A bus filled with bargain hunters from Geelong, repeat visitors from Wodonga and a South Yarra couple headlined Tongala’s giant garage sale on Saturday.
Co-ordinator Kellie Brennan, from Tongala Development Group, said the response to the event was terrific and the town was buzzing between 8am and 2pm.
“When I arrived at the kiosk in the morning there were people waiting for me, to buy their maps,” she said.
The development group decided to forge ahead despite overnight rain and their faith was well placed as the rain stayed away for the staging of the annual community event.
People were drawn in from throughout Victoria and the Riverina.
“There was four carloads from Wodonga. They come every year and we had some people from Wakool in New South Wales.
“There were a lot of people from Echuca and Bendigo. My first person to get a map was from Richmond.
“We gave out 400 maps and I know there were a lot of people who used the online map.
“I was really surprised with the generosity of people who made a gold coin donation for their map. Everyone was really positive.
“They appreciated us not cancelling despite the early weather,” Ms Brennan said.
There were 63 registered garage sales on the day.
The group will use any funds raised to support its next major events, which are the Hay Bale Trail and its Eats and Beats event.
“The hay bale trail starts on December 1,” Ms Brennan said.
She said the Bendigo Community Bank at Tongala was again the major sponsor of the event.
“If they weren’t on board things like this just wouldn’t happen.
“I know some of the businesses and service clubs in town were happy with the day. Shirley from the bakery stayed open for an extra two hours and the Lions club had their barbecue at GTS,” she said.