THERE’S a reason they’re called the Mega Markets – and visitors, tourists and stall-holders new to the district will find out why when the Pally Bush Markets take over Pallamallawa tomorrow.

What started as a small market day in a small village east of Moree has become a mega monster.

Col Pring, who helped establish the Pally Bush Markets a couple of years ago, says there’s no sign of them slowing down.

“It started off as just a little thing we were going to do,” Col said.

“For years, we talked about having a farmers’ market in Pally. When we got on board with the War Memorial Hall committee, we came up with the concept of the Pally Bush Markets.

“Our first markets attracted 34 stall-holders, and maybe 800 to 1000 visitors,” he said.

The markets, held three times a year, now draw upwards of 100 stall-holders from New South Wales and Queensland as well as thousands of visitors from across the north-west and New England regions.

Originally, the markets were held on the Pally Hall grounds. They’ve now extended across the street and into parkland – and they’re getting bigger, it seems.

“When we first started, everything was in the hall grounds,” Col said.

“Since then, it’s progressed, and has a reputation now as a great market.  The Pally Bush Markets are now on par with markets at places like Blackville, Bellingen and Currabubula. Our reputation is really growing.

“We have stall-holders come from the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and as far south as the Hunter Valley and central coast. We also have plenty of support from our local areas like Goondiwindi, Tamworth, Inverell, Wee Waa and Quirindi – they come from everywhere,” he said.

The Pally Bush Mega Markets on Sunday, October 18, are set to create a new record, with nearly 100 stall-holders attending – and that number is climbing.

The markets start at 8am, but the work to get the gates open starts weeks earlier.

“We do three market days a year – the third Sunday of March, July and October,” Col said.

“A lot of work goes into them, especially from my daughter, Bree. She handles all the bookings and then has to design the lay-out and work out where everyone will set up.

“It’s a lot of hard work with a small working group, and a pretty good roll-up of local volunteers on the day.

“We started in the hall, then outside the hall, and now we block off the road between the hall and the park,” he said.

The Pally Bush Markets is now a signature event in the district, and draws visitors from well outside the Moree Plains.

“People come from Inverell, Tamworth, Armidale, Glen Innes, Bingara, Collarenebri and Walgett just to have a browse,” Col said.

“And it’s not all the run-of-the-mill stuff like you see at a lot of markets. We have a bit of everything, and there are so many things to choose from.

“I can’t mention one stall-holder, because if I mention one, I have to mention all 95 of them,” Pring laughed.

“We have our regulars that haven’t missed a market, and this weekend we’ve got about 10 new stall-holders coming along, which is great.

“In fact, we’ve got nearly 100 stall-holders so far, and still getting more.

“On Sunday, we’ll have pony rides, farm petting, free face-painting, and there’s a free sno-cone for the first 150 kids – there is a lot happening to entice families to come along and enjoy the day,” he said.

“We’ll have our barbecue, a big fundraiser for the Pally Hall, but there will be other food as well and plenty of coffee.

“The barbecue is our fundraiser, and all the proceeds we get from the markets goes back into the Pally Hall,” Col said.

“We put up some fencing a few years ago, and we’ve redone a wall inside the hall. We plan to put up a new tribute to returned servicemen and that will be modernised and lit up – it will really make a statement.”

Afterwards, Col encourages visitors and tourists to head around the corner to the Pally Pub or café for lunch.

“These markets help everyone in Pally – the pub prospers and the café prospers. The pub is absolutely crazy after the markets, which is great for the community,” Col said.

Pally Bush Mega Markets

When: Sunday, October 19

Time: From 8am until around midday

Where: Pallamallawa War Memorial Hall grounds and surrounds

Updates: Pally Bush Markets Facebook Page