Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, as I mentioned just a moment ago, we know
that tomorrow's the last chance to catch the sunset and
enjoy a luxA or whatever other beautiful food really you
want there at Mindele Beach with the markets wrapping up
for the year. The final market also happens to fall
on Halloween this year, which is going to no doubt
be embraced by bands and market stall holders. And joining
(00:22):
me in the studio to tell us a little bit
more is the general manager, Elana Aldridge. Good morning to.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
You, Hi Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Hey everyone, lovely to have you in the studio. Now,
tell us a little bit more about what is planned
for tomorrow night.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
It's going to be an extravaganza of performers throughout the markets,
including stilt walkers, some comedy, some bands, some fabulous local acts,
a whole lot more than people would usually be used
to and dressing up. There'll be competitions for the kids.
The stalls are all getting decorated. Ye, so yeah, we reckon.
(00:56):
It's going to be a ripper.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
That's such a cool thing to do. I reckon because
I know some people kind of go, oh, Halloween's such
an American thing, but I've like my kids now are
at the age where all they want is to kind
of be involved in Halloween stuff.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Well, did you know here's an interesting fact. Halloween's actually
Irish in origin. It's a Celtic I like it.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
I like, you know, the kids being able to walk around,
to get dressed up and to you know, to sort
of interact with people that within the community that they
may be ordinarily wouldn't and that's what's going to be
wonderful at Mendel as well. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Well, I think every culture has a similar thing. I
think it's about honoring of the dead. But I'm really
excited about how much fun it's going to be tomorrow night.
It'll be lollies and trick or treating if people want
to also, So come on down now.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Well, I know you've touched on the performers there and
plenty of music and what's going to go on, But
it does sound like there'll be plenty of stool holders
getting into the spirit too.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Absolutely. Yeah. Look, the Final Light's a really big night
for them. People work so hard for the six months
of the year and you know, it was a bit
it was a bit of a low turnout year for
tourism this year. I think that sector is taking a
while to recover from COVID, although I've got to say
we had fantastic support from tourism, top En tourism and
(02:16):
tourism and tea who brought you know, I can't even
count the number of international journalists from travel magazines to
the markets, and you know, it's promoted all over the world.
It's amazing how well known Middle is because you know,
it was it was registered recognized by the National Trust
(02:38):
as a national icon a few years ago. And you
know for visitors today, and it's a must see, a
must do event, it truly is.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
And even as a local, I just think it's such
a fantastic thing to go and just enjoy the sunset
but have a beautiful meal as well, and it's so iconic,
right just sitting down watching the sunset, having something nice
to eat and just being amongst that.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Absolutely, and it's also a whole lot more than that.
You know, it's more than just a market. We employ
more than a thousand people, so that's hundreds of Darwin
families who are making their livelihood through the markets. We
pump fifteen million dollars into the anti economy. That's probably
a big under calculation, and you know, it's just it's
(03:28):
a wonderful combination of entrepreneurship and community, you know, and
the creativity, the artisanship, the fabulous food of course, and
it's a community. It's a really passionate community for the
most part, a really harmonious community.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Yeah. No, look, I think it's wonderful. It's one of
those real, real bucketlest items as well for a lot
of people that come to the NT. But as you've
touched on there, it's such a huge part of the
fabric of the Northern Territory I think, and wonderful, wonderful
ongoing event. It's an enormous amount of work really when
you think that it goes on for the whole dry
(04:07):
season and every Thursday and every Sunday you're putting on
a massive event that's outdoors. You know.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Yeah, well we've got to you know, thank some key
people and entities, particularly the City of Darwin for letting
us utilize the place. And they're fantastic crew who you
know come and clean up and look after the grounds
and you know, they're just gold. We have a lot
of the market infrastructure and the way that it runs
(04:37):
is enabled by Progia security and operations. They've got an
operations crew and a security crew, and you know they're
also utilizing NDIS people, you know, learning valuable work skills
and working one on one with able workers. And I
just think that's that's fantastic. It is and they do
they do a huge job. It's a hard job too.
(04:58):
And remember that's setting up up from ten in the
morning through till when the market opens at four. It's
been really really hot this season.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
It has.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Yeah, yeah, it's not an easy gigs. It's a wonderful one.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Alana, what happens now kind of once the markets, you know,
once we wrap up tomorrow night, in terms of the
off season, because I know that it doesn't mean that
work sort of stops. I would imagine that there's a
heck of a lot of planning that then goes in
to next year. You kind of take a look at
the different things that have worked really well. Maybe some
of the things you might modify. Is that the type
of thing that happens.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Absolutely we do. It's a time for planning, apart from
a little bit of a rest, and people really deserve
a rest after the season. Some of the stallholders will
be replenishing their stocks, taking the time to make new
because lots of the things for sale they are handmade
by local people. So the market infrastructure, we need to
(05:53):
have a really good look at that and see how
we can make it better. And yeah, certainly planning mega
entertainment works for the next season that that's going to
be really interesting as well. You know, we also and
increasingly have really big corporate bookings coming in, so the
month of May is already just huge and you know
(06:16):
the planning that goes into you know, an event that
has you know, nine hundred people or five hundred people,
there's a lot of work in planning. Yeah, it's going
to be a big year.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Good on you guys, and congratulations on what's been a
massive season, you know, or a massive year this year,
and no doubt a wonderful celebration tomorrow night. I'm sure
it's going to be lots and lots of fun and
very very busy for you guys, and then you'll have
maybe a small moment to put your feet up for
a little bit and then back into us.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
That's absolutely thank you so much, daddy, you all down
there
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Lovely, good on you, Thanks so much for your time
this morning,
Well, as I mentioned just a moment ago, we know
that tomorrow's the last chance to catch the sunset and
enjoy a luxA or whatever other beautiful food really you
want there at Mindele Beach with the markets wrapping up
for the year. The final market also happens to fall
on Halloween this year, which is going to no doubt
be embraced by bands and market stall holders. And joining
(00:22):
me in the studio to tell us a little bit
more is the general manager, Elana Aldridge. Good morning to.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
You, Hi Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Hey everyone, lovely to have you in the studio. Now,
tell us a little bit more about what is planned
for tomorrow night.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
It's going to be an extravaganza of performers throughout the markets,
including stilt walkers, some comedy, some bands, some fabulous local acts,
a whole lot more than people would usually be used
to and dressing up. There'll be competitions for the kids.
The stalls are all getting decorated. Ye, so yeah, we reckon.
(00:56):
It's going to be a ripper.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
That's such a cool thing to do. I reckon because
I know some people kind of go, oh, Halloween's such
an American thing, but I've like my kids now are
at the age where all they want is to kind
of be involved in Halloween stuff.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Well, did you know here's an interesting fact. Halloween's actually
Irish in origin. It's a Celtic I like it.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
I like, you know, the kids being able to walk around,
to get dressed up and to you know, to sort
of interact with people that within the community that they
may be ordinarily wouldn't and that's what's going to be
wonderful at Mendel as well. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Well, I think every culture has a similar thing. I
think it's about honoring of the dead. But I'm really
excited about how much fun it's going to be tomorrow night.
It'll be lollies and trick or treating if people want
to also, So come on down now.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Well, I know you've touched on the performers there and
plenty of music and what's going to go on, But
it does sound like there'll be plenty of stool holders
getting into the spirit too.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Absolutely. Yeah. Look, the Final Light's a really big night
for them. People work so hard for the six months
of the year and you know, it was a bit
it was a bit of a low turnout year for
tourism this year. I think that sector is taking a
while to recover from COVID, although I've got to say
we had fantastic support from tourism, top En tourism and
(02:16):
tourism and tea who brought you know, I can't even
count the number of international journalists from travel magazines to
the markets, and you know, it's promoted all over the world.
It's amazing how well known Middle is because you know,
it was it was registered recognized by the National Trust
(02:38):
as a national icon a few years ago. And you
know for visitors today, and it's a must see, a
must do event, it truly is.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
And even as a local, I just think it's such
a fantastic thing to go and just enjoy the sunset
but have a beautiful meal as well, and it's so iconic,
right just sitting down watching the sunset, having something nice
to eat and just being amongst that.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Absolutely, and it's also a whole lot more than that.
You know, it's more than just a market. We employ
more than a thousand people, so that's hundreds of Darwin
families who are making their livelihood through the markets. We
pump fifteen million dollars into the anti economy. That's probably
a big under calculation, and you know, it's just it's
(03:28):
a wonderful combination of entrepreneurship and community, you know, and
the creativity, the artisanship, the fabulous food of course, and
it's a community. It's a really passionate community for the
most part, a really harmonious community.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Yeah. No, look, I think it's wonderful. It's one of
those real, real bucketlest items as well for a lot
of people that come to the NT. But as you've
touched on there, it's such a huge part of the
fabric of the Northern Territory I think, and wonderful, wonderful
ongoing event. It's an enormous amount of work really when
you think that it goes on for the whole dry
(04:07):
season and every Thursday and every Sunday you're putting on
a massive event that's outdoors. You know.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Yeah, well we've got to you know, thank some key
people and entities, particularly the City of Darwin for letting
us utilize the place. And they're fantastic crew who you
know come and clean up and look after the grounds
and you know, they're just gold. We have a lot
of the market infrastructure and the way that it runs
(04:37):
is enabled by Progia security and operations. They've got an
operations crew and a security crew, and you know they're
also utilizing NDIS people, you know, learning valuable work skills
and working one on one with able workers. And I
just think that's that's fantastic. It is and they do
they do a huge job. It's a hard job too.
(04:58):
And remember that's setting up up from ten in the
morning through till when the market opens at four. It's
been really really hot this season.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
It has.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Yeah, yeah, it's not an easy gigs. It's a wonderful one.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Alana, what happens now kind of once the markets, you know,
once we wrap up tomorrow night, in terms of the
off season, because I know that it doesn't mean that
work sort of stops. I would imagine that there's a
heck of a lot of planning that then goes in
to next year. You kind of take a look at
the different things that have worked really well. Maybe some
of the things you might modify. Is that the type
of thing that happens.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Absolutely we do. It's a time for planning, apart from
a little bit of a rest, and people really deserve
a rest after the season. Some of the stallholders will
be replenishing their stocks, taking the time to make new
because lots of the things for sale they are handmade
by local people. So the market infrastructure, we need to
(05:53):
have a really good look at that and see how
we can make it better. And yeah, certainly planning mega
entertainment works for the next season that that's going to
be really interesting as well. You know, we also and
increasingly have really big corporate bookings coming in, so the
month of May is already just huge and you know
(06:16):
the planning that goes into you know, an event that
has you know, nine hundred people or five hundred people,
there's a lot of work in planning. Yeah, it's going
to be a big year.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Good on you guys, and congratulations on what's been a
massive season, you know, or a massive year this year,
and no doubt a wonderful celebration tomorrow night. I'm sure
it's going to be lots and lots of fun and
very very busy for you guys, and then you'll have
maybe a small moment to put your feet up for
a little bit and then back into us.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
That's absolutely thank you so much, daddy, you all down
there
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Lovely, good on you, Thanks so much for your time
this morning,
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