Welcome to Bellingen Community Markets 20 January 2024

We trust you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year and ready for an excellent 2024 ! 

Bring on the rain ! Let it pour and cleanse, quench our gardens and lands but lighten up on Saturday so we can have a dry, enjoyable day. The weather forecast is showing it clearing Wednesday to Friday so maybe Saturday will join the club. The weather is unpredictable so remember to come prepared for all scenarios. Don’t forget we are an all weather market and go ahead if it rains. The market is only cancelled if grounds are unsafe. All was good on Tuesday and we will check again tomorrow. Ultimately the decision  to cancel is often made early on market morning.  So if you booked a stall please come and fear not of a little rain. We are on the radar of many holiday makers and they will come and enjoy the wonders our market has to offer. 

It was ridiculously hot last market and I’m sorry to the stallholders who were in the sun on east side of market.  It’s the luck of the booking I guess. Not everyone can get a stall in the shade, but it certainly helps to book early (ie: after market just gone). Once again I’m so sorry to those who didn’t get in and hope we hear from you again.

A very cool trio, The Shufflemen, join us on stage from 10am and The Bellingen Rotary Club are helping out along with rattling the bucket at the gates, so please help them where you can. See more below. 

Thanks for reading and complying to our market rules and directives (as below). and for communicating promptly, and clearly. It’s good to know where you stand and it all helps make our  day flow safely, smoothly and enjoyably.

I look forward to seeing you soon. 

 

Kaz Selbie

Bellingen Community Markets Manager

THE SHUFFLEMEN ON STAGE 10AM – 2.30PM

The Shufflemen are a three piece blues and boogie band based in the Bellingen / Coffs Coast area with a wealth of experience in all genres of music. The band is fronted by lead singer & guitarist Tom Goodwin, with Gus Schroder bass and vocals and Phil Simon drums and vocals. We have been playing together in the Coffs, Bellingen and Dorrigo areas for over 5 years. With a blues and rock mix of originals and covers, the fun laid-back style of the band interacts well with venue patrons.

Tom Goodwin (lead guitar and vocals). Tom has been playing guitar and writing songs since the age of 14. Initially performing in bands located in the Nambucca Valley then moved to Sydney in the early 80’s where he continued his music passion in various bands. He then re-located back to the Mid North Coast area in the 90’s and has continued to develop his own interpretive guitar style.                      

Gus Schroder (bass and vocals). Gus has recently re-located to the Coffs Coast region from Melbourne where he was heavily involved in the local music scene. He has played bass in many bands over the past years covering mainly blues and pub rock.

Phil Simon (drums and vocals). Phil has been playing in the Bellingen area and surrounds for over thirty years. He is an experienced performer. He has covered many genres including blues, R&B, Rock, Swing, Funk and Reggae.  He is also a regular singer with the a cappella group “StellaBella”.

See and hear them on the main stage rom 10am – 2.30pm.

COMMUNITY GROUP 

Rotary Club of Bellingen

Formed on 20 December 1953, The Rotary Club of Bellingen have a passion for service and fellowship that drives them to make a difference in our world. They are committed to supporting community through local and international projects that align with a clear purpose of Service Above Self.

For over 70 years, they have been dedicated in making a difference, one project at a time. Members come from all walks of life, but each share a common passion for service and a desire to make a positive impact in our communities. From local service projects to scholarships to literacy programs to international humanitarian efforts, members are dedicated to making a difference in the world. Whether you are looking for a way to give back or connect with like-minded people, Bellingen Rotary Club  offers a welcoming and inclusive environment. Let’s make a positive impact together!

They will be on the gates welcoming all to our market while asking for your support.  

Market day procedures 

 

Thank you for reading and following the below. Your support will ensure a smooth and enjoyable day for all. Thanks.

 

• • Have you read our “stallholder’s terms & conditions” ? You did agree to this when you booked.

• • Please listen to directives of our crew – be patient, flexible, 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.

• • The above helps alleviate traffic congestion.

• • Park a couple of streets away so your customers can park closer.

• • Cars must be out of park by 8am and no cars to stay in the park unless agreed with Manager.

• • Fees are collected at 10am so please have the correct change ready. Don’t rely on sales to pay your fee.

• • We are a plastic free market, so no plastic products and nothing covered in plastic.

• • All eating utensils must be biodegradable

• • All stallholders must take their rubbish home. Please don’t use out skips bins.

• • This is especially important for food vendors – take home all your food 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. Do not enter before this.

• • Again please drive at walking pace.

• • All stalls in E and F section must line up on west side of Ford St at 2.30pm, so you don’t cross a busy St.

• • 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.

 

 

Scammer on the loose – One of our stallholders reported  a scammer at our last market. A teenage girl went around asking for cash by wanting to put a purchase through EFTPOS/Square and the stallholder giving her cash in lieu of a purchase. Her excuse is either doesn’t know how to use the ATM machine or it is her auntie’s card and she doesn’t know the PIN.  She then disputes the transaction and gets refunded the money leaving the stall holder out of pocket. She is very convincing. Therefore the solution is not to make such transactions.

 

 

Congratulations to David Ricketts who had a wonderful write up in Focus magazine about his chocolate making. It’s a good read on page 60 .  Click on below link to view and check out his webpage. You will find David  on the top of B section.   https://issuu.com/focus.mag/docs/cci156  https://chocolate-dr.square.site/

 

The best dressed Christmas stall last market was Zella Young who sells beautiful quality 2nd hand clothing in lower B section. Zella always looks fabulous but particularly so at our Christmas market. Thanks Zella and everyone for dressing up.  Zella gets a free stall on Saturday. 

 

 

 

 

 

Please help reduce our market waste

Bellingen Community Markets is in a good position to educate the masses on the importance of proper recycling. With the support of Bellingen Council, we will be receiving 3 new green bins to use at our market on Saturday but there is a catch !  We can no longer place paper cups, plates, cutlery, serviettes in the green bin. These now have to go in the red bin for landfill. The new green bin rules came into play because they make commercial compost from residents green bin contents and the paper products were contaminating the compost.  Please click on the below link to read more

https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/your-environment/recycling-and-reuse/household-recycling-overview/fogo-information-for-households

Your support on this would be very much appreciated. There will be signage and someone will be monitoring the bins throughout the day to ensure the right waste goes in there.  Council will be taking the green bins after our market to audit their contents and we will get a report back soon with their findings.  Maybe we could audit our red bins as keeping as much as possible out of landfill would be ideal.  

We ask stallholders take home ALL their rubbish. This includes vegie scraps for your compost and all cardboard and paper products, especially used oils. Please place in your waste outlets.

 

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Thanks for reading our newsletter to the end. Your a legend !

See you soon.

 

Bellingen Community Markets…. not just a marketplace but a great place to be !