THEY came from everywhere.
The Pally Bush Mega Markets at the Pallamallawa Arts and War Memorial Hall on Sunday drew locals, visitors and stall-holders from across New South and Queensland, and left everyone wondering, just how much bigger can this monster get.
Thousands of people converged on the village 30 kilometres east of Moree. They met, mingled and chatted, and ticked some early Christmas presents off the to-do list.
Pally Markets’ head sherang, Col Pring, said the morning was a huge success, despite a massive harvest looming large.
“We’ve had a very successful market. There were a lot of stalls, and a lot of new stall-holders,” Mr Pring said.
“The numbers have been very good – thousands of people, and well in excess of 90 stalls.
“There was so much to choose from, too, and everyone has reported good sales.
“We’ve had a cracking day – a great day,” he said.
Mother nature turned on perfect weather after storms and rain saturated the district late last week.
“The weather has been absolutely beautiful. It got a bit warm by lunchtime, but that’s what happens at this time of year,” Mr Pring said.
He said stall-holders and visitors again travelled long distances to attend the markets.
“People come from a long way away to spend a morning at Pally,” he said.
“I spoke to about a dozen stall-holders from Inverell, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast as well as the northern rivers area. We get stalls from everywhere. Not only that, but we get visitors from everywhere as well.
“I walk around and talk to people, and there were visitors from all over the place. They love the markets and can’t believe we can do something this big at Pally.
“But we do, because we’ve got the support of stall-holders, the support of local businesses and local people, and the support of our volunteers.
“We can’t thank people enough for the support they give the Pally Bush Markets,” Mr Pring said.
The Bingara-based Landcare Community Nursery had a stall at the Pally Bush Markets for the first time on Sunday.
Local Landcare co-ordinator Ali Bigg said a new market was always a bit of a gamble with a plant stall, especially when the travel distance and time is significant for volunteers.
Any fears were put to bed early.
“We loaded up with a range of natives, vegetables, herbs and pollinator-attracting plants, set for the unknown,” Ms Bigg smiled.
“We had a great location in front of the War Memorial and a steady stream of customers – that turned into a flood on a few occasions – throughout the morning.
“Initially, sales were all vegie and herb seedlings, but later in the morning the natives became the popular end of the stall.
“Conversations, connections and, of course, sales made for a great day, and we came home with a lot less plants than we arrived with.
“Hopefully, all those ‘babies’ thrive in their new homes,” she said.
The Community Nursery is based at The Living Classroom in Bingara.
“We are open on Tuesday mornings between 8am and 11am in summer, and 9am and midday in winter,” Ms Bigg said.
“We’re also regulars at the Bingara Lions’ Market on the fourth Saturday of the month, excluding December and January.”
The Pally Bush Markets are organised by volunteers led by Mr Pring and his daughter Bree, and the hardworking Pallamallawa Arts and War Memorial Hall committee.
All money raised at the markets – held three times a year – helps maintain and improve facilities at the Pally Memorial Hall and surrounding grounds.
“The barbecue is our big fundraiser on the day for the hall, and it did very well again on Sunday,” Mr Pring said.
“The barbecues were fired up at 6.30am, and went right through until about 12.30pm. The blokes and the ladies cooked and served food all morning – they did a huge job.
“It was a great day, with a lot of people – and we’ll see everyone again in March,” he said.
Words: Bill Poulos
Photos: Kerry Hine and Bill Poulos
