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The Voice of Penrith
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INSIDE Try your luck at our puzzles and crosswords Pages 54-56 Trevor. Photo: Melinda Jane.
WEDNESDAY OUT, THURSDAY IN: MARKET SHIFT MEANS END OF PENRITH TRADITION
AN ERA ENDS L
ocal goods and wares have been sold at the Penrith Midweek Markets for around 50 years, so when November 19 rolled around, it was a bittersweet day for stallholders and customers farewelling the Paceway’s Wednesday tradition. However, that wasn’t goodbye. The operators of the bustling Blacktown Markets have taken the reins and created a new-look Thursday market for Penrith, launching on November 27. Stallholder and beloved member of the Penrith market scene, Angelo, has watched the market change over 44 years.
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“I’ve been coming here since 1981 – before you were born,” Angelo shared. “For me, Wednesday is a day of recreation with people, talking and discussing things, and helping people. If people need information about where to find things here, I can help. I make people happy and they make me happy. “It has changed a lot. Before, the market would extend from the swimming pool down to the Paceway car park. Things changed after COVID and the market got smaller.” The market all-rounder is optimistic about the upcoming new arrangement. “Thursday is the best time to have a
“We’ve been coming here for the last three years, and I’m a bit reluctant about whether changing from Wednesday to Thursday will be better,” Dave said. “Time will tell. We’ll see how the new owners go. They could boost more life into the market.” Emerging from the market’s undercover area and into the sunlight, Jane sits under gazebo with her antique jewellery stall. “It used to be really flourishing. I have noticed a decline in buying. I’d say that’s because of the economy,” she told the Weekender.. Weekender Story continued on » p. 9
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market. Most people get their pension on a Thursday morning, and they have money to spend, and they can go out and see more beautiful people like you and me,” Angelo laughed. “Last week, we had stallholders from another market come here because their regular market was closed. They told me that they would be much happier to attend the Penrith market on Thursday because there is another market on a Wednesday, meaning they would have to choose between the two.” A few metres away at the Nepean Valley Honey stall, Dave and his father Trevor feel a bit unsure about the change.
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