April 2010 Newsletter

And now that you’re here we can begin - another warm, 3rd Saturday of the month welcome Marketeers! As ever we’re all hoping for a strong turn out of end of school holiday visitors too add to our always loyal community contingent. Whatever evolves remember ‘it’s not the destination it’s the journey’ and be thankful you get to travel in such a fine company of merry Marketeers.

There is a lot to tell you & so away we go…

Importantly the BCM Census forms that went out last month for you to fill in should be handed in today please. If you get the chance either drop them to us when you’re passing or hand it on to your Section Coordinator when fees are collected. Thanks in anticipation of your cooperation and time doing the form; it will hopefully provide the most definitive ‘picture’ on all aspects of our BCM.

Safety is always uppermost in our concerns for operating a safe event. We advised last month of a visit from Bellingen’s premier sparky. Plus a horror story for anyone attending a market came to me this week and gives further food for thought on safety issues. I direct & dare you to read ‘Blown Away’ herein.

As much about aesthetics as safety is the issue of vehicles in the Market Park after 9am. We have a policy of No Vehicles in the BCM and have had for a long enough time for you to know that if you don’t have authorisation from the manager, then you need to remove your vehicle or trailer. There are exceptions, disability sticker holders and food vendors being those. If you have any queries please direct them to me, otherwise when parking your car please avoid taking up parking on the Market perimeters to allow visitors access to you.

There was great concern last month for Stan & Sally who ran off the road on Shortcut Rd. Sally reports that Stan has had to attend John Hunter Hospital for some repairs but they are both otherwise ok. Not so their utility, it has gone to the happy hunting ground. Sally asked me to pass on to all their thanks and appreciation at he concern and many calls they received. We hope to see them back very soon.

Again this month we’ll have BHAG (Bellingen Hospital Action Group) so if you would like to know anything or show your support drop along and say hi. We also have Riding for the Disabled in today. This certainly is a marvellous programme and worth finding out more about, today’s the day.

Our BCM Community Group of the Month is the Bellingen Renewable Energy Fair (BREF). Already establishing a big name for their event their volunteers are ours today. They’ll be out to inform and raise funds with their info stall & raffle tickets as well as at the gates with their buckets. Apart from generating environmental awareness it is also growing good attendances to their annual event.

Music this month is courtesy of Geoff Turnbull Session who play their second BCM on the back of, as the expression goes, public demand. On stage from 10 - 2pm but if you can’t get away to see our acts during the day a lot of folk are opting to catch the BCM acts at the Federal Hotel from 5-8pm.

With the change from daylight saving time it is darkerwhen we arrive and quickly dark in the afternoon. Nobody’s cracking a whip here but it would be greatly appreciated (by me especially) if you could assist by making your pack up and departure as fast as your setup.

Have a wonderful day and make sure you send visitors home knowing why people say BCM not just a marketplace but a great place to be.