Saturday, November 4

It's Craft Fair weekend again in Deloraine and the locals' quiet life is once more disrupted by the influx of thousands of visitors cluttering up the streets and emptying out the ATMs.  Marilyn and I are playing a low-key role this year, helping out on the gates but keeping away from the nitty-gritty of the organisation.  Marilyn does a shift each day in the hospitality area and she enjoys the interaction with the judges and other volunteers.

Tonight was the Awards Presentation.  This was always a bit of a bun-fight with lots of drinks and free finger-food but the current Director has aimed for a bit of class and has put on a nice meal and the expectation that people will dress up a bit.  Marilyn and I hadn't planned to go but, at the last minute, found ourselves putting on the glad rags.  It was a pleasant night.  We sat with the judges which is always interesting and had a great meal.

For each table of eight, the caterers brought out platters of pork belly, poached salmon and pork and veal rissoles.  A three-tiered cake stand had salad, potatoes and vegetables.  It looked terrific but I'm not always a fan of self-service at a crowded table, when the food is covered with sauce and everyone is in their best clothes.  The chance of a messy accident is high.

However, the food was delicious and we came through unscathed.

This year, we have a researcher from, I think, Flinders University, working on a study on why events like the Craft Fair are so successful.  Despite the fact we live in a low-population area, we depend on volunteer labour, and we are seriously affected by rising costs, we have managed to survive and grow over 30-odd years.  During this period, highly-subsidised capital-city events have withered and died, but we haven't depended on government funding or council support.  As Michael Veitch used to say on Fast Forward, 'There's something in this for all of us.'