"Breakfast and coffee by the river to the swinging blues of a local busker, your kids entertained on the jumping castle and a wagging parade of friendly pooches to keep your own darling happily engaged…" Every Saturday morning on the banks of the beautiful Moruya River you’ll find Moruya Country Market. With over 140 stallholders, the market is the largest weekly market on the South Coast with a unique range of local produce, arts & crafts, plants, handmade soaps and beauty products, fashion, all sorts of antique and collector’s items, freshly baked pastries and breads, condiments, antipasto, famous hot food, espresso coffee, local musicians and much, much more. Beginning over forty years ago in the car park behind the Adelaide hotel, Moruya Country Market was conceived as, and remains a stallholder owned and run, not-for-profit community organisation. Not only do they provide an important opportunity for local producers, cottage industries and artists to showcase their produce, they also provide financial support for local charities, not-for- profit organisations and local institutions. Together, these priorities have seen Moruya Market become a treasured and essential part of the local community. The move to the picturesque Riverside Park on the Moruya River in 2010 allowed the market not only to invite many new stallholders, but to also make the experience of visiting the market a special occasion. It also began a new partnership with Eurobodalla Shire Council who provided a new venue complete with powered sites that has allowed the market to reach a new potential. In turn Moruya Country Market makes a valuable financial contribution to Council, and recently advised that under their new lease agreement, over $60,000 has been returned to Council so far this year. This is money directly invested back into the local community. So far this year, Moruya Country Market has donated over $15000 to some very worthy causes in the local area. Along with their ongoing support for local school projects, sporting associations and local branches of charities, they are proud to have responded to many requests for financial support from some truly admirable community organisations.
This year they have contributed to Moruya Public School’s fabulous ‘Kitchen Garden’,and sponsored the dance team to attend the South Coast Dance Festival in Wollongong. They have once again sponsored the Moruya Lion’s Club Carols by Candlelight, ensuring another breath-taking display of fireworks on the river and they also continue to help finance our annual ‘River of Art’ festival. Moruya Country Market has a long association with many local sporting organisations, and this year they have renewed our support for Moruya Dragon Boats, Tuross Country Club Netball, Surfair Speedway and Moruya Tennis Association, and were very happy to purchase a new rescue board for the Moruya Life Saving Club. They will also once again sponsor Council’s Youth Development Team and their Skate Park Competition Series for 2017/2018. Moruya Country Market has also been very pleased to have been able to respond to requests for donations to some fabulous local institutions. The community have some fantastic local volunteers who quietly go about making a real difference to the lives of people in need, both here and overseas. They recently made a contribution towards much needed medical equipment for a very special group of people at Nardy House (on the highway south of Cobargo), the only respite and residential facility for the profoundly physically disabled in our region. Similarly, their donations to Samaritan’s Purse, ’Operation Christmas Child’, Muddy Puddles, a provider of disability services for children in our local community, and the local branch of the Red Cross have been received with great appreciation. So as you can see there is much more to Moruya Country Market than meets the eye. Saturday morning at Riverside Park Moruya is not only a place for a complete shopping experience and a beautiful setting for your Saturday morning get together, but a genuine community organisation that showcases our local talent, attracts visitors to our wonderful area and makes a real financial contribution to many in our community. And with the warmer weather on the way, and the holiday season about to commence, they are ready to welcome many a new and interesting stall for your perusal and enjoyment. So if it’s been a while, make your way down to Riverside Park and rediscover Moruya Country Market. And know that by supporting them you’re supporting your local community.
And while you are at the markets why not take a scenic flight ?
Contact via email, moruyamarkets@hotmail.com or by mail, The Secretary, Moruya Country Market Committee PO Box 27 Moruya NSW 2537 For more information visit moruyacountrymarkets.com.au
