THE jewel in Murrabit’s crown shines bright on the first Saturday of every month.
More than 90 stall holders were on hand for Murrabit’s Country Market this month, which began back in 1977.
What first started as a way for farmers to sell their produce directly to the local community, has become a major drawcard for the town.
Stalls at the June edition of the market, included flowers, soaps, jewellry, handmade toys and fresh produce.
There was also a live performance from musician Jimmy Johnson.
Murrabit Advancement Association treasurer, Jodie Hartley said she is still surprised by the crowd the market draws.
“We’re gobsmacked to see the thousands of people that come to a community whose township has a population of around 70,” she said.
“The market has been through a lot, it was started out of necessity due to an economic downturn in agriculture in the 70s.
“It was so successful that community members with foresight saw the potential, and really grew it and created its own space. It’s still a growing event even now.
“It’s all about the welcoming hospitality when you come to a small rural town,”
Ms Hartley said the town always came together as a community for the market.
“The community comes together to put this event on 13 times a year,” she said. “A whole swag of volunteers from various community groups create the basis for the market.
“Then we’ve got such fantastic stall holders who bring their variety of goods to the town. We bring live entertainment to the market, which is broadcast across the market.
“We are under the open, big, towering red gums, so it’s really a combination of things that make this market so special.”
And with former AFL footballer Josh Kennedy playing in Murrabit that weekend, the most recent market drew an even larger crowd.
Ms Hartley said the event brought a few more new faces to the market.
“It was a June market, obviously winter is starting to set in and there is football and things happening,” she said.
“But we did find at our most recent market, that there were a lot of new people about who were making a real day of it, coming to the market first before heading down to watch the match.
“We had a couple of excited stall holders that day, the local Lions Club sold him a bottle of water which they were pretty happy about. He was just a lovely individual.”
Ms Hartley explained the benefit of the market reaches far across the town, with community groups fundraising through selling ready-to-eat food at the market.
“We say that it’s the community sustaining a community because the funds that are raised through these groups allow them to do so many things with their fundraising,” she said.
“For the school, they can raise funds for an excursion or a new program. If you are to head down to the rec reserve for the footy, you’ll see the complex there.
“That was built on the back of steak sandwiches sold at the market.”
