A CROWD well in excess of 500 guaranteed the success of the ninth annual Rendelsham Village Market and Auction last Sunday.
An initiative of the Rendelsham Sports and Progress Association, it was staged in the Rendelsham Community Hall and grounds from mid-morning until early afternoon.
Each yearly market has a variety of stalls with great interest shown in the home produce, small goods and snake awareness information stalls.
As in previous years, the Royal Flying Doctors Service had an information booth and its Millicent support group presented a certificate of appreciation to the market organisers.
Live music was provided by various local artists including the Beachport Ukulele Group.
Among the hundreds of auction entries were a twin tub washer, six drawer upright freezer and a leather lounge suite.
A new computer printer which had a sales receipt of $960 sold for $105.
Volunteer auctioneers included Trevor Rayson, Ben Treloar and John Chay and there were 90 registered bidders.
RSPA member Dawn Williams has been the market coordinator for all nine sales and she said the 40 stalls were on par with previous years.
According to Ms Williams, some stall-holders had been present since the first sale including Millicent home-based baker Karin Abbott and Meek’s butchers.
She said stallholders had come from as far as Lucindale, Glencoe and Mount Gambier.
“The market is the main yearly fundraiser for the Rendelsham Sports and Progress Association,” Ms Williams said.
“By raising funds and obtaining grants, we have been able to build the town entrance signs as well as install the history panels at the parking bay.
“We also joined with the Rendelsham Community Hall Management Committee to upgrade the kitchen in May last year.
“It cost $32,000 and the other half came from Wattle Range Council.”
Ms Abbott occupied her usual place in the main body of the Rendelsham Community Hall.
She arrived at 8am to set up and was ready when the doors opened to the public
an hour later.
“This is my once a year effort and it has been a big baking week,” Ms Abbott said,
“I used to go to the Nangula and Legacy markets but this is now the only one.
“I keep records of all I sell and my carrot cakes and date rolls are the most popular.
“I sell out most years.”
Ms Abbott said she was happy to see her stallholder fees go to assist the work of the RSPA.
“Rendelsham is a good community and they are lovely people,” she said.
Another to sing the praises of the RSPA and its yearly market was first time stallholder Sharlene Miles.
With other family members, they run the South East Snake Awareness Group which is a commercial and educational venture.
They displayed venomous snakes as well as lizards, pythons and a young red-necked wallaby.
Ms Miles said she was pleased with the size of the crowd at Rendelsham and the level of interest shown in her group’s display.
“We go to as many of these markets as we can,” Ms Miles said.
“It is about raising awareness and educating the public.”
