Garage sales bonanza in Smythesdale, Scarsdale

GARAGE sale enthusiasts have much to look forward to in November, when a townwide event takes place in Smythesdale and Scarsdale.

Scarsdale resident Melanie Whillance is organising the day, which is scheduled for Sunday 2 November from 8am to 3pm.

She is advertising the event on Facebook and already has at least 10 interested hosts, but more are welcome to register, with no upper limit.

Anyone interested in hosting a garage sale can get in touch with Ms Whillance through the Scarsdale and Smythesdale community news Facebook page or send a text to 0402 334 724.

Ms Whillance said she planned to create a web page where people interested in visiting various sales can print a map, and maps will also be available at the Smythesdale supermarket.

“Also on that page, people who are hosting sales can print a PDF coloured sign, otherwise they can print a black and white one where the kids can actually decorate the sign,” she said.

Ms Whillance said sale hosts would be encouraged to post photos of their signs, with a selected design to receive a voucher for I Love This Shop in Delacombe.

She said she was also planning to have a bacon and egg breakfast, a sausage sizzle and an end-point activity at the Court House Hotel.

As for a reason behind the project, Ms Whillance’s motivation is simple.

“I’ve grown up as a garage saler,” she said.

“I love garage sales. My Dad has taken me to garage sales since day dot, so I’ve always been around the market/garage sale type of thing.

“But for me the idea behind garage sales personally is about sustainability.

“We have so much stuff out there already that I’m all about not buying stuff brand-new – but that’s a personal thing.”

Ms Whillance and her partner moved from Geelong to Scarsdale about four years ago.

“And I’ve just been feeling like I want to do something within the community, but it will also be a great way to…meet some of the locals as well,” she said.

Ms Whillance said she hoped the sale would become an annual event, with an aim of attracting people from a wider area than just Scarsdale and Smythesdale – perhaps from as far away as Geelong.

The map of participating hosts will be “optimised”, Ms Whillance said, so visitors can follow an official trail if they wish.