Rotary volunteers Dylan and Peter at the Trash and Treasure Market in Jamison

Rotary Club of Belconnen volunteers Dylan Daniel-Marsh and Peter Oldham in their mobile office at the Trash and Treasure Market in Jamison.

17 March 2022

From farm-fresh oranges and refurbished garden tools to second-hand comic books and an array of knick-knacks, there is something for everyone at the Trash and Treasure Market every Sunday morning in Jamison.

And while the Rotary Club of Belconnen community market still delights bargain hunters since first opening 47 years ago, their Historian Peter Oldham says it’s about much more than that.

“I love seeing the interactions between our volunteers, our vendors and our visitors – they’re our family,” Peter said.

“We are very lucky to have a strong group of local vendors, and many more than come from regional places like Wagga, Batlow and the South Coast.”

With visitors asked to make a small donation to Rotary upon entry to the market, Peter says the almost $2m raised by the club over the past decade has gone to some very good causes.

“All funds raised by Rotary go back to our local community and international projects,” Peter said.

“For example, our team of Rotarians packed and delivered about 350 hampers to Belconnen families doing it tough last December – making Christmas just a little bit brighter for them. It’s extremely satisfying work.”

Orange farmer Brenden AdamsPictured: Orange farmer Brenden Adams.

It’s this sense of family and community sees farmer Brenden Adams drive overnight from Leeton in regional NSW every Friday to sell his oranges at the market.

“I love it,” Brenden said.

“I call it ‘my holiday from the farm’ because I get to come here, meet people, talk to customers, and it makes me happy. It’s a holiday that also pays the bills.

“When I first started 12 years ago, I used to drive my bags of oranges down in a car. But it’s become so popular I now have to bring them down in a truck!”

Gerry Vaggallo has been running his stall at the markets for 47 years.Pictured: Gerry Vaggallo has been running his stall at the markets for 47 years.

Gerry Vaggallo has been selling his refurbished gardening tools at the market since it began in 1975 and jokes that it has kept him “out of trouble”.

“Everybody knows me – I’ve been in pretty much the same spot for all these years,” Gerry said.

“It’s nice to have a chat and get a few dollars too.”

He says not much has changed at the markets over the 47 years, although he joked that today’s prices are ‘just a little more expensive’.

Some of the fresh local produce on offer at the market.Pictured: some of the fresh local produce on offer at the market.

Rotary Club of Belconnen Historian Peter Oldham said that, while he loves the Trash and Treasure Market, you don’t need to take his word for it.

“You can smell the market, you can hear the market,” he said.

“The car park is always full and we have wonderful support from the local community.”

The Trash and Treasure Market Jamison is open every Sunday from 7am-12.30pm in the car park at Jamison Plaza. It is the main source of funding for the Rotary Club of Belconnen and has helped deliver many important local and international projects supporting community members in need. For more on the Rotary Club of Belconnen, visit their website.

Belconnen

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