Shopping shelter: Most of the stalls are now under one roof.
Photo by
Rodney Braithwaite
For many of the stall holders at the Emerald Bank Market on Sunday it was the first opportunity to sell their wares in more than six months.
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For the thousands of shoppers it was also likely among the first COVID-safe public events they had attended.
And there were smiles all round.
Tom Lee from Kensal Estate Wines at Cobram said without his beef cattle breeding operation he would have been without any income while markets were off limits due to the pandemic.
Back trading: Tom Lee from Kensal Estate Wines relied on his cattle business to survive more than six months between markets.
Photo by
Rodney Braithwaite
“We’ve effectively been out of business for six months, it is great to be back,” he said.
Marlee Co. Pet Boutique owner Jess Kettles from Nagambie had been unable to set up her market stall or run her dog grooming business amid lockdowns.
Great to be back: Marlee Co. Pet Boutique owner Jess Kettles was all smiles.
Photo by
Rodney Braithwaite
“All my good markets kept getting cancelled and then cancelled again,” she said.
“This is just great, it is nice to be out again.”
The new Emerald Bank Market is on every Sunday with most stalls in a massive new undercover area built as part of the Museum of Vehicle Evolution.
Everything from fresh vegetables and bread to crafts and clothing is available and a range of different traders are expected every week along with a band of regulars.
“Having all the customers come through and let me know how happy they are, it has been reward for all the hard work,” market manager Stacey Moutafis said.
“It is a weekly event now and we really want it to be a place where people can come to get some of their essentials and support a lot of wonderful local producers.”
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