Bywong Community Car Boot Sale

The Bywong Car Boot Sale is an annual event and has been conducted by Bywong Community for the last 12 years at the Bywong Community Hall. It had modest beginnings as a small “garage sale in the bush” and has now grown to be the major local event, attracting a record of well over 100 stallholders and visitors numbering between two and three thousand.

In addition, the Wamboin Volunteer Fire Brigade, which covers Bywong locality, provide a highly efficient parking service, both in the Hall grounds and in adjoining paddocks generously made available by local landowners.

Community members provide teas and coffees with homemade cakes, biscuits and slices, and the Fire Brigade provided barbecue lunches. Local musicians and artists entertained the crowd, and the Fire Brigade and the Pony Club give demonstrations at fixed times.  A Palerang-based business attended with an amusement stall and donated a prize for the raffle.

The Community provide a free stall space to local community organisations such as Landcare and The Greenways Committee. Tickets for the raffle with many interesting prizes are sold and prizes drawn during the morning. The prizes are a mixture of some generously donated by local businesses and residents and others obtained specifically.

This event raises about $3000 through the hard work of Community volunteers, with the assistance of local organisations such as the Fire Brigade, and the Girl Guides. and also from local businesses such as Wagonga Coffee, Dutch Pancakes and Phillips Amusements.

The Community subsequently makes substantial donations to the Fire Brigade, and smaller contributions to other organisations such as the local (Bungendore) tennis club, and Wildcare. Over the years the Community has been able to assist a local paraplegic athlete and contribute to the local Breastfeeding Association members attend a conference.

Nora Stewart - March 2008