The Glen Road Community Market – originally started in 2020 as a fund-raiser for the neighbourhood watch – has grown into an established event.
The market was founded by Glencairn residents Dane Cherry and Malinda Coetzee with 13 stalls in September 2020 and has since expanded to include 32 traders.
Mr Cherry said he came up with the idea of a market when the neighbourhood watch needed funds for a project.
On top of helping the watch, at the time, some proceeds also supported the Glencairn Education & Environmental Support Enthusiasts (Geese), a group dedicated to preserving the beauty of the Glencairn vlei.
However, Mr Cherry established the tea garden to exclusively raise funds for Geese.
The tea garden run by Geese founder Lady Cilla Bromley and volunteers next to St Andrew’s Anglican Church was one of the market’s key attractions, said Mr Cherry.
Mr Cherry maintains the market area, mowing the lawn, trimming the edges and marking out trading bays.
He built a staircase from gum poles to improve access to one section of the market and platforms for traders.
Market days on the last Saturday of every month mean an early start for Mr Cherry who puts up all the signage and flags and prepares the area for the traders.
“All the furniture in the tea garden was donated by the local community,” he said.
The tea garden’s cakes are donated by locals, and Ms Coetzee provides scones.
Lady Bromley said the tea garden had become a wonderful meeting place for families, friends, and even school reunions.
The cakes, she said, were “definitely a big draw card”, and people called in advance to book theirs.
Mr Cherry said the market was more than just a place to shop but a celebration of Glencairn’s spirit, a testament to the power of community, and a critical source of support for environmental efforts.
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