Easter Market Sign

Our monthly market in Whittlesea landed on Easter Saturday this year. Not many people came because it was holidays plus there was a large community festival only a suburb away. So it may have been extra helpful to have a friend dress up as the Easter Bunny and wave at traffic for a time. We may have got a few extra people come. We plan to change a portion of this sign for next month's market. Maybe it will say "Cafe" of "Coffee" and Peter will wear a dinner suit holding it.

Whittlesea Market

We don't often blog about this but most months we both help at a Saturday market at Whittlesea. It is a very small market. It will be nice if more of the townfolk come. They are a bit thin on the ground and the stall holders don't get the trade for their stuff that they would like. Here's hoping that things will somehow turn around. And for the question why the extension platform? Possibly the builders next door wanted to take a high up photo. Peter should have hopped aboard too.

May Market

This was how our dried fruit and nut stall was set up this time. There was an attempt to make it more flow through. We had a reasonable turn out this month. The weather perfectly fine.

April Market

Our April market was Easter Saturday so we did not know how many people would come. It was OK just. Some stalls had good sales and others... well, let's hope for more people next month. We have been blessed with good weather so that is a real plus. The Market FaceBook Page continues to grow and that is also encouraging. Do have a peek.

Sausage banter...

International visit...

Winter Barbie fashion...

November Market

We help each third Saturday of the month at the "Saturday Community Market Whittlesea". We sell dried fruit and nuts. It is fun except for getting up early on a Saturday. For a fourth time running we had helpful weather. This market is a fundraiser for school chaplaincy in the town so Peter is more than happy to help out each time. The Chaplaincy Committee is a very solid and committed group and we are privileged to be a part of such a team. The pictures further down are of the local classic cars assembled at the market to help attract the people of the town. We are becoming the market where classic cars are displayed which is pretty neat.

Just for the record this last classic car is a 1984 300ZX Turbo V6 Nissan (a direct Japanese import complete with Japanese speaking driving advice). Very impressive. Ron the proud owner is standing beside it. It makes us realise that 'classic' does not have to mean loads of chrome and be 50+ years old.

October Market

We were graced with perfect weather for our third monthly market in the new location, the Whittlesea Secondary College. The number of stalls increased as word of the market's good character and good community atmosphere got around. The townsfolk came, pets and all and the sausage sizzle stall was very busy. It was like earlier years said one man who had known the market story from its inception about 14 years ago.

Ian rolling those sausages

David on the fruit and veggie

Just one of the curly market trails

Ben Minarelli, singer/accoustic guitar for weddings parties functions, busking for a trip overseas. 

For a third time running, we were graced with yet another car club. It is a loose arrangement where we provide parking space and they rock up for a few hours. Each time we have awarded prizes to the three best cars. The black Ford Delux was one of the winners. 

This Holden EJ was also one of the winners.

September Market

On the third Saturday of each month in Whittlesea a special market happens with plenty of community atmosphere. This market has received a new injection of community interest through the move from the Showgrounds back to where it originated at the Secondary College. We are all very encouraged to see this transpire. Everything needed to fall into place perfectly including good weather and that was the way it went.

So far the additional attraction for the market has been two classic car clubs. We are not sure what the attraction will be for the month of October, but whatever happens the people coming and the vibes of the good natured stall holders add magic to the day. Peter loves the classic chrome look - and the polish - as you can see below.

First Market

These pics were taken at set up time.. before 8 am.. before the people of Whittlesea came along. It was a highly successful day because of a thorough local media coverage. The rain stayed away. The effort on the part of the Chaplaincy Committee to do the move from the Showgrounds to the Secondary College to start the monthly market with a fresh identity was nothing sort of being divinely perfect. The last picture in this collection is a poster/card for future and potential store-holders. A community market has found itself again.