By Marcus Uhe
In October 2021’s monthly Tooradin Lions Community Market, there were 16 stalls.
Twelve months later, there are more than 80 vying for your attention on the third Sunday of every month.
And for that, you can thank market coordinators Judee Cooke and Sandra Holland.
Ms Cooke is a four-year veteran of the Tooradin market and others in the region, selling her home-made bracelets and earrings, along with scarves, artworks and other types of giftware.
As numbers dwindled in part due to the pandemic, she decided to take action.
“The market started to look a bit sick,” Ms Cooke said.
“You couldn’t have markets during Covid-19 because you have limited times and travel restrictions.
“I knew that it could be bigger and better than what it was.
“I’ve done a bit of fundraisers over the years but I’m really pleased to make the market what it is now.”
Through persistent use of social media groups and her networks previously established through her years on the local market scene, the goal is to fill all 88 available sites each week.
“The first month I did it, I put it on 42 sites across Melbourne and down to Inverloch and it went nuts.
“I posted on noticeboards, like the Kooweerup noticeboard and Tooradin noticeboard and all the sites other people put their market sites on.
“Word of mouth is really good too. I get a lot that say ‘so-and-so said to come to this one from another market’.”
Last Sunday’s market was the first held with the revamped Tooradin Footbridge completely reopened, Ms Cooke said.
“When it was closed there were barricades around where they were working. Now we have more space.
“We remapped and reworked the layout.
“It’s awesome now, it looks good and bridge is great.”
Unshackled by a label of a farmers or craft market, Tooradin offers something for everyone, from antiques, soaps, collectables, merchandise, wrought-iron artworks, tarot readings and more.
As part of the ambition to fill the 88 each month, Ms Cooke is hoping for local produce offerings to participate to widen the spectrum of availabilities.
The market is held on the third Sunday of every month at Sawtells Inlet Foreshore Reserve and run by the Lions Club of Tooradin and District.
To book a stall, contact Ms Cooke on 0429 188 280 or misstreats@yahoo.com, or head to the market’s Facebook page, ‘Tooradin Lions Community Market 2021 onwards’.
