Monthly market to celebrate milestone

WITH the first event of the year taking place this month, organisers behind Talbot Farmers Market will have a landmark birthday to celebrate with the community fixture turning twenty years old.

With 65 stallholders readying for the market’s return on Sunday 17 March, committee president Patty Brown said the milestone birthday is set to be celebrated throughout the year.

“Every month we’ll be doing a handful of different things whether they be cooking demonstrations or talks on growing food, wood chopping competitions, whatever,” she said.

“This month will be more of a celebration with a birthday cake where we’ll offer pieces to visitors and stallholders, and one of our Greek stallholders will hold a Greek dancing demonstration where everyone can join in.

“There’ll also be roving musicians, children’s activities, and a happy hour with our alcohol vendors around lunchtime.”

The upcoming event will also see speeches delivered by past stallholder and Central Goldfields Shire’s Cr Chris Meddows-Taylor as well as the launch of the market’s mega raffle with the winner to be drawn in December.

Ms Brown has been involved with the market since she moved to the region from Melbourne eight years ago, and has served as committee president for four years.

She said the market has evolved into a beloved fixture for Talbot.

“It’s amazing when you think about it, that it’s now been 20 years because Talbot is so tiny,” she said.

“We’ve always talked about how there’s only really something like 400 in Talbot and just a pub and a post office, so to have a successful market for that long says a lot about community.

“I love hearing the wonderful comments from visitors and to see them enjoying the space and continuing to come back.

“Pre-COVID we were one of the 10 best voted farmers markets in Australia.”

The market will run from 9am to 1pm at 40 Scandinavian Crescent.