A beautiful mild Sunday afternoon unfolded in favour of hosting the 6th Empty Bowls event in collaboration with and on the property of Valla Village Pottery Company at 2 Valla Road. Proprietor Matt Beggs and his apprentices Zara and Miley created a comfortable hub for people to sit down and relax in.
Macksville musician Steve Zirkler did entice us with his engaging original music throughout the evening.
About 75 bowls were on display, waiting for their prospective buyers. A line up of delicious home made soups – pumpkin, Asian chicken and noodle, beef and vegetable, Bavarian lentil and last but not least, the Happy Frog’s delicious coconut curry was waiting to fill our empty bowls and tummies. Terumi Zirkler and Erica Goodwin made sure that customers received a first class service!
A steady stream of people wandered in on opening, eagerly waiting to pay Rachael Naylor on the cash register, in order to get first choice on their favourite bowl. Students from TAFE Coffs Harbour under the guidance of ceramics teacher extraordinaire, Cath Fogarty, donated beautifully crafted bowls. The professional wares of the Bellingen potters, including bowls made of locally dug up clay by Jane Northway, were collected and delivered by Jane. Other local ceramicists also made sure the event was well supported with their handmade with love products and at the end of the day 60 bowls found a new home.
Deanne and Col Reynolds who run the outreach and soup kitchen at the Nambucca 7th Day Adventis Church every Wednesday from 12.30pm till 5pm were present and Col gave a short speech informing the gatherers about their program and their future goals. They were delighted by the initiative of the potter’s and the support their program will receive.
At the end of the day $ 3016.32 was taken. After Expenses $ 2512.17 will be handed to the Outreach Centre.
A big thank you must go to everyone involved in this project especially Valla Village Pottery for hosting this even free of charge and the potters for creating and giving such beautiful handmade bowls and last not least a big thank you to the public for their unwavering support!