We are back
The Merbein Street Markets are now under new management, (Merbein Progressive Group Inc.), but still cordinated by Pam Amey. Our Market will have some new ideas and would welcome any suggestions you may have.
We started 12 months ago with 32 stalls and now have grown to approx. 100 stalls. This makes us the biggest in the Sunraysia area.
A great group of stall holders make our market very special with a lovely carnival atmoshere. Some leave home at 3-00am in the morning (Swan Hill) to support our market and be set up by 8-00am .We have stalls from Adelaide Fisheries, Loxton, Berrie,Pomona , Dareton, Nagiloc and Robinvale. The local Schools and Sport Groups Fundraising activities are supported by the market. The Merbein Progressive Group Inc. have now opened an Information and Resource Centre at 85 Commercial Street Merbein. The funding for the new Centre is provided from the profits associated with the Merbein Street Markets. The Information and Resource Centre which is run completely by volunteers, provides assistance to the local Copmmunity and visitors on a daily basis as well as providing Pam an area from which the markets can be coordinated. (Pam's lounge is too small now). If passing by then call in and say hello or Phone on the new number 0427 888 708. All welcome.
So till next month remember, 'Don,t be a porcupine! There is no use having a lot of good points if no one can get close .'
Regards
Pam

Merbein Street Market Report

In the new Year Chris Westwood and I had a coffee and Floated an idea for a street market in Merbein to try and boast the traders sales in our economically hard times. With hurdles of Council requirements, Vic roads, Town planers and Insurance. We finally had our first market on the 3rd Sunday of April on a trial basses.

Chris was Flying overseas that morning and spent all morning at the air port on the phone to me. 32 stalls and it so exciting. 5 markets later and approx 80 stalls it looks to be a permanent feature of Merbeins calendar.The feed back from the public and community is very encouraging and i feel we have achieved what we set out to do by bringing people into our town and creating carry on sales. More involvement and help from any one interested would be appreciated.

Another MDA great achievement.
Merbein market coordinator,
Pam Amey

'Why Merbein' - Merbein's own song - Soon to be a hit!

With the market running so well, it appears that some of the vibrancy has become contagious with one resident penning the words to a Merbein specific song with a difference! Look out Madonna, Kylie and Kanye, this is some great work!

'Why Merbein'

We grow olives, we grow pumpkins
We grow mushrooms, we grow citrus
avocadoes and asparagus
It's all frest and clean
Our fruit trees and vineyards
can grow almost anything
The best in Sunraysia
Is found in Merbein

We play cricket, we play football
We play soccer, we play netball
We play tennis, we play croquet
We're proud of our teams
There's a golfcourse and a bowling green
And a swimming pool and a skate park
We're all active and healthy
Out here in Merbein

We got truckies we've got blockies
we've got sparkies we've got plumbers
we've got painters we've got builders
the best that you've seen
There are doctors and a chemist
and a butcher and a baker
There's always a bargain
out here in Merbein

Our op shops and traders
sell antiques and clothing
collectables and bric-a-brac
the variety's a dream
so whatever you're wanting
for lifestyle and happiness
you'll feel very welcome
out here in Merbein!

setember market 21st

Hi folks
It is time for the market again and the weather has finally started to warm at last . No more freezing mornings we hope.
There are 70+ stalls at this stage and still growing with possum skin moccasin's for those cool mornings still to come or may be plants for our spring gardens.Meg will be there with Christmas sacks and stockings just to remind us that that season is just round the corner.Country ware products that we all know to Rawleigh goods that have proven the test of time. Chocs from Broken hill ,olive oil Robinvale Nuts Nagiloc ,Potatoe lady boundary bend and fresh produce from over the river , trees from Swan hill we are certainly collecting stalls from around the area. It gives us a lot of variety and they say that variety is the spice of life.
So lets hope for a large crowd and wonderful weather.
See you there
Pam

August Street Market

Cold, Cold, Cold but still 70+ stalls. No doubt we can expect September 21st to be much warmer weather.

Very positive news in that most stalls reported a brisk trade especially our garage sale style stalls. Elders forecourt was a sell out and more stall holders want to be there as there are deeper sites for pergola’s and so on.

Congratulations to the Girl Guides who had a great success with their sausage sizzle. With Rotary lining up for the next sausage sizzle, the girls will be waiting with great anticipation for their next turn.

Our local schools are excited with their fund raising stalls selling Jelly cakes & citrus faster that the running Jamaican in Beijing!

The Uniting Church and Chaffey Aged Care were happy with their efforts; it’s really great to see all our local community getting behind the market, this really makes all the hard work seem worth while.

The RSL was open showing the memorabilia and had a steady crowd through their rooms. It is a credit to them and well worth the look.

Our market day raffle was won by Kellie Frazer with orange ticket D. 011 sold by Murphy’s takeaways. The raffle is proving to be very popular with market goers!

As the market moves into the future the organisers welcome any comments. We are open to any suggestions to improve our market. Comments can be sent to merbeinmarket@gmail.com or phoned through to market coordinator Pam Amey on 03 5025 1284.

For all news and updates on the market checkout: http://merbeinmarket.blogspot.com/

MERBEIN MARKET DAY STRUCTURE

In line with the Merbein Market’s continual improvement for stall holders and visitors alike a brief day structure has been plotted out below to help you get a feel for what happens on the day.

Start Time Finish Time Task
0630 0900 Stall Setup period (prior to stallholders setting up they must register with the market coordinator).
0900 Market Commences
1000 1130 Site fee collection period
1230 Raffle drawn
1300 Market stalls to commence trading
1300 1400 Stalls pack-up period
1400 Commercial Street to be returned to a clean & tidy state

Merbein Market Feedback

Now 4 markets old, the Merbein Market Day has certainly had a great impact on the community of Merbein. There has been much feedback to the organizers and it’s definitely worth sharing this with the broader community. Some of the feedback includes:

• Just like the end of the war, with people laughing and dancing in the street

• A great carnival atmosphere

• Such a boast to the moral of the town

• Exciting carry on sales during the week for the traders

• Great increase in turnover for the shops on the day

• Have never seen so many people in Merbein at one time

• Just shows what great community sprit this town has even when things are tough

• Good to see the men standing in the street talking and laughing again

• The town welcomes you and a nice family day out with the merry go round and clowns etc

• Stall holders comment a well run and festive feel to the day

However, it can’t always be positive so it’s worthwhile mentioning some of the negative feedback which is just as important in terms of improving the market!

• Congestion on the footpaths

• No car parks left

• Weather is to cold and the market should only be in summer months

• Too much of the same thing need more food stalls