First bush market boomed

My husband spends most of his time listening to his books from the Vision Australia Library and, if he breaks the silence, it’s usually to say something like, “Why does every author confuse cement with concrete?”

When it’s time for a coffee, I deliver his and sit myself down — to reach for a book or a Sudoku game.

However, recently, instead of telling my mind what to concentrate on, I have let it wander.

From time to time, the memories come thick and fast.

The wise people write that we remember moments, but, sometimes, a moment becomes considerably more.

Revisiting the first bush market

I think it was 1979, but I haven’t been able to confirm that — unless I credit my eldest son, who agrees on the year.

I was unsure about participating in a bush market.

We had a baby shop — although I guarantee we didn’t sell one baby — and some brands were exclusive to us.

I think I was concerned about the brand image.

After chatting with the owners of the other Maude St stores, I thought it could be good for the broader community, as well as the smaller community of local traders.

On the morning of the event, under-prepared and lacking enthusiasm, I pushed a rack of T-shirts (sized 0 to 6 years) out to the footpath.

It was as if 10 or 12 ladies had appeared from nowhere.

My mother was in the store and, seeing my predicament, delivered some cash for change, and I asked her to find more stock that we’d be able to discount.

Around 11am, I heard a lady behind me saying, “Well, they’ll fit him next year.”

The lady helping out with sales was Nancy Kinmond.

She and her son James had a sewing machine shop in High St.

Nothing much was happening there, and someone had told her I was busy, so she came to lend a hand.

Nancy was a part of another small community — Shepparton Theatre Arts Group.

I managed to whisper to her that she didn’t need to “sell” — they were eager buyers.

She laughed and said, “I can’t help myself.”

She stayed with me all day and, around 6.30pm, went to the conveniently situated Taiwan Restaurant for some food.

The crowd on the footpaths was starting to thin out as they prepared for the evening entertainment, which included my eldest son in a new band called Chinese Cooking.

Nancy, my mum and I pulled out some chairs, as we had a good view of the stage in Fraser St.

To say I had under-estimated the first bush market would be an enormous understatement.

Afterwards, I figured we’d had well over 1000 sales.

Remembering Maude St

I remember a supermarket on the corner of Maude and High Sts, with Maples on the Fryers St corner.

In between were locally owned businesses including a jeweller, a card and gift shop, pharmacies, ladies’ fashion, shoe shops, the movie theatres, menswear, the Taiwan, men’s and ladies’ hairdressers, a coffee shop, shoe repairs, a music shop and, of course, Fairleys.

The beautiful white building that had been the shire offices was still standing.

I was a part of the local retail tapestry for around 12 years, and my memory could be a snapshot of the early ’70s or later.

Some of the retailers had developed signals, and as they walked by, would signal me about trading for that day.

Harry Adler (Adlers Ladies Fashion) was particularly good at this.

Thumbs down meant it was very quiet everywhere.

A thumb to the side signalled steady as she goes.

A thumbs up usually meant that a bus load of shoppers had arrived from Deniliquin, Finley or Benalla.

In later years, when I was working with newspapers, I discovered just how much these shopping trips were resented by the local traders of the towns involved.

We can’t fight change.

But how I enjoyed being a part of the locally owned community.

I might have said this a few times, but please support the independent local businesses we have now.

Enjoy the weather, and may it be easy my friends.

Marnie

Email: towntalk@sheppnews.com.au

Phone: Text or call 0409 317187