Pearls of Port Stephens sell your wardrobe

LOCAL women’s charitable group, the Pearls of Port Stephens, set up yet another successful ‘Buy My Wardrobe’ in Hawks Nest on Saturday 24 January.

In a prime location at the new Myall University of the Third Age (MU3A) hall, next to Hawks Nest Community Hall, the Pearls attracted plenty of interest.

The hall was made available for use to the Pearls by the MU3A, and featured artworks, for sale, by members of the MU3A Art Group.

“[MU3A] made the space available to the Pearls because they are a charitable group of locals who will give their proceeds to local and worthy causes,” explained MU3A President Roger Digby.

Kerry Paterson, the main Pearl organiser of the Buy My Wardrobe event, said the second-hand fashion market keeps clothes out of landfill, money in the local economy and supports local causes.

“Monies raised…will go to the community’s local Free Clinic Bus, and also to Rotary in Raymond Terrace, who will use it to help domestic violence victims, as well as helping Blaze Aid,” Kerry told News Of The Area.

Blaze Aid assists people in Victoria who lost their fences and property to recent fires.

The Free Clinic Bus transports locals from across the region to medical appointments in Newcastle and Maitland, and takes people to visit friends or relatives in hospitals.

Kerry and the Pearls have made their group synonymous with the Buy My Wardrobe event.

The market has also previously run for International Women’s Day and regularly at the Pindimar Markets in October.

Styles on sale included mostly summer items.

Some clothes were brand new, donated by those who perhaps thought twice, still with tags on them.

Only women’s clothes were available, along with jewellery and accessories, even a masquerade mask, as the relatively small men’s fashion contingent was snapped up early.

Plenty of visitors were entering town for the last blast of the school holidays, and Australia Day long weekend.

By Thomas O’KEEFE