October 21, 2024
The 25th birthday of the Friendship Markets was celebrated with a small ceremony at the Kingaroy Showgrounds on Saturday morning.
The markets were started in October 1999 and were originally held in the car park of the Kingaroy Senior Citizens Centre (now South Burnett Care) in Avoca Street.
Rita Buchholz, the original organiser, said they ran successfully at this location for 16 years with the help of volunteers, including Craig Lucas.
Expansion plans by SB Care led to the markets shifting to near Cheers Triangle in Youngman Street.
Kingaroy Rotary Club agreed to take over the reins with the aim of building the event up for another community organisation to run.
However, a lack of shade in the Cheers Triangle space led to the markets moving again, this time to their current location at the southern end of the showgrounds.
The South Burnett Show Society then took over control.
Rita said she came back on board as the organiser, running it on behalf of the Show Society.
“Some of the stallholders have been with the markets for 25 years,” Rita said on Saturday.
“I know all their children. They’re a lovely lot. They’re like a family.”
Markets volunteers and stallholders presented Rita with a bucket of flowers on Saturday morning to thank her for her support over the years.
And, of course, there was a birthday cake!
The Kingaroy Friendship Markets are held on the third Saturday of every month at the Kingaroy Showgrounds.
