The second annual Wombat Swap Meet was held over the June long weekend, attracting over 200 stall holders from around Australia including Victoria, Albury, Tamworth and the Central Coast.

The popularity among career stallholders was more than matched by the enthusiasm of the customers, many of whom braved the -3 degrees frost to line up from 5.30am Saturday morning.

The 1,000 pass-out bands given to people upon entrance were sold out within the first four hours of Saturday morning.

“We had a big first year and it’s only getting bigger and better,” Wombat Social Group president Marty Williams said.

“We’ve already started work on next year. People were booking their spot as they were going out the gate on Sunday, to give you an idea of how well it went.”

Among the many highlights of the weekend was the Saturday Show and Shine, which attracted about 30 classic and eye-catching cars.

As with many aspects of a swap meet the power lies in word of mouth, and the enthusiasts present said they would be looking to bring their whole club next year.

The positive feedback should ensure the number of stallholders and attendees each year also continues to grow.

The general talk among stallholders indicates that Wombat can boast one of the best-run swap meets around, which Marty says is attributable to a small but committed team of volunteers.

“Quite simply it was a great weekend,” volunteer Brian Norris said.

“Everyone raved about it and had a great time.

“Everything was looked after and clean as a whistle afterwards.”

Wombat Social Group ensures all proceeds go back to local initiatives and causes.

The organisation has donated almost $69,000 since its foundation in 2006; a number set to increase to about $80,000 following the weekend’s activities.

Among the local initiatives high on the agenda is the Wombat Equestrian Centre.

The next 12 months will see the old cricket ground transformed into a facility high in demand among local and visiting groups.