Happy birthday to Jumbunna Bush Market

Jumbunna Bush Market celebrates its 40^th anniversary this Sunday, October 1, with extra stalls for the occasion.

There’ll be a selection of bric-a-brac, homemade cards, jewellery, woven scarfs and other items. 

Marketgoers can enjoy a free sausage and soft drink to celebrate the special occasion.

A barista-run coffee stand will be operating and there will also be homemade cakes, sandwiches and other tasty treats to buy.

It’s not too late to book a stall space, with stall fees being waived for the 40^th anniversary event.

Long-term Jumbunna Hall Committee treasurer Dawn Wylie, who finished in the role late last year but remains on the committee, came up with the idea for the market 40 years ago and has been part of four generations of her family to be involved in running it.

Her late husband Don, his brother Bob and their parents Arch and Ivy were all committed to making the market a success.

Don and Dawn’s grandson Donald and his two daughters Rebecca and Stephanie have also been involved in the market.

Many others outside the family have contributed their time and energy over the years.

Dawn said that when numbers at the Jumbunna school reached a point where it was threatened with closure, that was the catalyst to start the market.

“We only had the school and the hall, which was falling down, and the general store and the post office,” she said.

That prompted her and others, including the late Adrian Kells and Don to take action.

“We decided that if we didn’t do something with the hall, there’d be nothing left of Jumbunna,” Dawn said.

Adrian and Don made the most urgent repairs, replacing numerous broken windows, but funding was needed to rectify other issues, with Dawn suggesting a craft market.

She got in touch with Hugh Henry, then manager at Coal Creek, who was supportive of the idea.

After a clean-up of the hall, the shire health inspector paid a visit to determine if the market could proceed.

“I’ll let you have a go,” he declared.

Hugh‘s support included the Coal Creek team fashioning tables for the market.

Prior to the market days, Jumbunna Hall was home to a successful badminton team, with table tennis, carpet bowls and dances among the many activities there.

With the general store and post office long gone, Jumbunna Hall holds even greater significance than when the market started.

While stalls on this occasion are free for the anniversary celebration, stall fees, which are usually just $10, normally raise funds towards the hall’s upkeep, with the need for restumping the current focus.

The Jumbunna Hall committee recently received a grant towards that project through the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal.

Kitchen and amenities improvements are future goals, Hall Committee president Brian Enbom said.

Jumbunna Hall, built in 1891, continues to host a variety of functions, including funerals, craft days, morning and afternoon teas, with Probus and historical groups sometimes using the venue.

For information or to book a stall please call Brian Enbom on 0459 239 344.