Market’s 30 candles

By Kath Gannaway
HEALESVILLE Community Market will celebrate its 30th birthday on Sunday, 6 November.
The market, held in the River Street car park on the first Sunday of each month, was set up to provide an outlet for people to make a little money from whatever they had to sell, and to raise money for local community organisations and projects.
Over the years the market has returned between $17,000 and $18,000 annually to the community.
“We are proud to say that more than 90 cents in the dollar goes back to community organisations and projects,” said market manager Roz Knights who took over from long-time manager Ken Sanders a couple of years ago.
The HCM committee now runs a second market on the third Sunday of each month, initially at the racecourse and now at Coronation Park, also in River Street.
Roz said it’s not all about the money however!
The committee recognises that there is enormous social capital in providing a meeting place for locals and in drawing visitors to the town.
As often as not, with the café culture which has the town buzzing on weekends, a trip to the market for locals and tourists ends with a leisurely coffee and cake at one of the nearby cafes.
Roz says the success of the market is due to a combination of diversity, location and choice, with more than 120 regular stallholders jumping to around 150 in November and December.
Walk around the market and you will find flowers, rugs, eggs, jewellery, antiques, toys – new, old and collectible, bric-a-brac, books, belts, soaps and shoes, secondhand wool, CDs, DVDs, crystal lamps, pots, socks (including some knitted from possum fur), delectable cupcakes, jams, vegetables, tea cosies, hardware, clothing … and plants – heaps of plants!
The third Sunday market is smaller and has a different feel. Set under the avenue of pin-oaks at the end of Green Street, the atmosphere is very much that of a relaxed, country-market.
Roz said the market is run entirely by volunteers and there is a very strong legacy of giving back to the community.
“We very much consider ourselves to be a service to the community,” she said.
The November market on Sunday, 6 November, will be a celebration of 30 wonderful years as the committee and community get together to mark the occasion with activities for children, giveaways and other surprises!