Welcome one and all
Finally it stopped raining and they say dry days ahead, other than a possible drizzle on Thursday. It’s all sunshine and roses for the next several days so make the most of it but always be prepared for all weather possibilities. The park was very wet on Monday, but four days of sunshine will make a wonderful, positive difference. Aren’t we fortunate and blessed mother nature smiles on our market!
Hope you had a good month, kept dry, warm, well fed, loved and flowed smoothly through life. Our sympathies go to stallholders and visitors who are not well or have lost a loved one over the year. Life can be challenging at the best of times, and we often forget everyone is going through their own thing, so always be kind and patient. Long time stallholder Bruce Rose wont be at our market this Saturday because his 89 year old father, Ivan Rose passed away over the month. Ivan’s celebration of life is this Saturday at Thora Hall. I’m not sure of time but you can find out. Our condolences go to Bruce and his family. Dear Meg Wilkinson’s mother recently passed away and our love goes to Meg and family. As our elders would say…. Keep on keeping on, one step at a time.
Did you know its jazz weekend in Bellingen? The Memorial Hall has a wonderful line up and we too will see a variety of jazz musicians at our market. The Big Bellingen Band will be joining us from 10am on the main stage with buskers throughout. Bellingen High School P&C are our wonderful helpers and will be on the gates to welcoming all.
As you should know, DOGS ARE NOT ALLOWED at our market. This has been a long standing rule, which has always been a challenge to manage on market day. Yes we have a few stallholders who have their small assistant dog behind their stall, but this has been AOK’d with management. Sadly, we had a complaint last market from a lady with a disability who came to our market with her assistant dog. There were two dogs at the back of someone’s stall going off (barking aggressively) at the assistant dog, which caused considerable stress to the visitor and her dog. This cannot happen and coordinators will be checking next market, so please leave your lovely pooches at home unless of course you have official paperwork proving your dog is a therapy or assistant dog and you have AOK’s with management. Thanks for your cooperation.
Please keep reading our newsletter to find out what’s happening.
Have a great week and look forward to seeing you soon.
Kaz Selbie, Bellingen Community Markets Manager
M: 0400 261693 E: info@bellingenmarkets.com.au
The Bellingen Big Band
Beyond Jazz Weekender
The Bellingen Big Band are performing at Bellingen Community Markets on Saturday August 16 from 10am. The band is a community based group that attracts some of the Coffs Coast finest ensemble players. This group has been running for over 25 years, providing training, performance opportunities and a supportive musical environment.
Over the years the band has performed regularly at community events and Festivals. They have held performances including “The Cotton Club” to great success, played at Bello Winter Music Fest, Bellingen Jazz Festival and The Fine Music Festival. Last year the band was part of the Urunga Lights Christmas Carols. One of its early performances was during the 2000 Sydney Olympic Torch Relay in Urunga. They have played in Dorrigo for special celebrations and have played up and down the coast including Coffs Harbour, Nambucca Valley and Wauchope. Directed by Chris Frater, the band plays a wide range of musical styles from the Swing Era through to the modern era, including Latin, RnB, Motown, including vocal arrangements. The band is featuring a Stella lineup of vocalists in this performance.
They are Luke Gerber, Gareth Berglund from within the band.Charlie – Luke’s Son, Jo Pierce, Ella Mingaye, and the Satin Bowerbirds – Michelle Balharry, Tracy Young, Opal Pastro, Saxophone – Oliver Gee, Ester Bruce, Chris Frater, Jen Bedford. Trumpet – Tim Egan, Oscar Egar, Allan Marsh. Trombone – Daniel Wall, Che Chesterman, Luke Gerber, Issac Faulkner. Piano – Kiyomo Takayama, Guitar – Gareth Berglund, Bass – Stuart Dodson, Drums – Pete Skelton.
Come along enjoy a wonderful selection of Big Band Jazz and Beyond in the joyous space that is the Bellingen Community Markets, starting at 10am on the main stage.
Bellingen High School Parents and Citizens’ Association (P&C)
The Parents and Citizens’ Association (P&C) is made up of parents and carers, teachers and community members. The P&C meets regularly to contribute to decision-making, developing policies and management plans as well as fundraising.
The P&C meets on the second Monday of each month during school terms in the staff common room at the high school at 6.00 pm. All Welcome!
This is an opportunity to have an insight into the running of the school, have contact with the principal and staff, to meet other parents and to engage in discussion about the school.
Most fundraising for our school by the P&C is achieved through events like catering for school musicals and the Fringe and Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival, as well as being the community group assisting at the Bellingen Markets. The P&C is looking into expanding fundraising options by applying for suitable grants for resources and events. The P&C supports students in a number of ways, for example:
- providing funds to improve facilities at the school such as:
- lighting and sound system in the Multi Purpose Centre (Stockton Hall)
- air-conditioning in classrooms
- musical instruments
- enabling school representatives to attend sporting or academic events
- providing transport for student leaders to attend state functions
Come and support the Bellingen High P&C on Saturday 16 August 2025 as parents, student leaders & students will be standing at the gates with donation buckets to raise funds. When you see them, say hello & support them where you can.
Market grounds update
The park is wet (checked Monday) but we do look forward to a few sunny days to dry the park out. Most sites and paths in A, B, C and D section are pretty good. E and F section grassy areas are a little more soggy and need sunshine. We still have a ton of mulch at A gate on Church St, so If you feel you need please take some for your site. All the new bridges are complete and open to traffic. Our new electrical cable hook above switchboard on grandstand was ripped off before we even go to use it, so back to the drawing board.
We are blessed to have such a lovely park to celebrate our market once a month, so enjoy your environment and try to leave your site that much nicer than you found it. Many thanks.
STALLHOLDER PROCEDURES
Casual stallholders click here to find out what to do on market day and have read our Terms and Conditions ?
Following the market guidelines and communicating clearly and respectfully, is good for everyone, and the day will flow smoothly and enjoyably. It’s important you have a positive experience at Bellingen Community Markets. If you don’t, we want to hear about it.
PERMANENTS ENTER AT 6.15AM & CASUALS ENTER AT 6.30AM
PLEASE DRIVE AT WALKING PACE WHEN IN PARK AND NEVER DRIVE ON FOOTBALL OVAL
GATES OPEN AGAIN AT 2PM TO LEAVE SO PLEASE ENDEAVOUR TO BE OUT OF THE PARK BY 3.30PM
