GetUp! Actions for Australia - 

29th April, 2008 - 7pm

RSVP  'Reconciliation GetTogether'  

Krystyna's Unison Gathering at Irymple

Photo opposite: Aboriginal Elder - Aunty Beryl 

Krystyna's Outrage over Farmers Market Issue

Article and Poem published in the Victorian Rural Women's' Network Bulletin Issue 2, 2006 p.11 & 33

Appreciation of Women's Work  apart from cakes, jams, pickles, 'husbandry' and childrearing - Written by Krystyna Schweizer

 I am a fan of ABC Radio National. It is my lifeline to the outside world and broadens my horizons. I heard a mention here and there about Farmers Markets and wondered if it could work in our region. Due to climatic conditions this area is unlikely to sustain a large variety of locally grown fruit and vegetables all year round. Acreages of oranges being pulled out and grapes following suit.  Adding a bit of artwork, craft,  home made gadgets, clothing would make it more exciting for tourists and locals alike. May be I could sell my unique hats focusing on sun protection!

 When we found out that Sunraysia is going to have a Farmers Market my 17 year old son and I got very excited. Him wanting to sell commercially grown organic produce from his fathers farm (block) for pocket money and myself promoting my 'famous ' handmade hats. When I attempted to book a stall for organic produce and handmade hats I was told in no uncertain terms that I can bring the produce but not the hats. When I asked why, I was informed it is strictly against the rules and regulations. I argued that allowing us 'women' to sell jam, pickles and cakes along with the products that 'our menfolk' grow on the farm but not our ceramics, paintings, quilts, hats, clothing etc. that us 'women folk' make to boost the farms income is a matter of discrimination. Not legally but philosophically speaking. For me it was also a matter of practicality. I had no time to sell at two different markets. My son being a learner driver must be accompanied by a licensed driver and he wanted to be part of the Farmers Market rain, hail, or storm!

Recently a local internationally acclaimed celebrity  has approached the organizer of Sunraysia Farmers Market saying  it could be beneficial to allow my hats to enter the farmers market offering more diversity and attraction for tourists and locals. It got 'knocked on the head'.

Adding  'insult to injury' I found out that a man selling his garden produce at the Farmers Market was asked by the organizer of the Sunraysia Farmers Market if he would like to bring along his hand made furniture to promote his cottage craft business.

This episode has unleashed an avalanche of emotions, transporting me back to the 1970's when Germaine Greer came into the limelight and women were fighting for equal rights. I feel a significant number of rural women or perhaps 'outback women' and men are still stuck in that mindset of 1950's today. Some of us refer to it as' Cowboy Mentality' which seems very prevalent in the Mallee. Not surprising there are so many unmarried men in their prime of life in the outback.

I was so outraged over being rejected in such a unpolite manner that I sent an email to the ABC Radio Guest book. As a result I was invited to speak on Radio along with the Organizers of Sunraysia and Lake Boga Farmers Market. The Lake Boga Organizer said, after a consultation with the community it was decided that it was in the Community's interest  to include local Artisans and to remain flexible to local needs. It highlighted that it is the difference of values of the Organizers which  determines how the market is run.

 My research  revealed that  the guidelines of the Australian Farmers Market Associations are based on the U.S. model where the Farmers Market movement originated from and has nothing to do with  rules and regulations apart from the usual health and safety aspects that affects any kind of business. I also perceived a notion that the values of the Farmers Market  are 'elitist' and strongly influenced by American Christian Fundamentalism and welcome by women with 'puritan values' in Australia.  'This is our strength! It is our point of difference and our reason for being!' Anne Summers book written in the early 1970's "Damned Whores and God's Police springs to my mind!

The Mildura Independent Sunday newspaper  run the story about my disappointment with the Sunraysia Farmers Market under the headline' Goods banned from market!' That was the best medicine for my 'bruised ego'. However, it has not changed the mind of the organizer of the Sunraysia Farmers Market. They are standing by their' principle'. The support I have received from the community after the  appearance of this article was overwhelming and is still being commented on to this day.

Since its inception my son  attends the Sunraysia Farmers Market selling produce without fail. To accommodate his transport needs we made up a roster amongst family and friends. For a seventeen year old young man who has suffered  health problems since birth, his persistence and will power shows  promise! He is positive that the day will come when he gets permission from the Sunraysia Farmers Market  to sell his mother's hats along with his fathers farm produce.

 Krystyna Schweizer is a Hat Maker based in Irymple near Mildura, in the Outback of Australia. Her creations are a celebration of diversity,  ranging from hats-as-art through to hats for fashion wear and everyday use. All hats are hand-made by Krystyna in her backyard railway carriage workshop. Originally from Switzerland, Krystyna, born in 1950 spent much of her childhood in a tribal village in the Belgian Congo (Africa) and migrated to Australia in the early 1970s. Wisdom gained from her former occupations as nurse, social worker, and commercial organic grower have strongly influenced her social enterprise approach to business. It also reflects her life long commitment to social justice and sustainability. The only person sweating in workshop is herself! Krystyna describes her business as a humble, one woman cottage craft ' hands on', low budget enterprise without the bells and whistles of modern Tourism/Fashion Industry.   Keep it simple - Keep it small - Keep control.

Krystyna has won a Mad Hatters Award at the Alice Springs Beanie Festival in 2003.  

‘About giving a Fair Go and Respect

This is in the name of A FAIR GO and RESPECT relating to what I perceive as Prejudice at some Markets and Fairs in the Region of Sunraysia.  Your support and feedback will be most appreciated! You will find my contact details at the end of this article.

 My name is Krystyna Schweizer, renowned Artisan, Illustrator, and Maker of unique, practical and outrageous hats since 1992. A former organic horticulturist with vast knowledge of farm related organic growing practices, sustainable lifestyle practices and environmental issues.

 I have resided in Sunraysia for most of 35 years and still regarded as an outsider by some locals. This saddens me immensely. When I am not in my workshop in Irymple feverishly making hats I travel thousands of kilometers to major Folk Festivals. This is where I experience the occasional brush with celebrities whilst they are buying hats from me. Overhead costs at each festival runs into thousands of dollars. I have to make an awful lot of hats to cover expenses. I work an average of 80 hours per week for very little return. These are the conditions so many genuine hard working crafts people and artists put up with.

 I was dumbfounded when several people remarked to me: “Krystyna, congratulations at long last you can sell your hats next to the Farmers Market”. Others commented: “Krystyna, when I heard about the Magenta Craft Fair the first thing that sprung into my mind were your hats.” I was shown the flyer that stipulated: Showcasing only local artisans of a diverse range of quality craft and cottage industries. Upon that understanding I attempted to book a stall with Magenta Craft Fair. Subsequently I received a letter in the post informing me that my application got rejected because I do not fit their criteria due to conflicting interests. This is a contradiction to what is stated on the flyer.

For almost two years, I have been lobbying for an inclusion at the Sunraysia Farmers Market of unique, good quality non-food items produced at home by Cottage Craft Industry in Sunraysia. i.e. woodcraft, knitted/crochet goods, alternative fashion, hats, bags, gadgets, inventors innovations, arts and crafts of all sorts, preferably made from local and clean recycled materials in tandem with the theme ‘against global warming’ from the Maker directly to the public. In my Opinion a MAKERS MARKET or’ SLOW GOODS MARKET’ would enrich and attract more people to the prestigious Sunraysia Farmers Market. I have been quite vocal in the press and in the community with my suggestions about such an enterprise held simultaneously and nearby the Sunraysia Farmers Market away from shopping malls/centres, not in competition with other markets.

Sunraysia Farmers Market invites Food & Crafts stall holders to participate at OPEN DAY at TAFE & La Trobe August 2006. I apply for a stall and get rejected because I don’t fit the criteria. I was so outraged I literally marched into the Office of the Human Resources and Marketing Manager explaining the situation. I was allocated a site by TAFE far enough away from Farmers Market Stall Holders in order to avoid conflict! I shall abstain from reiterating about other similar occurrences!

To the people who wonder about my absence from the Mall Sunday Market, I HAVE THIS TO SAY: About 18 months ago one of the organizers threatened me with expulsion and wrongly accused me of bringing my car into the Mall too early. I was yelled and screamed at. I attempted to explain that the car in question was not mine. It was common knowledge amongst stallholder that I am the last one to pack up (3pm). I informed another organizer of what happened and told him that I do not tolerate such behaviour and would not return as a stallholder unless I get an apology. Eighteen months have passed since my last attendance. I am still waiting for an apology! Even prior to that I was frequently told they had no vacancy for me or told me that it was difficult to allocate a site for me because I am not a permanent stallholder. I give credit to a man named Vince. When he was in charge (a long time ago), he always tried his best to accommodate my requirements and treated me like royalty.

I feel ‘by the skin of my teeth’ there are certain individuals in this community who are placing hurdles to prevent me from participating in certain local markets and fairs thus reducing my local income earning capacity and preventing tourist and locals from viewing my unique work which could be regarded as an asset to the region of Sunraysia. Over the years thousands of my homemade hats have been acquired by people from all over the globe under my label: Hats By Krystyna - Made in Mildura Australia.

 Stallholders are to be treated with the respect as any other Business owner!!!! A happy Market with lots of diversity is a successful Market.

You can express your support by writing to Editors of our newspapers or contact the local ABC Radio. You can contact me via www.outrageoushats.com then Click on Contact or  ’google’ Krystyna Schweizer or write to me P.O.Box 2535, Mildura, Vic. 350Please note:  I have written this also for people who mistakenly believe that the Magenta Craft Fair was my doing, expecting to see my hats on display there. 

I am not a Market Organizer. I merely wish to have the option to participate as a stallholder when my time permits between my many other commitments to remain in touch with our community. Rejecting me as a stallholder is IRONIC! Thank you for your time. Yours Sincerely, Krystyna Schweizer. (30/11/2007)

"Only when the last drop of water is sold