Markets - Montville Market celebration

The Montville Growers and Makers’ Market, a little market with a big heart, celebrated 15 years of serving the community this July.

Held in the Montville Hall and the surrounding heritage precinct, the market springs to life on the second Saturday of every month.

Since its beginning in 2009, a dedicated group of volunteers has worked together to create an event that unites the community and showcases locally-grown produce and handmade goods.

Reaching their 15th anniversary is a testament to the extraordinary efforts of the volunteers and remarkable stallholders who come together every month to provide a warm and welcoming community experience that has become an essential for locals and visitors alike.

According to Pam Handley, a longtime market patron, ‘The second Saturday is the happiest morning of the month!’

The market team is grateful for the unwavering support of their patrons, like Alan Carroll, who quipped, “Sure it’s cold, but the smiles and laughter are warm!”

Original market patrons, Rod Carter and his late wife, Loma, delighted in the pancake breakfast and seeing the involvement of their grandchildren in the community. Rod still eagerly anticipates each market day, relishing the opportunity to reconnect with old friends and make new ones, saying, “the pancakes are superb, and I’m looked after like a king”.

The 15th anniversary celebration was a joyous occasion complete with a ‘Happy Birthday to us cake’ shared with everyone at the market. Among the 28 stallholders present that day, they were delighted to celebrate with two of the market’s original stallholders, the Naked Carrot from Conondale and Marie Saranah from Montville, who are part of a loyal and dedicated group of growers and makers who have been vital to the success of the market.

Community groups such as Barung Landcare have always been an integral part of the market – providing invaluable landholder information, books and native plants. More recently the Dulong Quarry Action Group has come along to inform the local community about Council-owned Dulong quarry and their current petition.

Since 2009, youth participation in the market has been actively encouraged. During the early years, the Montville State School Peace Club, led by Theresa Ashford, provided table service for the pancake breakfast. Additionally, the Young Entrepreneurs Stall, initiated by Candice Herne, offered children and their parents an opportunity to showcase their creative efforts at the market, fostering community interaction and building confidence.

Many volunteers, like Michael Davis who first volunteered at the age of 13, have been with the market since its inception. Michael loves the market for its sense of continuity, saying, “No matter what is happening elsewhere in the world, the market is a touchstone – it’s always there every month for people to meet up and connect with each other.”

Lou Tasker, a regular volunteer since moving to Montville, finds that “Volunteering as a cashier is a monthly joy. I love the volunteers who make this such a special happy place.”

Looking ahead, the Montville Growers and Makers Market aims to continue being a nurturing space where meaningful conversations can take place, and where people can feel safe, connected, and part of something greater than themselves.