Feature - LETS Maleny – trading goods and services without cash

by Arcadia Love

Community crusader Jill Jordan passed in 2010 and one of the many gifts she left Maleny was the introduction of LETS (Local Energy Transfer System). 

Instigated by Jill Jordan in 1987, and operating out of a tiny office in the back of the Maleny Credit Union (now QLD Country Bank) in Maple Street, a dedicated team worked hard to grow the idea of a local cashless currency called ‘Bunyas’ – a Local Energy Transfer System (LETS).

Members dropped their trading slips – a record of transactions – into a little red box for volunteers to reconcile. 

These days, transactions are processed online and a scroll through the Maleny LETS ‘offerings’ on the website reveals an eclectic range of goods and services. Plants and seeds, graphic design, astrology reports, yoga, various therapies, mending, website hosting, piano lessons, farm equipment servicing, local authors’ books, and pineapples!

Unlike a barter system, LETS members don’t need to do a direct exchange with another member. They can buy products or services from one member and sell theirs to another. Through the website, members can pay other members, check balances, update their offerings, see what others are offering and trade with LETS members anywhere in the world.

Long-term member and manager of Maleny LETS, Carmel Givens, says, “It doesn’t matter with LETS whether your account is in the red or the black, as long as you’re trading. It’s all about keeping the energy (transactions) flowing.”

On the second Saturday of the month, members gather at the Maleny Neighbourhood Centre for a morning of trading, a hot breakfast and a cuppa. People come to learn how the system works, meet other members, join LETS and start trading straight away. Maybe have a massage, take home some lettuce, a book, flowers or a dress, all without opening their purse.

At a recent trading day, members reminisced about some of the interesting LETS purchases they’d made – a violin, a brass door handle, a birdcage. Helena Wilson called herself ‘one of the original big spenders’ after she and a friend Jan went to a LETS auction in Nambour and the pair spent 3000 Bunyas!

Yvonne Purcell joined Maleny LETS over 20 years ago. For her, it’s about creating community, meeting great people and caring for one another. The same for Jenny Dunlop who finds LETS a great place to get to know people. Jennifer Hewison has moved around Australia and always seeks out LETS.

“From Nimbin to Fremantle, Sunshine Coast to Maleny, I offer plants, seedlings, books, art and intuitive readings. When I had disability issues, I found someone on LETS offering Bowen Therapy which I couldn’t have afforded otherwise.”

Jeannie Soo was a member of Sunshine Coast LETS and is a regular at the Maleny Markets with her popular chair massages. For June Doyle, LETS was a big reason for her move from Caloundra to Maleny in the ‘90s where she worked in the LETS office.

At that time, the monthly market was held at the back of the Maleny Credit Union. There was an annual ball, often with a ‘recycled’ theme where funds were raised to pay for items such as computers and stationery. Another popular fund-raiser was the ‘corn stall’ at the old Maleny Folk Festival.

It was at a corn stall that Richenda Bridge and her husband Paul Lawler became interested in LETS. Richenda is a regular at the monthly market and always has interesting knick-knacks on her stall. 

Cherie Conrad was introduced to LETS in 1998 and has sold Indian wares, chocolates and books and currently offers magnesium spray, hand-made jewellery and hand-dyed shoes and clothes.

“Back then I was a student, incredibly broke with no disposable income. I saw LETS as a way to save some money. Over the years through LETS I’ve done building renovations, bought countless plants and veggies and stayed in a private home in Sydney for 10 days.”

For Gay Liddington, LETS takes her back to when she was managing wages at Maleny’s Upfront Club. “I heard of people doing it tough and knew that LETS was a way to ease their financial burden. The Club used to pay part wages in Bunyas and ran a ‘Bunya Meal’ night once a week.” 

Another member commented on how LETS creates a spirit of generosity. Often items are not priced, or members will say ‘pay what you feel.’ When it’s energy, not money being exchanged, members tend to pay more or buy treats for themselves or gifts for loved ones.

When Gaby Luft was introduced to LETS, she was a single Mum trying to make ends meet and it seemed like a logical solution. Gaby manages a ‘free table’ of goods on the trading day and often picks up items to give to families doing it tough.

Maleny LETS provides a wonderful way to connect the community, support individuals and keep that energy flowing. Email: malenylets@gmail.com