Community
17 July, 2025
Successful return
THE Mortlake Mini-Market Craft and Demonstration Day made a successful return over the weekend, with hopes it could continue in the years to come.
The day, which the Mortlake Senior Citizens Club hosted at their hall on Sunday, saw a wide variety of community groups and stallholders gather.
The day was first held last year with the intention of supporting community groups and local stallholders in meeting new faces in the community.
A strong showing of support in year one saw the event return for a second year.
Among those hosting demonstrations was the Western Plans Spinners, Weavers and Craft Group, which is based out of Mortlake.
Member Connie Ruddle, alongside visitor Barbara Tippett from Ballarat, provided a live demonstration of spinning and answered any questions the eager attendees had.
She said getting the chance to connect with so many people in the community who represent diverse interests was a positive for all involved.
“I think it’s good for us and the Mortlake Senior Citizens Club,” Mrs Ruddle said.
“This is my first time exhibiting at the Mini-Market but I’ve exhibited at the Warrnambool and Noorat shows doing spinning and weaving previously.
“It’s always good to connect with others, and people like to see the spinning and how it comes out.”
Mortlake Senior Citizens Club member Patsy Riordan said she hoped the event could return again next year after the strong showing of support again this year.
“We’ve pleased with the turn up of stallholders,” she said.
“There was a wide variety of stalls which included new stallholders.
“Attendance from the community was quite good, we had good sales and the stallholders all seemed very pleased after we had around 50 come along on the day.
“We’re thinking we’ll have another next year but we’ll have to wait for the committee meeting to discuss it officially.
“We would like to again thank the local traders who donated goods to be included in the raffle – it was wonderful to see some of the stallholders themselves take home a prize.”
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