Unpredictable weather, compliance issues, increasing costs, the ever-present prospect of a COVID wave – these problems and more are faced by event organisers. As these problems become more difficult to negotiate, is there a possibility that the region might lose some of its events?

Let’s hope not! Maldon and the readership area thrive on events. There’s the granddaddy of them all, the Maldon Easter Fair, plus the Maldon & Baringhup Agricultural Show, the Folkie, the Twilight Dinner, Maldon In Winter, the Campdraft, the Baringhup Ball, Newstead Live, the Maldon, Newstead and Baringhup Markets and more.

To examine the logistics of holding a public event, the Times spoke to Mark Blythe last week, while he was in the process of preparing the grounds out at the Maldon race course for the Maldon Swap Meet.

Mark is the uncrowned king of Maldon events. He has run the annual Maldon Antique Fair since 2009, was instrumental in kicking off the Townwide Garage Sale in the same year, has been running two Maldon Swap Meets a year since 2014 and has also been holding an Antique Fair at Campbells Creek each year.

There’s not a lot that Mark doesn’t know about running an event, and he’s happy to share. As well as having more one-liners than most stand-up comedians, Mark also plays the long game. So the interview with the Times was funny and included a good yarn or two. It was also highly instructive.

Mark began his events career when he put his hand up to run an antique fair in Maldon on behalf of local business and tourism association Maldon Inc. “My first budget was $350, and I blew it on one advert in Markets & Fairs Magazine,” Mark said. “Eight people and a dog read it, and the dog was eating his dinner on it at the time.”

But the people came, and appreciated the green, green grass at the Bill Woodfull reserve, where the Antique Fair was held. “It was held during the Millennium drought,” Mark said. “It was a huge success, a great fundraiser for the MFNC and Maldon Inc. also benefited.”

After 10 years, there was an amicable parting of ways with Maldon Inc. and that led to Mark running the Antique Fair independently. While most of Maldon’s events are community run, Mark runs his events as a business. “My events give a lot back to the town,” he said. “Everything from petrol sales, pubs, cafes, shops, accommodation. And local residents enjoy having an event to go to.”

Advice for running a successful event?

Finding a good venue is the hardest thing, according to Mark. “I’m lucky that I have a couple of great venues in Maldon,” he said. “The Bill Woodfull reserve, of course. And the Maldon racecourse, where the other users accommodate my events with good grace.”

Holding an open-air event is, however, always fraught with danger and Mark believes that climate change is taking its toll. “There’s no such thing as a viable weather forecast. Is it, or isn’t it, going to rain? It’s a real lottery. We’ve had everything from 40-degree heat to a mini-torna- do. That’s one reason why I’m looking at holding a couple of events up in Bendigo, under cover. It’d be great to do it in Castlemaine, but there aren’t any large buildings that are suitable.”

Next piece of advice: keep it simple. “If you decide to have alcohol at the event, then it’s a whole different ballgame,” Mark said. “You need security guards, just for a start. And no fireworks – that’s also fraught with problems.”

You need to have completed your paperwork for the Shire so that your event is approved. That requires being compliant across a number of areas, including insurance, fire precautions, emergency exits, first aid and appropriate vehicle movements within pedestrian areas.

But wait, there’s more. In the near future, Mark needs to attend a three-day Events Safety Officer Course in Melbourne at a cost of $1,900. “And before that, I have to pass my Certificate III in First Aid,” he said. A complicated list of compliance issues, the risk of rain or heat, the hassle of dealing with hundreds of fickle stallholders, making sure the punters turn up: why does Mark do it?

“Adrenaline,” he said. “I really enjoy the challenge. Look, when it works, it really works and I get a real thrill out of that. There’s the odd fair where you barely break even, but you have to forget about that and move on. Ultimately, it’s all worthwhile.”

This article appeared in the Tarrangower Times, 1 December 2023.