Across the streets and street corners there were activations of stalls, painting boards for youngsters, and quite a few 'oldsters' contributing splashes of colour too, strolling musicians and some stationed outside popular cafés, a children's colouring competition and book stand at Bookoccino, a packed field in Dunbar Park wherein residents could find not only some great pre-loved treasures but also find out more about our bushland and native animals, priority weeds and invasive predators and get advice on creating a Native Habitat in your backyard and grab a free plant to get you started.
Northern Beaches Council's stall was packed with information and educational material on all things waste related, while youngsters could enjoy story time with Tilly the Turtle and Billie the Bandicoot.
Local eateries and shops offered specials for the day, there was a free 40 minute Orientation Workout class at Studio Pilates on offer, and those youngsters not painting the boards on every street corner could get their own face painted or play with giant game boards - ...or just do some freestyle handstands and cartwheels for themselves:
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There was even a market for pooches hosted in the Avalon Bowling Club grounds, with lots of 'ruff-ruff' play involved.
It all began back in 2014 when Pittwater Council became part of the 2014 Garage Trail Sale and held a Community Boot Sale at Dunbar Park, Avalon on Saturday October 25th.
Cr. Jacqui Townsend, then Mayor of Pittwater, welcomed the involvement of Council and the unique opportunity Garage Sale Trail provides local residents and organisations in Pittwater.
In bringing Garage Sale Trail to the area, Council saw an opportunity to deliver a fun, creative and community-driven program for the benefit of residents and local organisations who might want to repurpose their unwanted belongings; live in a more sustainable fashion by reducing waste; connect with their community and raise some money for themselves or others.
“Pittwater is proud and excited to be supporting Garage Sale Trail this year; it’s a great opportunity for us all to think creatively about how we can reuse items that might otherwise end up in landfill,” Cr. Townsend said then.
“I would love to see the whole community get on board; it’s a great way to move on those unwanted items. As clichéd as it sounds ‘one person’s trash is another person’s treasure’,” she added.
“With our SHOROC councils’ draft regional waste avoidance strategy open for comment, and Pittwater launching its own ‘less waste’ campaign, now is the perfect time for the people of Pittwater to get involved.
“I encourage everyone to register their garage sales and join one of the largest community and sustainability events in Australia,” Cr. Townsend added.
This was a resounding success, and although the Garage Sale Trail lapsed locally, there have been recent moves by residents, once again, to get the program up and running again.
Garage Sale Trail is a not-for-profit community enterprise founded by Andrew Valder and Darryl Nichols. Garage Sale Trail aims to promote reuse, reduce waste to landfill, create awareness about illegal dumping, unite communities, and stimulate local economies. The first Garage Sale Trail took place in Bondi in May 2010.
The 2014 event saw Australians list over 1.5 million pre-loved items for sale, generated average earnings for sellers of $323 and make on average of 13 new community connections between local sellers and buyers on the day. Over one third of participants fundraise for a charity or a cause.
It's still going, with this year's edition happening on 9-10 & 16-17 November 2024 all over Australia. In 2024 2,179,203 Pre-Loved items are for sale at 8,965 Garage sales. You can find out more at: www.garagesaletrail.com.au
Certainly a case of 'from little things big things grow'.
Yesterday the Northern Beaches Council, supported by the great work being done by the Avalon-Palm Beach Business Chamber, renewed this festive marketplace and community coming together spirit in the village - it was a little alike a mini-Avalon Market Day.
Newport's Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the Spring into Summer Celebration on Saturday November 2 from 8am until 4pm, supported by Council through its community grants scheme, along with many boots on the ground on the day.
Spanning Bert Payne Park, Barrenjoey Road and Robertson Road, the village festivities also coincides with the popular Timber Boat Festival at the Royal Motor Yacht Club (RMYC) in Newport. Shuttle buses from Porter's Reserve are set to run people back and forth on the day between the RMYC on the Pittwater estuary side of Newport and the beachfront.
The day will be filled with loads of activities, entertainment, market stalls, activations and special ‘one day only’ offers the whole family can enjoy.
Those keen to snap up an early Christmas bargain may find just the thing at the local fashion boutiques and lifestyle stores as they present their new season collections, plus host ‘market day’ sample and archive sales and special offers.
There will be international cuisine and beverages that will be on offer throughout the day and into the evening from Newport’s many café’s, restaurants, bars and specialty providores.
And obviously the sausage sizzle for those who cannot get enough of the Aussie soss sanger.
For those who like something more eclectic, Newport has galleries and studios which will be multiplied in the spoilt for choice department by the produce made available at artisanal market stalls in Bert Payne Park.
Children, no baby goats here, can enjoy a host of activities and entertainment in Bert Payne Park and delight in a special visit from Santa before he zooms back to the North Pole to check on how the elves are going with all that toy-making.
There’s something for everyone at this year’s event.
Get into the community spirit and join in the celebrations as Newport Spring’s into Summer for the third successive year, and snap p a Christmas bargain not yet on anyone's Santa List.
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