Shop Local Market 2nd May 2026

This year’s Shop Local Markets are off to a good start with fine warm and mostly sunny conditions which was noted with pleasure after 2025.

Approximately thirty stalls set up at both shopping areas, with a wide variety of craft, plants, preserves, books, and many other items to tempt buyers.

In talking to the stall holders some amazing things were discovered. Two ladies who call themselves Carry On Sales make a range of children’s knitted items, material toys, and quilted throw overs. But the proceeds they obtain for selling these items, and many of the items, all goes to charities. They have supported Berry Street Latrobe Regional Hospital, Quantum, and the Bikies Christmas Toy Run. The men were overawed at the amount and variety they were able to give. It has given them so much pleasure over the years.

Another lady called Janice from Glengarry, also makes a wide variety of craft items, often themed for occasions like Mother’ Day and birthdays. She has been selling things for charities since 1968. Her recipients include Berry Street, Guardian Angles, Glengarry Kinder, the church in Park Lane, Mitchell House and the Cancer Council. Well done ladies for your efforts. Noelene Marchwicki was there with Churchill & District News, selling her latest cook book. Noelene has donated all her recipes and photos to create this new book, the sales of which go to support the Churchill & District News. Noelene was telling us that her cook books are now found in homes all over Australia.

The Neighbourhood Centre had a large display and did very well.

Matta Hive bee keepers were there with a real live beehive and the products of their extracting the honey and packaging it. They are a local family with this interest.

Hand Made Kritters had a glittering display of critters including scorpions, spiders and other bugs.

Lavender Sue was there with her thousands of buttons; all packaged up and unusual with their designs and colours.

A busy market with a good flow of people to visit and peruse the goods on sales.

Markets like this do not just happen and so there are some important thanks to record. Firstly the Neighbourhood Centre with Nathan and his volunteers who took the bookings and did the majority of the organisation. Thank you for helping to make it happen. Margaret Guthrie was the very involved CDCA volunteer who has organised and run the last few years. She graciously supplied a list of what she had done in the past as she took a well earned rest late last year. CDCA gave some sponsorship money.

The free BBQs are a great drawcard and the Churchill Fire Brigade and the Churchill Lions deserve a big thank you for getting up early and having those delicious aromas ready for an early start. To Woolworths we say another thank you for the box of fruit supplied and the resources ready for the BBQs. One hundred dollar gift cards could be applied for to help with the supplies.

Rachel the face painter was a busy bee all morning while she decorated faces. She is a wonderful draw card.

To all those who turned out to support of shopping centre businesses and the market a big thank you. The next market will be August 29, just prior to Father’s Day.