Community fair a great time

FAMILY fun was had last Saturday with the first of the Golden Plains Community Fairs taking place at the farmers’ market at the Bannockburn Heart.

The fair was held alongside the traditional market stalls, and resident Marie McKee was positive about the range of attractions available to the community.

“It’s great to see everyone out and about, and there’s so many activities here for the kids, and it’s great to see all our community services here as well,” she said.

“It’s been integrated so well with the monthly market. No one looks to be getting in each other’s way or anything, and it looks like it’s all come together really well.”

The fair featured pedal karts, a circus-themed workshop, as well as wandering performers and live music from Jonathon Chandler and The Peter Chapman Duo.

The Bannockburn CFA used the event to host its Good Friday Appeal to help raise funds for the Royal Children’s Hospital, offering attendees a dance competition and the chance to have a go with a fire hose.

The fair also offered space for the local police, SES and community leaders to engage with the community in what Vicki Dobson, Fourth Lieutenant of Bannockburn CFA, called “a bit of an emergency services expo.”

“Everyone’s here together, and it’s been fantastic to have the engagement with the children,” she said.

“All of them are coming up, and they’re having a great opportunity to talk to firefighters and police and really break down some of those barriers that we have at times.”

The attractions were featured alongside the market’s 40 stalls, and Angela Sumner, owner of Sugar and Slice, said the fair had drawn more business alongside their usual intake.

“It’s definitely added to it. It’s more family-friendly, more interactive, and it keeps people around a lot longer to shop as well which can only be good for us,” she said.

“Compared to last month, I think our trade is definitely on the up, so it’s great to see everyone starting to get back out there, and this is a great way to help with that.”

The next fair will be held at the Smythesdale Country Market, and both fairs have been funded by the State and Federal Governments through a Community Events grant as part of the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

The Smythesdale Country Market will feature different attractions and take place on Saturday, 16 April, at the Smythesdale Historic Precinct.