THE Rotary Club of Mount Gambier will mark the end of an era tomorrow when it hosts its final community market.
Launched almost 26 years ago, the Rotary Community Market has raised around $750,000 which has been injected back into the community through various charities, activities and other not-for-profit-organisations.
Held in the former Fletcher Jones building each Saturday, club president Kathryn Weddell-Lucas said the market closure came down to financial costs.
“We have had to evaluate the income with what was coming in, the outgoing costs and also the factor as an ageing club,” Ms Weddell-Lucas said.
“It just was not viable to keep it going and although we could keep going, I think it would just end up draining more of our time and money.”
Ms Weddell-Lucas said she had received feedback from the community and some were surprised the markets were still open.
“Somebody who came a few years ago and returned spoke to me recently and said the markets were ‘dying a slow death’,” she said.
“When you hear comments like that and you have not got as many stall holders as you had before, you really have to look at the bigger picture.”
With declining stall numbers over the years, Ms Weddell-Lucas said she believed technology and online sales were part of the reason of a decrease in sales.
“It was not growing and it has been like a catch 22 where people were not coming in, but the stall holders were not coming because we did not have the people.
“We just did not really know where to go and it made it difficult with markets decreasing in popularity.”
Markets coordinator Willem Moors believes the growth of other markets in the city had impacted on visitations.
Enjoying his involvement for over a decade, Rotary past district governor Bruce Ridland said he believed the Saturday-morning event involved roughly a month’s worth of work each year for every club Rotarian.
“Everyone has been involved over the years and a lot of work has been put into it,” he said.
“Sometimes in organisations, you can get a few people who do the work, but it definitely has been a group effort.
“Times are changing and we think it is time as a club after almost 26 years of service.”
Ms Weddell-Lucas said plans were ongoing as to where the club would focus its community-minded efforts next.
“Our book sales have always done very well and we have our annual Book Fair every year, so we have decided to try and focus on holding twice each year instead,” she said.
“We are able to give out around $5000 each time and we have a shed full of books which contains thousands of books we would love to sell.
“We are looking at what the next stage of what else but that has not been confirmed yet.”
The Rotary Market will be open tomorrow from 8am to 1.30pm.
The club will also hold a clearing sale on February 22 at the former Fletcher Jones Building.
The public is welcome to bring items from 8am with viewing from 9am ahead of a 10am start.
10pc of all profits from the clearing sale will be donated to the Rotary Club of Mount Gambier.
