Upper Ferntree Gully’s beloved Gully Market is once again proving that small communities can make a big impact.
This May, the market is proudly dedicating the month to breast cancer awareness with a $3000 donation to the Otis Foundation – a national charity that provides free retreats for people facing breast cancer.
It’s the second consecutive year the market has supported the Otis Foundation with a Mother’s Day donation, for market president Ian Rice, the cause is deeply personal.
“We’ve got a number of people at the market that have had breast cancer,” Mr Rice said.
“I’ve got four sisters and two nieces who’ve had it. We were looking at different foundations, and one of our stallholders, a young woman with breast cancer, had been on one of the Otis retreats. She suggested it, so I looked them up. What a fantastic organisation.”
The choice to support Otis soon became even more personal.
“It turned out the doctor who started Otis was a family friend of my niece’s,” Mr Rice said.
“And the founding chief executive officer was my brother’s old boss in Bendigo, just a really great guy. They’re in good hands.”
The retreats provided by the Otis Foundation are much more than a simple getaway.
The Otis Foundation chief executive officer Claire Cully said they offer something far more meaningful.
“They [patients families/carers] get to step away from medical appointments, being sick, and worrying about what’s going to happen,” Ms Cully said.
“They can be present with their loved ones and just have time, which becomes incredibly precious when you’re going through something like breast cancer. We often hear from mums who say, ‘It’s the first time I felt truly present for my kids in a long time.’”
While most guests are women, Ms Cully said Otis also supports men with breast cancer and their families.
The retreats are offered free of charge, thanks to generous donors and property owners who provide holiday homes.
“We are a national organisation, and while our home office is in Bendigo, we have properties all around Australia,” she said.
“We don’t receive any government funding, we rely entirely on donations, corporate partnerships, and community support like the Gully Market’s. Community donations really sustain us.”
This year marks the Otis Foundation’s 25th anniversary, a milestone reflecting decades of support for families across the country. Ms Cully will be visiting the Gully Market on Saturday, 31 May, to accept the donation in person.
Over the years, the Gully Market has quietly become a force for good.
In addition to supporting Otis, the market has raised funds for the local hospital, the CFA, food relief organisations, and others.
A recent donation helped purchase two specialised hospital cribs for mothers recovering from C-sections or difficult births — enabling them to keep their babies close for easier bonding and feeding.
But while the market continues to give back, it’s not without its challenges.
“We’re having trouble getting stallholders because the public isn’t turning up and the public isn’t turning up because stallholders are dropping off. It’s a catch-22,” Mr Rice said.
Despite the setbacks, Mr Rice and the team, including the market’s treasurer/secretary Tracy Pate, social media operator Rachael O’Connor, and PA Dianne Cree – remain committed.
The market offers a diverse mix of food, plants, jewellery, craft and gift stalls, records, golf gear, and more.
“We’re a registered community market,” Mr Rice said.
“That means giving back is part of what we do. Every cent we’ve donated has been accumulated over the past 10 years.”
As Ms Cully said, the power of Otis lies in the generosity of everyday people.
“We return 84 cents of every donated dollar directly to our guests, far above the Australian benchmark,” she said.
“If people can donate, lend a holiday property, or even hold a birthday fundraiser, it all makes a huge difference. And we’re just so grateful to Mr Rice and the Gully Market for their incredible support.”
