BELLINGEN COMMUNITY MARKETS NEWSLETTER – 21 SEPTEMBER 2024
Welcome to another wonderful month at Bellingen Community Markets, this Saturday 21 September, from 6.30am to 2.30pm for stallholders and 8am – 2.30pm for visitors.
Spring has sprung and the weather has been wacky. It was actually feeling like summer for a while but the cooler, sunny days have returned which is lovely. I have a feeling we are in for a hot summer! In the meantime, I hope you have been enjoying your time under the sunshine in between markets.
We have an excellent entertainment line up with a very cool band called Raven joining us and when the band has a break, a magnificent 45 piece Northern Sydney Symphonic Wind Ensemble will be playing on the football oval. The dedicated Bellingen High P&C are helping us set up and pack down, and welcoming all at the gates.
It has been a busy month of action as I’m sure it has been with you too, so I trust you are ready, willing, keen and able for an excellent market day on Saturday.
The photo above comes from Luigi and Nidya at the Patch Organics, found over at A gate,. They sell lots of delicious healthy produce and chickens, fresh broth too ! Unfortunately they are away this month, but can be found on the internet.
Thanks for your support and have a good one. See you soon.
Kaz Selbie
Bellingen Markets Manager
M: 0400 261693
E: info@bellingenmarkets.com.au
RAVEN play on the mainstage from 10am – 2.30pm
The Mid North Coast’s best kept secret, RAVEN are lovers of British blues and rock music. They emerge from the Nambucca and Bellingen shires and have become one of the regions hottest blues and rock outfits with their authentic reproduction of famous and popular songs from the late sixties and early seventies.
RAVEN is an exciting ensemble of experienced musicians who have come together to pay homage to arguably the most influential period of popular music since the invention of the electric guitar. The British Blues Invasion – This short period between 1965 and 1975 witnessed some of the most famous bands from England dominate the World music scene with timeless tracks that are still revered today. There is no doubt The Beatles were at the forefront of this movement closely followed by The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, The Animals, Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and many more groups and these are the artists that have influenced RAVEN’S repertoire.
RAVEN are: Grahame Elsley on guitar, is an accomplished singer/songwriter and member of more than a dozen successful groups including the official “ROCKY HORROR LIVE SHOW BAND” but most recently guitarist and musical director of “Crossroads” Eric Clapton tribute show. Bill “the Hammond Organ Guy” Ferguson on keys who has supported many great Australian acts since the 80s and currently with “Blues Exile” and “The Mal Eastick Review”. Barry Dennien, an amazing drummer/vocalist whose experience goes back to the 80s in the vibrant Bundaberg music scene. Barry brings a level of excitement to the band with his passion for rhythmic dynamics and together with Bassist/vocalist Pete Lemke make up RAVEN’S solid rhythm section.
NORTHERN SYDNEY SYMPHONIC WIND ENSEMBLE
Hailing from the Northern Sydney region are 45 gifted year 7-9 music students and their dedicated teachers and parents, who are touring regional NSW. We are fortunate they have chosen to share their music art at our market.
Don’t miss this awesome sight and sound on the football oval from around 11am.
BELLINGEN HIGH P&C
The Bellingen High School P&C Association is a not-for-profit organisation promoting the recreation and welfare of our students by bringing parents, carers, citizens, students and teaching staff into close cooperation and supporting events, facilities and equipment for the school.
They will be welcoming all through the gates, so please support their valuable cause and donate where you can.
STALLHOLDER PROCEDURES
Please read and follow the below procedures. Your cooperation helps the day flow smoothly and enjoyably for all.
Listen to directives of crew, be patient, flexible, friendly and respectful to all.
Arrive at the correct time at the right gate.
Permanents enter at 6.30am.
Casuals enter 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 park drive at walking pace, do not reverse and drive one way.
Never drive on the 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 the park by 8am and no cars stay in unless agreed by Manager.
Fees are collected at 10am so have the correct money ready and do not rely on sales to pay.
We are a plastic free market. NO PLASTIC !
All eating utensils must be biodegradable.
TAKE HOME YOUR RUBBISH. Please don’t use the red/yellow bins or skips. We just don’t have the capacity.
This is especially vital for food vendors who must take home their food scraps too.
Smile for the camera. Photos are taken and uploaded to Facebook after the market.
Gates open again at 2.30pm for cars to enter and pack down. Please do not enter before this.
Always drive at walking pace.
Report any incidents to your section coordinator or Manager.
Be out of the park by 4pm latest.
Sorry but no dogs allowed
HOW TO FIND US
SAFETY IS A PRIORITY !
Due to a couple of close calls, I can’t stress it enough for everyone to be super careful when driving in, around and out of our park.
It’s vital you drive at walking pace. There are so many cars and people around as we move in and out, it’s imperative you remain vigilant to ensure everyone’s safety
When exiting from the park onto the main streets, please look closely left and right to avoid oncoming traffic. For this reason it is especially important you take direction from our diligent traffic officers who will help you out safely.
Unless pre-arranged with manger, all cars must be out of the park by 7.30am and do not enter again until 2.30pm. This also means the stallholders with their car in already, cannot leave until 2.30pm.
Please park a couple of streets away so your customers can park closer. As you know, come 9am, finding parking around our market is challenging.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Do you think it’s a good idea to finish our market at 2pm?
Would you like our market to be dog friendly?
Prefer to pay your stall fee online before market day?
Want to have a profile page (permanent stallholders only) on our webpage so people can read all about you?
Would you consider joining us on a working bee day to make improvements to Bellingen Park?
Got any other ideas to improve our market’s appearance, function and promotion?
We very much value your ideas and would love to hear your feedback. Please send me an email with your thoughts. info@bellingenmarkets.com.au
OPPORTUNITIES KNOCKING
I couldn’t help but share the following valuable opportunities from Bellingen Council that may interest you.
Taranta Festival is calling out for local food producers and makers to hold a stall as part of the food festival on Sunday 3 November in Bellingen. There’s even chance for round tables and food demonstrations! To hold a stall (for free) please complete this form: https://form.jotform.com/242113386217047
Innovate with NBN grant closes 29 September. This grant is designed to support regional and remote businesses. Find out more and apply.
The Self-Employment Assistance Program helps people start, develop and grow a small or micro-business through 12 months of free mentoring, workshops, accredited training and financial support.
Inbound Strategy Workshops. Destination NSW is hosting a series of practical Inbound Strategy Workshops designed to provide visitor economy businesses with the necessary steps to develop and sell export-ready products to international visitors via the inbound travel trade. Online Workshop 10am – 4pm, 19 September.
Closing loopholes: FAQs on changes to workplace laws. Join this webinar to hear the answers to frequently asked questions about the ‘closing loopholes’ changes. Want to read more about the Fair Work Act changes and how they may impact your business? Find out here.
Coffs Agri Living Lab workshop: Enhancing Coffs’ Agrifood Identity. Join the September 18th workshop where the agrifood sector will beginto develop a meaningful roadmap to enhance the identity of Coffs’ agrifood sector.
