RENDELSHAM will become a hive of excitement and activity this weekend when the community hosts its 10th annual village market and auction.
Kicking off at 9am on Sunday, the event has been organised by the Rendelsham Sport and Progress Association and will be staged at the town’s community hall and grounds.
The inaugural event was held in 2010 after founders Dawn Williams and Sandy Stewart attended a Wattle Range Council community builders program – facilitated by Dr Anne Johnson – using the skills gained from the program to initiate the first market and auction day.
The pair have not looked back since and the event continues to grow each year with strong community support from across the region.
“The village market and auction is a family fun day with plenty for all – money raised is put back into the Rendelsham community,” Ms Williams said.
“In previous years we have spent the funds on updating the hall’s kitchen, tourist information signs, town entrance walls and any other maintenance to the hall that we need to do.”
Ms Williams said this year’s event would feature a number of returning stalls, but would also celebrate the town’s history of growing the root vegetable chicory.
“Rendelsham is a great little town on the Southern Ports Highway and has a history for growing chicory,” she said.
“This year we are selling chicory and chocolate milkshake and chicory sausages at the barbecue to emphasise our history.
“Community members can come along and enjoy a devonshire tea with scones – cooked on the go – a chicory milkshake and sandwiches.”
Stalls include a vegetarian cooking demonstration, barbecue, plants, gourmet food, home cooking, health products, beauty, butcher, wheat, dog treats, free face painting for children, ice cream van, bric-a-brac, car boot sales, children’s clothing, fresh sea trout, patchwork fabric, craft supplies, wooden furniture and goodies, ducks and ducklings, fat bikes and spare parts.
Ms Williams said the event also supported the Royal Flying Doctors Service (RFDS) which would also host a stall.
“Each year the RFDS are there on the day fundraising and providing information,” she said.
“We encourage everyone to show their support for the RFDS because nobody knows when they might need them.”
Entertainment will be provided during the day by a number of local musicians playing tunes from a variety of genres.
Beer and wine tasting will be on-site, while children can try their hand at wooden outdoor games.
There will also be a raffle with a $100 cash prize and a $50 Fosters Foodland voucher up for grabs.
Saleable items for the auction starting at 11am are a popular drawcard of the day
Early entries so far include garden tools, camp ovens, a spinning wheel, general tools, two gas burner, fishing nets and other general goods.
Quality goods for sale at the auction are welcome from 7.30am.
The event will wrap-up at around 2pm.
