UTFTM - Where Community Magic Happens....

Hi, my name is Andreja Trobec. I am the Creator of the "Under The Fern Trees Market" and I am also the Event Manager and Coordinator.

Community is what I am all about and this is what The new Market in Ferntree Gully will be about.

I started working on the project in October 2024 and I have now a Team of people giving me support to bring this vision to reality.

If I am to give you a short description of the market, this is what I have put together:

UTFT Market in Ferntree Gully will bring together the whole community. It's slogan "Where community magic happens...". The event will happen every 1st Saturday of the month, except from January. The first one is to happen on the 1st of March 2025. First of all this is going to be a market of fresh and local produce, homemade goods, local arts & crafts, body products, seedlings, herbs etc. Our stallholders will also be different community groups and First Nations people. We are in full support of Diversity, Ecology and Sustainability. We aim to foster belonging, build relationships, and create a positive impact for Ferntree Gully Village. It is going to be a venue for personal growth, collaboration, building community and connections. We will create an inclusive environment where locals will engage with one another in a vibrant public space full of activities, entertainment (music and performances), workshops, exhibitions and much more. We will also continue the Amazing work that Coonara community House started and accomplished with the 6 month FTG Village Market and will continue improving the perception of safety in the Community.

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If you are reading all this, is because you have been invited to my birthday celebration event that will happen on the 7th of February 2025 from 6 till 11pm. I see this occasion to be the perfect moment for kick starting the project.

Know that you play a vital role in all of this. Without you, all this has no sense. Only with you, this is all possible.

And all of this has to start with someone.....and this someone happens to be me. I am ready to take this on board and sail on amazing adventures together. For the good of the Community and in the name of Union and Love.

This is a fundraiser to raise funds for my 46th bday and at the same time for the Market. I know that Together We can reach my goal and maybe even more.

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What am fundraising for:

- $264 for 6 hours for birthday hall rent 5pm till 11pm

- $600 for Dan Cully and Michael Arvanitakis live music performance

- Chai, dairy free (Iced or Hot, depending on the weather) by Steve Bakkamoona (will know the costs when I know the numbers of those present)

- Funds in support of the New Market. I am creating a completely new market from 0 and for now I do not have any funds for it. I am working on it for free myself. By saying that I also know I will get the funds and I’m fully trusting that this market will happen exactly how I envisioned it. It is a massive vision LOL but totally realisable. And I love the idea that the community would be investing in it.

Whatever I manage to fundraise for this market will go towards paying different costs like Website and Logo creation (the main idea for this one already exists, but we need to finalise it), printing of promotion material, flyers and signage, marketing, etc… Quite a few things We have already, as we are being held and supported by the Uniting Church in FTG and by MDLC - Mountain District Learning Centre, an amazing organisation that decided to Auspice us. There is support present and more will come.

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How can we get there Together?

So far I invited 293 people to the birthday party and realistically speaking, all of you won't make it there in person. That would be also a huge party, I am not sure where would I find a hall as big as that LOL! But if every single person of those 293 donates at least a chai worth (I do not drink coffee), let's say 5 AUD, that would amount to 1465 AUD, which is already more than my goal.

I reckon we can do it.

And I will keep you all updated under this Fundraiser on how the things are evolving with the Market.

Also, I am counting on you All for being part of it somehow, maybe just by coming to visit on the 1st of March, or maybe by volunteering for it, or maybe by creating something for it.... I will leave this to you to decide and contact me. This is for now our presence on Google:

Another important information, is that the Market is a Non For Profit Organisation, for now under Auspice of MDLC. We will report to them all that regards the market.

For any Market related enquiries, please contact me directly through Facebook or Messenger.

This is all from me for now.

I thank you for reading through this message.

And I am grateful for anything you can contribute for making this Market and my Birthday party a reality.

Blessings.