the FOOTBALL FIELD, violation of this perpetual BCM policy will be fatal! If you don’t want to die or you have proximity to the field (e.g. E Section), make sure you read ‘Forbidden Zone’.

We will generate a lot of waste any time but it’s likely that today’s could be of mountainous proportions. Again your cooperation is vital and usually forthcoming however some stalls are still depositing rubbish anywhere. Read ‘Wasted’ for the detail.
Just briefly while on waste it is a condition of your trading here that you use only recyclable products (particularly food stalls - plates, utensils, cups etc.). Please ensure you maintain the practise. Disposable of such items soiled by food should be into the Green bins. It’s compost and cannot be recycled, moreover it increases our operating costs if recycling is rejected and charged as rubbish.

Market happenings, much like life and death keep happening. Sadly we were told of the passing of a genuinely nice man and Permanent Marketeer, Martin Nohilly. Martin was sited in A Section with his plants and Wollemi Pine. He attended spasmodically during his battle with a brain tumour returning a few months ago well and positive, so his sudden passing was a jolt and we extend our sympathies to his family and many friends.

Famous families (and characters) abound here at the BCM, take The Arkans. Now stars of a Sikh in Woopi and screened on ABC TV Compass programme. They were to be signing autographs from their food van but due to a death in John’s family they are observing custom. We will still have Indian food sans the Arkans and their autographs with Lesley Green doubling up to do her juice stall and help out her neighbours…thats why its BCM not just a marketplace but a great place to be.

Wasted
If you have cartons flatten them and leave by the large yellow recycling skips, just in from Park St gate in C Section. Bulk peels and other extraneous food/organic matter go in the large Green Skip. Nothing ever should go into the cylindrical brown Council bins. We endeavour to keep the large recycling and waste skips accessible until as late as possible. If on leaving you are unable to find the correct place to deposit your waste then please just take it with you. I’d like to show those attending the game here tomorrow that we take pride in caring for the Park, leaving it cleaner than we found.

Saturday Street Party
These streets will be closed this afternoon Hyde Street will be closed between Church St & Oak St, and Church St, north of Hyde St. If you aren’t staying for festivities you can turn west (to Dorrigo) on to Waterfall Way from Oak St. You can still turn right from Church St to head east on Waterfall Way (for the coast or Nth Bellingen). Recommend you take Ford or Prince St you avoid delays and do not take Crown St as it is still sporting a gorge as a result of the floods and remains impassable.

FORBIDDEN ZONES stallholders must not under any circumstances, at any time, or for any reason even put a wheel within 2metres of the marked lines of the football field. The northern end of the field behind the goal posts is marked with perimeter lines for tomorrow’s big game. If you are setting up there keep as far from the try line with the back of your stalls as close to the edge as is safe and when moving your car travel at a walking pace and avoid contact with painted lines and as close in to the area.