The Shepparton Summer City Market began with a bang on Friday, February 21, as crowds flocked during the opening hour.
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What’s your name?
Mary Wallbridge.
Are you local to the GV?
I am, for about 26-27 years now.
Is this a full-time business?
No, it is just pure love. Usually, we’re on a farm.
Is this your first market here?
No, no, I’ve been doing this one since they reopened the Maude St Mall. There was only 10 stalls here for the first year, and from 10 stores, there’s now 69. And we’ve all gotten to know each other, we’re all regular now. And some people come from further afield, so it’s just bringing even more people into Shepparton, which is really good, too.
What are you looking forward to most?
I think it’s just good weather, great people, a really good atmosphere. I love it, and I can make it all myself (woodwork). I’ve painted and sanded, and I do it all myself... and I enjoy it.
I love working with wood, and again, you just get a certain type of people that do markets and come to markets. It’s a wonderful variety of different types of people coming from different walks of life.
It’s nice, it’s social, and you’re out in the fresh air.
• What are your names?
Neville and Ange.
Are you local to the GV?
Yeah, (we’re) from Lancaster.
What has been your favourite part of the market so far?
Oh, definitely the Turkish bread. The girls make it so well. And, yeah, it’s really just relaxing, and we’re just having a look around.
• What’s your name?
Emma Hardy.
What do you do here?
So, I make everything that you see. My swearword scrunchies are really, really popular, little fun there, and then I’ve got the baby and kid quilts and gift ideas. And then my real passion is the bespoke quilts. They’re all one of a kind, they’re all made by me.
And yeah, I love to repurpose vintage sort of fabrics, tea towels, tablecloths, that sort of thing.
Is this your first time at the market?
No, my first market here was in 2021, so the first market after the COVID lockdown. But I regularly do Violet Town markets, and other ones.
What are you looking forward to most?
It’s just nice, and having that interaction with people ... it’s really nice to have people like my work and kind of validate what I do. I’m very proud of what I make, and to have people say, ‘wow, that’s great’, is a really nice feeling.
It gives me the inspiration to go home and keep making more.
• What’s your name?
Ryan Gay.
Are you local to the GV?
Yeah, I’m from Rushworth.
Is this your first time performing at the Summer City Market?
No, no, I’ve played lots. I’ve played at the Shepparton Market a bunch of times, and I’ve played all around the GV and Echuca.
Do you have a name for yourself?
So I play my original music, under my own name, which is Ryan Gaye, and then I also play with Drew Walker from Echuca in a band called the Wildlings.
What are you looking forward to most about the market?
I mean, I have to say the music. It’s a pleasure to be performing here, so I’m always happy to do that, and then obviously, my favourite is always going to be the food.
I think it’s just a great thing, I think that community events like these are amazing, and obviously they always make jobs for the locals and stimulate the economy, so that’s great.
What’s your name?
Gary Harvey.
What is it you do here?
I’m just at InterSport, so yeah, we’ve just got a few little things out here that we’re trying to get rid of, a bit of fleece that’s left over from winter.
How’s the market been so far?
Yeah, good, it’s a good vibe. Weather’s beautiful, people are out and about, everyone’s friendly. So yeah, it’s all good.
Are you local to the GV?
Yeah, I live in Shepparton, owned the InterSport store for nine years.
Does the market help your business?
Oh, yeah, the Summer (City) Market’s really good. As long as the weather permits us, then we can all get out, so, we’re all wary of the real hot weather or a little bit of rain, but this is a perfect weekend.
It boosts our sales really well, a good end for the month.