The North Coast of NSW is home to a culture steeped in rural traditions, with country towns and
villages nestled in the lush green hills and valleys formed from ancient volcanoes. With Nimbin to
the west and Byron Bay to the east Bangalow is in the centre of the counter culture. The village
an historical treasure and the Banglow Show and showgrounds have long been an integral part of the town.
The Bangalow Market Day is held once a month at the showgrounds and it is a treat for day trippers and a retreat from
the rush of the Gold Coast. Bangalow provides a window into another world. Come for the day.
Part of the continuing success of the market is the beautiful grounds the markets are held in, which
are dominated by eleven huge camphor laurel trees which provide welcome shade and rustling leaves and
a magic forest atmosphere. The Showgrounds are the home of Summerland Dressage Club and are an attraction for people
to join our club.
Bangalow Market Web Site
Bangalow Parks Trust
The Club is one of the groups known as the 'stakeholders' on the Bangalow Showground. We have been using the grounds since around 1985. At the time - some members may remember - the grounds had all the natural amenities that are it greatest assets, however the stables were in bad shape, the polocrosse field was not fenced, the Moller Hall had no verandah, the caretaker lived in a tiny caravan near the Moller and the cow paddock behind the rail way line had no houses on it!
The Bangalow Parks Trust Committee of Management - known as the 'Parks Trust', manages the Bangalow Showgrounds. This committee should not be confused with the 'Show Society', which is actually another 'stakeholder' like us along with the Pony Club, Polocrosse Club, and more recently, the Cutting Club. The parks trust is a section 355 committee of Byron Shire Council, and its members are chosen at a council meeting after nomination have been received, every three years following the local governments elections. The next local government election is at the end of this year. I have been representing the equestrian stakeholders on this committee for the past 3 terms (9 years), and I will stand again this year, but it would be good if another Club member would accept nomination.
The politics of Bangalow have changes dramatically in the last nine years, and we may need a strong presence on the trust to maintain the status of the grounds as a top equestrian venue.
As a stakeholder, the Club gets the benefit of a very reasonable yearly fee for using the grounds, and in return is required to collect the parking fee on the gate at two markets a year, April and August. As well, we participate in working bees, and have used our savings, in the past, to contribute in the upgrading of the facilities, and improving the Arena surface.
As members of the club you may use the grounds on a casual basis outside of the clubs days but you must make an arrangement with the Trust first, by ringing the Caretakers, Troy and Karena on 66871035. If you meet your trainer there and want to use the main arena a fee applies, the polo field is free. Never use the cattle ring (where the markets are held) and always park through the gate at the Moller Hall.
HAPPY RIDING, TONI
