IPSWICH SHOWGROUNDS FLEA STALL 18TH May, 2004

Raising money for the 25th anniversary Celebrations

Attendees -
Gary (super salesman of old wheelbarrows and sleeping bags) Christensen
Betty & Gary (I've tested everything and everything works) Chapman
Beryl and Daryl (should have bought the Johnny O'Keefe record for Beryl while he had the chance) Parcell
John (don't come home with more than you took) Lucas
Lyle (its amazing how much you can cram into a Disco) Chapman
Steve (sold Linda's favourite camp table and seats) Sims
Desley and Neil (can't GIVE this dash mat away) Middleton

Visiting Encouragement Crew -
Dave (haven't been to the flea market for years, but had to come up this morning) Peebles
Sandra and Graham (suffered injuries rescuing ducklings while on duty) Moore
Mal and Trish (?) Hiscox
Jamie (?) Stinson

Ah, yes, the market stall people driving down our driveway at all hours with trailer loads of donated goods. Some even returning to retrieve some of their son's good gear which they shouldn't have donated. Shame on you, Marty.

Gary down in his workshop, hour after hour, day after day, sifting through, sorting, repairing. Betty going down occasionally to see it Gary is still alive behind the huge mound of goods.

Several phone calls to Ipswich Show Society. A frantic visit from Kelby Thursday night with the all important insurance requirement, AND (this is a bottler) Gary, in his enthusiasm, phones the Queensland Times on about Wednesday, to place a notice of the forthcoming market stall in the Community Notice Billboard (because it would cost nothing) and duly faxed the notice through, but neglected to ascertain in which day's paper this column appears. Well, we haven't found the column yet, so I'm sure it will make interesting reading next week, after the event.

Saturday a bit drizzly Lyle and Christo come and go with goods ready for a quick getaway Sunday morning. Gary's vehicle and trailer bulging at the seams with goods. All hoping Sunday's weather would be favourable.

Sunday 4a.m. start no rain but pea soup fog. Travel to showgrounds and proceed to set up in dark, damp, conditions. John Lucas was already there in his work truck with heaps of donated items. Also Steve with a trailer full. Then Daryl with more goods. Thanks guys. There was so much gear altogether to unpack, we thought weld never be finished. But we did, of course, and sold everything from high chairs to bumper bars. Christo even suggested to one customer, who had purchased several items, that he buy Daryl's wheelbarrow to transport everything back to his car, which he promptly did! Another great sale Christo effected a lady inspecting two old sleeping bags "How much?" she asks. "$2.00 each," replies Christo, "or, you can have the two for $5.O0." "Sold!" says the lady.

Moments which Betty thought noteworthy or amusing –

Beryl - ever thoughtful, turning up very early with a large batch of delicious,
freshly baked scones;

John - examining a second hand gas lamp in almost perfect condition, comments that
he always seems to arrive at his destination with broken mantles, etc. 'We
immediately suggest that perhaps it was the way he, (a bricklayer), packs
his vehicle! (He readily agrees);

Daryl doing the rounds of other market stalls, returns and says that our junk
is about the same price as everyone else's junk. These words weren't
Daryl's exact words. Betty has exercised editing rights to maintain some
decorum;

Betty revealing her mercenary side, couldn't wait to go home to "count the money”

The couple who bought Dave's broken video camera She says, "Why did you buy that?" He says, "So I can pull it apart!''

Of course, there were many more fun and funny moments with customers and among ourselves, but Betty's ageing memory can't remember them all.

We were all hoping to sell as much as possible so that we didn't have to load up too much again to take back home. However, everyone pitched in to load unsold items, and we departed the showgrounds around twelve midday.

It was a fun and interesting exercise, and. Gary and Betty would like to thank all those who donated goods, and those who helped on the day (we would never have managed on our own), and anyone else who helped in any way. We are sure the 25th Anniversary Committee will be pleased with the amount of money raised.

Betty (thank goodness that's all over) Chapman