Market Report May 2006

The market continues to flourish and the weather continues to be kind to us. May was beautiful in the sunny spots, but a bit chilly for those behind a stall in the shade, but it didn’t rain and wasn’t blowing a gale.

The quality I believe of our permanent stall holders continues to improve and become more interesting and diversified. Quite a long time permanent now is Robert Burnside who makes most of the 'old worldie' furniture that he sells; he has a double site next to the music site.

Laurie Smith has a stall selling garden wrought iron and collectable items (site 8) and his whole stall is very interesting to look at. Next to Laurie is John Bennett who sells very reasonably priced plants. John travels all the way from the hills outside Melbourne.

Terry Frewin also has a great plant stall just inside the pool garden gate. Terry sells lots of natives as well as cottage plants and seeds from the local seed savers group. The profits from sale of seeds goes towards running the group.

Liz Massey on site 33 on the oval fence sells emu oil products, she is a wealth of information about their uses and you can always guarantee a warm welcome smile from Liz. Mick Corello sells strawberries for most of the year and has been a long time stallholder. Varri Peach is out Thai food lady, she makes all her own food which is clearly very popular.

John Turner the icecream van man, and his wife Jenny the painted emu egg lady, are regulars down the footy club end. Also down that end is Denny the nutty (whoops) nut man who has a seemingly endless stall of all manner of savoury and sweet treats.

Roger Reeves of Rogers clutter fame has a wonderful array of ‘clothes’ down near the footy end too. Kevin McGibbon brings us a regular supply of honey of many varieties and sizes between the swimming pool entrance and the music site. There are a couple of clothing sellers down the Kitty circuit end-Nick with his tracksuits and sports wear and Mary and Cong with their girls and ladies wear. They have both been there since the Kitty circuit opened two years ago. Also at that end is the stall I call Steve’s Sunnies but in fact he sells much more than sunnies, including a wide range of tools, utensils and toys.

A regular and popular attraction at Violet Town's community market is a carriage drawn by two horses.

The casual stallholders bring extra variety and interest to our market. We had Milawa handmade chocolates, Ray from Beechworth opals, our own Keeley S with her jewellery and Kiri from the Cats Pyjamas with bean chairs and other eyecatching things. We had quite a few casual wine stalls, one selling cleanskins in the pool garden and also offering us the treat of being able to buy a glass of wine. Sue Kirk had a fabulous site at the footy end selling imported crafts and jewellery as well as clothes and musical instruments. David Fagan had hand forged candelabras near Kerry’s Coffee.

The Black and Coloured Sheep Association were here again with their beautifully hand spun and knitted garments.

Once you’ve come a few times as a casual you can ask for a permanent site to be allocated to you. When we find you a suitable site you no longer have to book monthly, just let us know if you won’t be coming. Julie Bond tarot reader, shiatsu and Reiki practitioner took up a permanent site this month in the pool area next to Kris Byrnes doing reflexology. Ella in her pancake caravan also became permanent at the footy end. Well done to you both.

Well that’s it for another month from me. Look after yourselves until our next market on 10 June.

Chris, Market Coordinator, 0416 233 584

For details/interview call the Editor on (03) 5798 1858