By Matthew Payne
The last of the 2024 Ferntree Gully Village Markets occurred on Saturday 5 October, drawing to a close a successful initiative.
Over the course of the past six months, the Village Market has been a much loved event. Each market has been slightly different from the rest, in a bid to create variety and keep things interesting. The final market had something from each of the previous markets, particularly the first, making us feel we have gone the full three-sixty.
The live music has been very successful, bringing participating artists to the front of the village’s consciousness. South American style band Inka Marka played at both the first Village Market, and this final one, ensuring the soundtrack fitted with the three-sixty feel. Their music washed over the Gully, making it seem almost as if ours was a village in the Andes. We are very lucky to have had the talent of all of the artists performing across the six markets, creating this vibrant soundscape.
The popular children’s activities from the previous markets were also brought back, much to the joy of children and adults alike. The face painting allowed people to look like the animals that they cuddled in the petting zoo – as well as the more exotic ones, too. The petting zoo itself was remarkably popular, as earlier. This time, I think the goose was more at ease, as he wasn’t honking at the train.
The balloon artist tied balloons into remarkable creations. Her balloon swords were indeed quite popular. To cap off the feeling of a children’s wonderland, a very nice lady donated her sewn animals for children to take home, something that will forever remind them of our amazing market.
Whilst the October market did have to conclude ten minutes early because of a light shower, this reminded us all how lucky we have been with the weather over all the previous markets. None of them was affected by the weather, something for which we are all very grateful.
Our market has been such a valuable resource. Coming back and recognising storeholders, building friendships with them. Seeing familiar faces again and again, slowly learning the names that belong to the faces. Bumping into long-lost friends, or your neighbours. Connecting with each other in a way that wouldn’t otherwise have happened. This is the real power of the market.
As a village, we are eternally thankful and especially to Adriana and Coonara House for running it. With the Empowering Communities grant ending, we hope someone else can take over the market for us all to enjoy next year. Whatever happens, these 2024 markets had a fitting end, an exciting end we will always remember.
