On Sunday, Junee Rotary held their second last market, and their call for someone to continue their legacy at the markets remains unanswered.
The final Junee Rotary Market (should no one step forward) is expected to take place on the first Sunday of June.
President of Junee Rotary, John Higginson, spoke to the Junee Independent on their decision to hang up their gloves.
“That is our second last market. I handed a letter to all the stallholders that were there, and we have emailed all the ones that weren’t there, indicating that the last market will be in June. That’s the last market that’s run by Rotary under the Rotary banner,” he said.
“I have made the call myself because I’ve been the market coordinator for the last 10 years, and I’ve served my time. I wanted to pass the banner on, but unfortunately, nobody picked it up within Rotary, so that’s going to be the end of the Rotary-branded markets.
“What we’re hoping to happen through talking to one of the stallholders is that we are going to try and get another not-for-profit organisation that might be interested in running it.”
Although this could be an opportunity for an individual to take the reigns of the market, John said it would be better suited for a not-for-profit organisation.
For the future organiser, John warns they will have to get permission to host it in the Ex-Services carpark, which had previously been granted to Rotary.
Although the last event will be held in June, John says something happen between now and then, and all stallholders will be notified whether that will be continued by Rotary or under another banner.
“We are retaining our mobile barbecue, so it’s going to be available for us to take, if they want that, whoever runs it,” he said.
“This Sunday, we’ve got a Bunnings barbecue, which we’ve been allocated about three months ago. We’re still able to do those things, but our running of the Junee Rotary markets will cease after the first Sunday in June.
“The rain kept a few stallholders away on Sunday. I know there was one guy who wanted four sites, and he didn’t turn up because of all the expected wind and the rain, but it was mainly the wind, but it didn’t eventuate, but things like that can keep stallholders away.”
Only 12 stallholders attended their last market due to poor weather predictions.
Despite this, John said he enjoyed hosting the markets and meeting the stallholders.
“You build up a rapport with them,” he said.
“You get to know them, we work well as a team.
“Over that 10-year period, it’s one of our main revenue raisers for Rotary throughout the year. We’ve got to raise the money to make up the shortfall.”
For the prospective organiser, John warns them the hardest part is in securing a permanent coffee supply.
“For ten months of the year, we ran it,” he said.
“It was good… the Club had come on board, and they opened at 8.00am for people coming to the markets.
“That was really good since we could order our coffee in there for whoever wanted it.”
This, he said, saved him from chasing up a coffee van as coffee, fruit and veggie stalls are the main things they strive to always have on offer.
Jack Murray
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