Now in its second year, the Pomona Christmas Night Market has shown it is a wonderful way for producers, artists and craftspeople to present their wares to residents and visitors alike. ERLE LEVEY was there to enjoy the way the community combined to support each other.
“It’s to showcase the Pomona hinterland and the produce available in the 4568 postcode.”
What a gorgeous night at the Pomona Christmas Night Market. It was a chance for Pomona and district producers and artisans to present their talents in a relaxed environment.
It was also a great opportunity for the community to come together and choose produce and gifts for Christmas, and support locals at the same time.
In its second year, the Pomona and District Chamber of Commerce event saw the main street filled with stall holders, musicians, food tastings and cooking demonstrations.
Some were from last year, who were happy to come back for the chance to show what they had produced, but also to catch up with old acquaintances as well as new faces.
The night market utilises local shopkeepers and stalls for food, rather than food vans from out of the area.
Blaze the Koala was there with the Pomona Fire Service, and local service groups were represented, including Pomona Mens Shed members who had built a beautiful child-size kitchen that proved popular with those passing by.
The Cooroy/Pomona Lions Club were cooking up a treat with a sausage sizzle in Joe Bazzo Park, and a Tradie Alley was set up for all tradies to promote their business.
Food and cooking demonstrations are always popular, with Slow Food patron chef Matt Golinski in fine form showing how to make a delicious chicken thai salad using local ingredients.
Children and adults alike enjoyed the face painting. Food shops remained open and were a hit into the night – gelato, pizza, cakes, Slow Food’s Pomona’s Little Pantry and Pomona Village Kitchen, and more.
The Pomona Distillery was beautifully lit up for Christmas, and it was an opportune time for the neighbouring Pomona Providore to open its doors with beautifully-presented smoked and cured meats, preserves and more – served up by executive chef Gene Quinlan.
Slow Food Noosa partnered the event, with Andy Coates and Nicola Cleaver from Amrita Park Meadery offering samples of mead, while Tania Wiesmayr-Freeman and Andrew Freeman of The Fermentier educated locals and shared delicious fermented goods to ensure a healthy gut for Christmas.
Traecy Hinner of Noosa Black Coffee was on hand with Davidson plum chilli jam served with a triple brie cheese, along with Kim Maddison of Burrawing Botanicals with her essential oil products, and Judy Scrase of Hello Honey, provider of natural honey and beeswax beauty products.
Pomona stall-holder Grace Sempreboni, of Crystal Wrapped Jewellery, perhaps best summed it up.
Grace makes pendants and bracelets with crystal and pure copper, gemstones and seeded pearls
She is starting to be a regular at Gympie’s markets at the showgrounds and the Duckponds, and considers these community events to be a great idea.
They are affordable for producers to set up their stalls, and give good exposure for the craftspeople.
“I was thrilled at last year’s night market,’’ Grace said.
“I’d just started and was blown away by the comments I was getting, praising the quality and the amount of product that I had.
“If every stall-holder can then advertise that they will be in attendance at these events, it makes it better for everybody.’’
Glenn Murdoch and Natalie Wheeler of Kandanga Creek Christmas Trees truly added the festive flavour to the night.
“It is our first time,’’ Natalie said. “We are selling little potted Christmas trees but in the next year or two we will be able to sell farm-cut trees as well.
“People buy the potted trees here and take them home to enjoy.
“We are dairy farmers at Kandanga Creek and have planted thousands of trees.’’
The trees are radiata pine, Glenn said, and it is just a matter of looking after them and pruning them into the shape you want.
“We are doing farmgate sales, but will also be setting up at Tiaro Christmas Cottage.’’
Pomona Men’s Shed were there in force, as team-member Rudy Meyer said: “We’ve been working through the year on woodwork, pottery and things we like or are good at.
“There was a stall last year. We are community based – 90 percent of what we do is fixing stuff for people.
“The blokes come along and make these things up – everyone is different in terms of personality and skills.
“They make a great idea for Christmas gifts.
“It’s a great outlet for the men’s shed and people to get gifts.
“It puts us out there a bit more.’’
Just along Reserve Street, we came across James Moore at the Pomona Providore.
The store, next to Pomona Distillary, was filled with people.
I asked James how long had he been doing business.
“About 30 minutes,’’ came the answer. “We opened the door at 4pm.
“It’s to showcase the Pomona hinterland and the produce available in the 4568 postcode,
“There is a lot of smoked meats and products from the distillery. It’s done on-site.
“It’s a way to give people the opportunity to take the effort out of cooking at home.
“The family live here…have grown up here and just love everything available in this postcode.’’
James is from Surrey, UK, and has been in Australia 20 years.
“I’ve always worked in hospitality and came here five years ago to help open the distillery.
“I fell in love with the area. I’ve never lived anywhere like it.’’
That’s quite a statement considering the appeal of Surrey.
“This is a great opportunity for people. They are saying how wonderful it looks and what a great idea.’’
Quite a landmark in Pomona is Serge’s Pizza.
From France originally, Serge Peeters has been in business in Pomona for 14 years.
Before that he was in the alpine region of Jindabyne for 10 years, and then at a coffee shop in Bondi.
He came to Australia in 1978 from Paris, and people couldn’t pronounce his name correctly.
It is Serge, with a definite J sound, not like the surge of surf as in Sergio.
“Pomona has been very good to me.
“It’s a nice town – big enough yet far enough away from Noosa when it’s busy.
“I’ve lived in Paris, New York, Melbourne and Sydney … it’s all good when you’re young.’’
So why have you settled on pizza?
“I’ve been in food all my life. I wanted a business.
“I had a coffee shop in Bondi and Jindabyne, and a pub in Melbourne … in Brighton.
“In Europe, the pizza is cheese and herbs … and tomatoes.
“Three things. It’s simple. Even in Napoli, where they roll them up like kebabs.
“If you put pineapple on a pizza in Italy, they kill you,’’ he laughed.
Alison Peak of Your Infinite Serenity said street markets made it easier for craftspeople to compete against the big stores.
Alison attended Pomona last year ere last year and was pleased with the numbers this year.
“It’s a good way to access the community at this time of year.
“People are willing to shop locally.’’
Gayle Sailaway of Sailaway Art moved to Pomona one year and six months ago.
Gayle and her daughter paint cards, notepads and generally pictures with natural themes such as Australian birdlife or creatures found in the ocean.
“I love Christmas,’’ Gayle said. “Seeing people, saying hello, and you get the feedback.
“This is a family community … that’s what it’s all about.’’
We found Cheryl Kadinsky of Noosa Shire Museum with a variety of hand-knitted teapot cosies.
Cheryl, along with fellow volunteer Madonna, is trying to get the photographic collection at the museum in good order.
“There’s 6000 photographs and they need to be documented. We are recording the history of Noosa Shire … buildings, people and events.’’
Sixteen-year-old Taj Kliese of Kin Kin looked like someone out of Tolkien’s classic The Hobbit, with his cap and stall filled with hand-made candles and hiking sticks.
Taj makes everything himself and attends Pomona as well as Kin Kin markets.
He sources all the sticks locally, and loves meeting people at the markets.
Brett Brown of Lemon Myrtle Cooran likes being out in the community and getting known.
He attends markets at Pomona , as well as Peregian, Eumundi, Yandina and Kin Kin.
Amy Gibson and Danielle Podeu of Federal State School were dressed for Christmas in what was the first time the school was represented at Pomona.
They had rosewater and blueberry iced tea with fresh rose petals and mint; and elderflower sparkler with raspberries and dried oranges.
There were fresh flowers grown at the school, and gingerbread men.
Katrina Bragg of Kin Kin had tastings of her RaiCin, a raisin cinnamon spread that can be put onto toast to taste just like raisin toast. Otherwise mix it in with porridge, on a pastry scroll, or with cheese and crackers.
Brendan Smith of Pomona Butcher was pleased with the reaction to the nitrate-free and gluten-free ham he was sharing with people as a sample.
Traditionally smoked and cured, more than one ton of ham is sold in the Christmas period.
Brendan said the night market was good to get the customers involved, and bring more people into town
It certainly did. It was a great night and we all took home some wonderful local produce and craft to share on Christmas Day.
Well done Pomona. A great example of locals getting together and supporting each other to build a strong community spirit.
Events such as this highlight the benefits of supporting local business instead of on-line or international brands, as the return on money spent circulates so much more.
It makes you aware of how easy that sense of community can be lost for the sake of convenience.
Apart from the benefit of locally-made goods and locally-grown food, there is the ability to talk with the producers, the retailers, the cafe owners and restauranteurs.
These are the people who put in to support playgroups, sporting clubs, school activities, art and theatre groups, pony clubs show societies or the fire service.
It doesn’t take much to create a community and support it – just a bit of thought.
It was wonderful to see the Pomona and district community out and about supporting their local producers and artisans.
