Kilmore local Jessica Kilpatrick has recently taken on a new challenge: HER Events.
“It’s a new project that I’ve started for myself,” she said.
“I’ve been working in events for 10 years, and I’ve now decided to go out on my own.”
Ms Kilpatrick’s first venture is to transform Kilmore Trackside into a secondhand clothing market, a unique event with a clear purpose.
The HER Secondhand Clothing Market will see vendors selling and repurposing their preloved goods, raffles to go towards a good cause, and delicious food trucks spread throughout the venue.
Ms Kilpatrick said she had run her own secondhand clothes stalls in markets in Williamstown and Shepparton; however, she noticed a gap in the market in her own home town.
“I just thought, ‘what if they had something like this in the Mitchell Shire?’” she said.
“I could find markets from Craigieburn down to the city and onwards, and I could find things further north, but there wasn’t really anything in the middle.
“I put the word out there to see if anyone would be interested, and it’s kind of just blown up.”
While the event won’t be held until May 31, Ms Kilpatrick has already been swamped with support.
With raffle prizes donated by local businesses, Kilmore Toyota offering to sizzle some sausages on the day, and around 500 people registering their interest in attending on Facebook, Ms Kilpatrick’s first event for her new business is set to be a significant one.
But it’s not just the size of the event that is of note.
Two charities are set to benefit from the market, with proceeds from raffle prizes and the barbecue to go towards family violence response centre Safe Steps, and left-over clothes from stallholders who wish to donate to go to Our Village, a not-for-profit that collects and rehomes essential baby and children’s items to those in need.
“I haven’t personally been affected, but I do know people around me who have experienced domestic violence,” Ms Kilpatrick said.
“It’s not that it’s directly close to me, but it is close to me.
“For me, I just wanted to get involved with something that I know doesn’t really get a lot of attention.
“And, it’s a massive issue.”
The market will be attended by the community crime prevention officer at Wallan Police Station, who will inform attendees about Safe Steps, and how to aid families in the region who may need assistance.
If the market is well received by community members, it may be a frequent one for HER Events.
“If it is really popular, and it goes really well, we’ll probably look at doing it once or twice a year going forward,” Ms Kilpatrick said.
The HER Secondhand Clothing Market will begin at 10am at Kilmore Trackside on Saturday, May 31.
For more information, visit tinyurl.com/3hh6uw9u
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