Stallholders help out kids

Thanks to the community’s support of the Broome Courthouse Markets, Marnja Jarndu Women’s Refuge will be able to continue its afterschool kids’ club next semester.

The refuge last week received $2000 from Broome Stallholder’s Association’s regular donations program, which is run on profits made from stallholder fees.

Refuge acting manager Buffy Lefroy said the donation would be much appreciated by the children who attended the kids’ club three afternoons a week.

“It’s very generous, and we appreciate their support, otherwise we couldn’t be able to do things like pay the children’s attendance fees for the Sandfly Circus, which they really enjoy,” Ms Lefroy said.

“It’s a healthy alternative for them, they are learning things and keeping strong and healthy, and it’s continuous, even throughout the wet season, when other activities might be stopped because of rain.”

Broome Stallholders Association vice-president Glen Tattersall said the Courthouse Markets and stallholders had always been driven by a need to help the community. He said recipients were often those who found it difficult to find funding elsewhere.

“The markets has always been a community organisation – we are here to support the community, and one of the main ways we do that is through the community donations,” Mr Tattersall said.