“We have an agreement with the shire that another market in Yarrawonga would not occur on the same weekend as ours, and ours is every third Sunday in the month,” Rotary President Joe Cilia told the Yarrawonga Chronicle.
“Not only is an Easter market going to be held, by a group from Albury, it is on the same day as ours. We are furious.”
For the past 30 years, Yarrawonga Rotary Club has conducted its third-Sunday market, the last 22 of which have been at the Yarrawonga Showgrounds.
“The council staff person we spoke to has admitted council’s mistake but said the foreshore market is to go ahead. It’s not too late for council to change their mind and cancel the other market,” Mr Cilia said.
Local Rotarians referred to the agreement 30 years ago but also emphasised they were advised as recently as June last year there would be no clashing of markets in Yarrawonga on the same weekend.
Rotary members said that over the three decades of markets, the not-for-profit Rotary club has poured over $1 million into the community with its one-dollar coin entry market.
“Three Easters ago we raised $10,000 from our market, going back into the community, not half of it going out of town by a private organisation,” Rotary’s publicity officer John Taylor said.
“We had lots of stallholders very happy. We had lots of locals and visitors very happy.”
The Yarrawonga Mulwala Rotary Club has about 30 members who feel gutted with council’s decision.
“Council’s decision has taken the steam out of them,” Rotary marketing chairman Gary Tribe said. “There’s a firm understanding that only the Rotary Market would be sanctioned on the third weekend.
“Our club agreed not to operate on any other Sunday as, under the agreement, they are allocated to other organisations in the region.”
For the last 18 months, due to Covid-19 restrictions and considerations, Yarrawonga Mulwala Rotary Club has only been able to operate sporadically resulting in a significant loss of revenue available for community service projects.
With easing of pandemic restrictions, Rotary’s market has resumed and now operates every month. “There is still some hesitancy from stallholders and the public alike, but things are gradually turning around and we can see us getting back to normal fairly soon,” Mr Taylor said.
“With the recent progress on fencing and drainage works around the showgrounds nearing completion, we are planning a major promotional effort with all stakeholders, to make the Easter Market a marquee event.
“Running a second market on the foreshore, in direct opposition to a long-standing successful event, could be devastating, resulting in significant funds being taken away from the Yarrawonga/Mulwala community.”
What particularly disappoints Rotarians is what they said is “a lack of any form of consultation by the shire with our club”.
“It destroys the trust between ourselves, the shire and Yarrawonga Tourism, which has developed over many years,” Mr Cilia said.
“Furthermore, an out-of-town, unknown operator may affect a significant reduction in funds available to our community.”
Those contributions have included international trips for students, and various assets, including water fountains, for locations throughout Yarrawonga and Mulwala.
“The shire has told us they’ll advertise both Easter markets,” the Rotary President said who then asked a question: ‘If visitors come to town and go to the foreshore market, are they then going to come up to the showgrounds to ours?’.”
Formal council response
In response to a request by the Yarrawonga Chronicle, the following statement was released by Moira Shire Council’s CEO Clare Keenan.
“It is wonderful to see two very different markets being held at the Yarrawonga Foreshore and Showground.
“Council will be actively promoting both events to tourists and locals alike who, we are sure, will be delighted by the range of things on offer.
“We appreciate all that Rotary and other community groups do for their respective communities and we are also pleased nine local and other regional business owners, who provide livelihoods for themselves and their staff, are able to maximise the opportunity of the long weekend.
“Council will be actively promoting these markets as exciting tourist events in the lead up to Easter Sunday.
“After a tough couple of years battling the social and economic difficulties during the COVID-19 lockdowns I encourage everyone to get out there and support both these markets on what I am sure will be a great day in Yarrawonga!”
Rotary’s response
Rotarians still hope Moira Shire will give further consideration to cancelling the foreshore market over Easter.
“Let’s hope there is just the one – our – market,” Mr Cilia. “And I trust this mistake never, ever happens again.”
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