There was appalling weather on Saturday morning as we arrivied to set up the Market. At 5:00am prior to the Market gate opening time at 6:00am Melbourne’s temperature was a cold 8.2⁰ with an apparent temperature at 4.0⁰. It had been raining overnight and the hail forecast did not auger well for a pleasant Saturday morning.
Robert Winspear arrived prior to 6:00am, inspected Patterson Reserve and found it to be heavily waterlogged in parts. He made the responsible suggestion that for the benefit of turf management, patrons ease of movement, stallholders and their vehicles movement, we would be better placed to move the Market into the adjacent carpark.
Robert Winspear arrived prior to 6:00am, inspected Patterson Reserve and found it to be heavily waterlogged in parts. He made the responsible suggestion that for the benefit of turf management, patrons ease of movement, stallholders and their vehicles movement, we would be better placed to move the Market into the adjacent carpark.
Whilst we have previously held Markets in wet conditions on Patterson Reserve the scepticism some of us initially expressed on Saturday was soon dismissed with the onset of sheets of hail as 6:00am ticked over. Robert’s determination proved that Rotary Glenferrie can be relied upon to act in the best interest of all parties involved with the Market’s operation and management.Luckily the carpark was devoid of all parked vehicles. Whilst needing more refinement in planning a layout - especially for the larger list of Third Saturday participants - the 57 Stallholders attending were slotted in successfully with very interactive direction. True to Melbourne’s fickle weather the sun began to poke through a cloudy sky as the Stallholders and Rotary packed up. Bad weather occurring on a Saturday morning and the consequent need to use the carpark historically leads to reduced numbers of patrons (please see below). Nevertheless, it must be said that using the carpark as a fallback is a contingency we need to have for both Stallholders and the charitable funds we want to raise.
I thank the following Rotary Volunteers. Past President Robert Winspear for intuitively gearing the Market on Saturday. Thank you Wayne Worladge for arriving early again at 6:00am to help us on a very rugged morning. Thank you to David Fallick, who also assisted in marking up Patterson Reserve on Friday. The unscarred and untouched lines may yet be visible for our Market on 29th May.
Thank you to the Captain of the Early Shift Don Moore and his team of Teresa Liu, Alex Marshall and Mark Howlett. Thank you to the Captain of the Late Shift Robert Hogan and his team of Miffy Hogan, Thelma Hutchison and Peter Harries. (Peter please pass on our appreciation to your neighbour Jeff who volunteered and so energetically helped us pack up). We always appreciate Past President Rob’s and Miffy Hogan’s work on the Roster and for Boroondara Farmers Market Treasurer and Past President John Suriano’s invoicing and persistent payment follow-up.Our financial result for 15/5/2021 was as follows:-
Stallholders (57) $4,275.00
Customers (549*) $1,098.45
Total for Day $5,373.45
*Rounded
Next Boroondara Farmers Market: Saturday, May 29th, 2021.
