Welcome to Bellingen Community Markets 18 July 2026
Thanks for joining us and hope you have had a wonderful month.
Can you believe the wacky weather is returning. Every month this year it has said rain on market day, but it didn’t rain, so all we can do is sit tight and believe Saturday will be fine. I will watch it closely and consult our expert weather man, Kev from Kombu. Have you seen Kev’s wonderful webpage all about weather?
Being the end of the school holidays many families will be around so we hope to be busy. As an outdoor market, we do go ahead with a bit of rain because it often stops and the visitors still come. That’s why we need you to join us, to help create the market’s colourful vibing atmosphere. It’s really all about the safety of the grounds and it was solid on Monday. This week has been beautiful and a couple of rainy days coming up wont mess the park up, but I will check the grounds again to make sure. If anything changes, you’ll be the first to know. In the meantime…..
Remain optimistic as it helps greatly 🙂
We very much value and appreciate your presence; product and person so come and help make it a fun and fabulous Bellingen Community Markets.
See you soon.
Kaz Selbie
Market Manager
CHEYNNE MURPHY & FRIENDS
“Classic Aussie folk-rock – soulful stories backed with big acoustic guitars, uplifting melodies, driving rhythms, and tasty guitar work. In the tradition of other timeless homegrown artists – from Paul Kelly to Pete Murray, the Black Sorrows to the Waifs…catchy, original and unmistakably Australian.” Source: Fender Australia
Cheynne Murphy is a heartfelt, folk-rock singer-songwriter originally born in Nowra (South Coast, NSW) and with no musical training he discovered his voice and “three chords and the truth” at the end of a university marketing degree. Two years later he had abandoned corporate aspirations and signed a world-wide songwriting deal with BMG publishing where he is still signed. Cheynne’s songs seem to effortlessly traverse the musical terrains of pop, folk-rock and alternative country. He has been described by Drum magazine as “a rare song-writing genius”; Rhythm Magazine as “big, warm, sprawling folk-rock, and Country magazine as ambling and cinematic but unpretentiously earnest”. Free-to-air TV performances, national radio airplay, and a string of songwriting awards led to him debuting his first solo release “Firesongs for the Soul” at Byron Bay’s Bluesfest in the company of giants like Jack Johnson and Ben Harper. His album “Headlights and Goodbyes” featured the inspirational guitar work of Jeff Martin (from The Tea Party). Cheynne has just released his latest EP Ride On and will be featuring this with long-term collaborators and trio members Mark Heazlett (guitar and vocals) and Mat Akehurst (drums)
Fast facts:
Born: Nowra, NSW, Australia
Lives: Casuarina, Northern NSW, Australia
Credits:
Bluesfest Artist – 20th Anniversary Festival
Multiple live national television appearances (Channel 10 ground zero music show)
2016 Songwriter of the Year Finalist – North Coast Music Entertainment Industry Awards
Worldwide publishing deal – BMG
National Community radio top five release (Australia)
Radio airplay – JJJ, MMM, ABC Regional /Radio National
Musicoz finalist
Festivals: Byron Bay Bluesfest, Fatherhood Festival, Bangalow song-writers festival, Neurum Creek folk festival, Kangaroo Valley Folk festival and more
Supports: Pete Murray/Tex Perkins /Jeff Martin / Epicure / The Church / Oblivia / Paul Greene / Richard Clapton /Christine Anu / Choir Boys
Venues: The Zoo /QPAC (Brisbane), Annandale Hotel, The Basement,
The Hopetoun Hotel, The Roundhouse, UNSW bar, Excelsior, Cat and Fiddle etc (Sydney), The Espy (Melbourne), Transit (Canberra)
Reviews:
”Something special” Beat Magazine
“Rare song-writing genius” Drum Media
“Big,warm, sprawling,folk-rock, unpretentiously earnest” Rhythms Magazine
‘Tight band, sighing harmonies and evocative guitar” Courier Mail
“adroit playing…Burnished Gold is a smouldering centerpiece ballad, showcasing the shimmering production and instrumentation consistent throughout the entire album.The arrangements and performances are accomplished and should appeal to fans”
Country Magazine
https://www.cheynnemurphy.com/
https://www.facebook.com/cheynnemurphymusic/
See and hear them on the main stage from 10am – 2pm
OUR COMMUNITY GROUP
REPTON FIRE BRIGADE
A wonderful group of passionate, proactive and courageous men and women who protect our homes and environment.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1116728648375339/
They will be on the gates welcoming all to the market and shaking the bucket, so please give generously where you can.
Please read Terms & Conditions here
A condition of attending our market is that your read and agreed to the above Terms & Conditions. It is important as it gives you a clear understanding of how our market works and what you need to do. We value your stall presentation, and your positive, friendly attitude which reflects on those around you.
We are trying something new….. Casual stallholders please write your stall number on a big piece of paper and place it on your car dash on drivers side. This will help our crew better place you and reduce traffic congestion, allowing for a smoother bump in. Please line up as shown on map below.
To help the day flow smoothly please also follow the below procedures on market day:
- Permanent stallholders enter 6.15am.
- Casual stallholders enter 6.30am.
- Casuals line up as per email instructions.
- Casuals write your stall number on big paper, place on your car dash.
- Remain quiet lining up in morning to consider sleeping residents.
- If you are the last vehicle waiting in line, turn your hazard lights on, so traffic behind knows you are not moving.
- Drive at walking pace and avoid reversing.
- NEVER EVER DRIVE ON FOOTY OVAL – 1st time offenders will be warned but 2nd time offenders won’t be invited back. Games are played on the oval and car divits create trip hazards for players.
- Listen to market crew directives when entering park. Crew will direct you to your site.
- Park in or close to your site so others can pass.
- Quickly unload gear, take car out and come back to set up.
- Unless advised, if not arrived by 7.30am, your site may be given to another.
- Park a couple of streets away so customers can park closer.
- Fees are collected from 9.30am so please have correct cash ready.
- Don’t rely on sales to pay your stall fee.
- We are a plastic free market – no plastic at all
- Foodies to use recyclable/biodegradable eating utensils; cutlery, plates, cups, serviettes.
- Take your rubbish home. Don’t place in our bins as we just don’t have the capacity.
- Food vendors to take food scraps home for compost or green bin.
- Smile for the camera as photos are taken and uploaded to Facebook after the market.
- Please report all incidents to crew or Manager.
- Gates open again at 2pm to leave.
- Pack up before getting car to ensure a smooth exit.
- If your vehicle stays in market during day, please also wait until 2pm to leave.
- If you must leave early you need to walk your gear out.
- No vehicles enter the park before 2pm.
- Please be out of the park by 3.30pm.
- Thank you for leaving your space clean and tidy.
- Sorry no dogs allowed.
- No smoking in the park, please go outside.
- Market bags can be purchased at the market hub (west side of oval) for $5
The green points really need some stallholders closer attention. Thanks for your support.
OzGREEN is offering a free community wellbeing program called Walk. Eat. Connect.
The program includes five guided bushwalks, shared healthy meals and informal conversations with local community organisations. It is designed to help people spend time in nature, connect with others and learn about local services, groups and volunteering opportunities.
Walk. Eat. Connect. provides opportunity for social connection, gentle physical activity and time outdoors.
Please note that the walks take place on natural bush tracks and may include uneven ground, rocks, roots, slopes, mud, creek crossings or slippery surfaces. Participants need to be able to walk approximately 6–8km at a gentle group pace.
Places are limited and registration is essential.
Register here: www.ozgreen.org/walk-eat-connect
For more information, contact OzGREEN: kathleen@ozgreen.org.au
Click on the below links to read the latest in the art, music and community world
Mid North Coast Arts Guide
Arts Mid North Coast ArtsBlast
The Mid North Coaster
Feel free to download our latest poster (as above – just right click and save as) to help promote our market. 🙂 If you haven’t already, please FOLLOW US and LIKE/SHARE our posts on Facebook and Instagram. Please help us get the good word out there.
Bellingen Community Markets
celebrating diversity, community and culture
every 3rd Saturday of the month
@ beautiful Bellingen Park
See you soon
We welcome your contact:
Got any positive/negative feedback?
Complaints possibly? Ideas maybe?
We value your input and want our market to be enjoyable for all. Sharing honest feedback helps us grow and be the best we can be.
Ring Kaz
0400 261 693
info@bellingenmarkets.com.au