21 January 2023
Welcome to Bellingen Community Markets
A very good new year to you. Hope you had a lovely Christmas and got some deserved R & R. Isn’t it encouraging to know the worst is behind us. 2023 has great potential so let’s aim for the best, for all. 🙂
Once again we have a fabulously full market of wonderfully diverse stalls and talented, good, hardworking people, along with delicious food, drinks and coffee. Hope you get the opportunity to have a wander and see the unique stalls, chat with your market family, taste the yum food and enjoy the very cool music by local legends – FUNKATU.
FUNKATU play on the main stage from 10am – 2pm
Led by long time Belllingen local, Louey Howell on the Didgeridoo, lead vocals and drum kit, FUNKATU bring a vibrant and eclectic fusion of funk, reggae, soul, ska, punk and hip hop to the dance floor. With hoping bass lines, smooth and funky rhythm to howling uninhibited lead guitar. Their intention is to get you up and dancing while spreading awareness, good vibes and a message of one love.
COMMUNITY GROUP OF THE MONTH – Chrysalis Steiner School
Chrysalis Steiner School is located in the beautiful Thora Valley, near Bellingen Town in New South Wales. The school is founded on the educational philosophy of Rudolf Steiner. Chrysalis aim to educate the whole person – intellectually, artistically, socially, and morally – so as to develop each student’s innate self-discipline and strength of body and will.
Students from Class 9 will be heading to the Northern Territory for an extended stay in 2023 as class 10. They have already begun fundraising for the trip and are hoping to raise further funds to go towards reducing the costs associated with the trip and for the community project works they plan to complete.
The projects will be undertaken in Gunbalanya, Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. The projects will be developed through liaising with community elders to ensure that Chrysalis can create something of value to the community. Projects are still being finalised and are shaping up to involve some of the following:
– Developing a native orchard of healthy produce trees such as the Vitamin C rich Kakadu plum
– Restoring past elder Jacob Nayinggul’s home and creating a memorial in his honour
– Clearing a path and developing a track to provide access to ancient art sites.
The potential of the projects is limited to the funding the Class can ascertain. The greater the funds the more profound the works can be.
They will be on the gates welcoming all to our market and hoping for your generous donation to their cause, so please give where you can.
Check out their website.
Congratulations to our best dressed X-Mas stall and person!
Thanks to everyone who took the time and energy to dress up for Christmas last month. It was great to see our market brighten up with your colour and sparkle. Linda Barker and Co from Punt House Creations who sell beautiful Japanese Kokedama moss balls and homemade felted crochet, in lower B section, won the best dressed Christmas stall last month. They get a free stall this month. Well done girls and thanks to everyone who supported the Christmas spirit.
We have a wonderful market crew. Hope you think so too. Some us us have been with the market for years and some are relatively new, but we have one thing in common – we all value Bellingen Community Markets and love our market family..
From back left to right. Meet Delta our new fantastic new toilet cleaner. Raven is on Ford St Traffic, Lyn looks after C section, Wilany F section, Ashley was helping out on Park St traffic, Jesse looks after E section, Chris D section, Tony has been looking after A section while Mark was away. From front left to right – Pop is our general hand, Cheree looks after B section, Kaz the Manager and Cris is our Church St traffic man. Mark is missing from the photo and returns this Saturday. I will have to paste him in as I did Tony. We thank you for your respect, friendship and cooperation and in return will always do our best to ensure you have a safe, and enjoyable day.
Market day procedure:
Please read what’s expected of you at our market. Anyone not following our rules will not be invited to return.
- Read our “stallholder’s terms & conditions” . You agreed to this when you booked, and it’s important you cooperate.
- Listen to directives of our crew, be patient, friendly and respectful.
- Arrive at the correct time at the right gate. Permanents enter at 6.30am and casuals at 6.45am.
- Unless prior notice, anyone arriving after 7.30am may loose their position.
- Remain quiet when lining up in morning to consider sleeping residents.
- When in the park, do not reverse and please drive one way.
- Always drive at walking pace and NEVER drive on football oval.
- When entering, drive in and park close to your stall so other cars can pass.
- Quickly unload and take your car out before returning to set up.
- Park a couple of streets away so your customers can park closer.
- Come back to set up your stall and get ready for a good day.
- Cars must be out by 8am latest and no cars to stay in the park unless agreed with Manager.
- Fees are collected around 10am so please have the correct change ready. Please don’t rely on sales to pay your fee.
- We are a plastic free market, so don’t bring any products covered in plastic.
- All eating utensils must be biodegradable
- We need to reduce our rubbish intake so ask you to take home ALL your rubbish.
- This is especially important for food vendors who must take home all their own scraps, ideally composting them.
- Smile for the camera. Photos are often taken and uploaded to Facebook after the market.
- Gates open again at 2.30pm for cars to enter for pack down.
- Report any incidents to your section coordinator or Manager.
- Please be out of the park by 4pm latest.
- NO DOGS ALLOWED
- Have the best market day and thanks for your support and cooperation.
Other information:
Casual stallholders need to fill out the booking form on webpage every month to apply for our market. It’s best to do so 2-4 weeks before each market (held on 3rd Saturday of month). Casuals also need to confirm their site by replying to the booking email they receive.
Cancellations – if you need to cancel your booking please do so asap and definitely before the Sunday before the market so as not to incur a missed stall fee.
Goodbye to a special treat
Long time stallholder Gabrielle Pennington has decided to give more time to her family, farm and garden, and simplify her life. This means giving up Bellingen Markets. Gabrielle has been a real pleasure to know over the years and has baked many delicious treats. She will be missed by many. Coming from Nambucca, Gabrielle will continue at Valla Beach Markets while she can.
Thanks for reading our newsletter. Hope it helps you grasp what’s expected and what’s planned.
If you haven’t already, please LIKE and SHARE our Facebook posts and help spread the good word.
Onwards and upwards we go…. Look forward to seeing you bright eyed, energised and enthused this Saturday.
Have an excellent week and best market day.
Bellingen Community Markets, not just a market place… it’s a great place… to be !
