News
Willaura Hospital Outdoor Market Attacts A Good Crowd
5th March, 2009
Willaura Health Care spacious grounds became a hive of activity at the recent Willaura Hospital Outdoor Market held on Sunday 1st March.
With the market this year being relocated to the front entrance area for the first time it allowed for more room for the numerous stallholders. In addition the lawn area allowed for a relaxing space for the serving of gourmet foods, local wines together with entertainment by Geoff Udy from Ararat.
In addition children were well catered for and were kept happy with activities, and the Day Centre was opened up to feature an art exhibition and quilt display.
Though the weather was a little cooler this did not deter over 600 people attending from throughout the district and beyond.
The outdoor market is coordinated through the Willaura Auxiliary, and on the day members were very busy with their cake and produce stalls, in addition to providing extras to support the coffee stand which is always popular amongst the visitors.
A major auxiliary raffle which had been going over a number of weeks leading up to the market was drawn with winners being for 1st Prize Quest Accommodation Package/Melbourne - Terry McInnes of Ararat, 2nd Prize Chardonnay Lodge Accommodation Package/SA - Dianne Radford Great Western, 3rd Prize Kerrin Walker Clothing Voucher - Ian Quick Ararat. In addition the Willaura Kindergarten Raffle for Power Tools was won by Judy Paterson of Willaura, and the children's competition winner was Lizzie Duver also of Willaura.
Overall it is expected that the event will raise in the vicinity of $4,000 which will be donated to East Grampians Health Service's Willaura Health Care for the purchase of patient lifting slings.
Market Coordinator Jane Millear said: "This year was the fifth year of the outdoor market and each year the market grows from strength to strength. With positive comments from patrons on the day the Auxiliary is sure this will filter throughout the district and surrounding areas and make next year's market even bigger and better."
With stallholders feedback survey forms having been assessed, plans will soon be underway for next year's market which will be on the first Sunday in March 2010.
