IT WAS arguably the most activated The Station has been since opening as a transformed community space almost 12 months ago. The inaugural Newcastle Vegan Market got off to a flyer of a start at Newcastle's former railway station on Sunday, packed from platform to platform throughout the morning and into the afternoon as thousands flowed through the venue. Organisers of the market said they were planning to run bi-monthly events but if attendances like Sunday continued over the next few markets then monthly events would likely be on the cards. "Every second month, but when it's popular enough and we've proven that it's at that level, it's going to be monthly," Newcastle Vegan Market coordinator Dylan Weir said. Kate Jones, market program manager for association Vegan NSW, said: "We just want to see if the community can sustain it." "We want to make sure the community's up for it. We'd love it to be monthly, but we'll see," she said. READ MORE About 62 stalls were set-up at The Station, which the organisers said was not far off the venue's capacity. Stalls varied from food, fashion, activism, beauty and health products. There was even vegan cat food on offer. "They need to be 100 per cent vegan," Mr Weir said of the entry requirements. "Everything the business does has to be vegan." The Newcastle market is an expansion from the Sydney Vegan Market, which has proved popular since launching almost two years ago. "We launched Sydney Vegan Market in November 2017 and have been running monthly since then," Ms Jones said. "We usually get up to 120-130 stallholders. Our max attendance has been about 15,000 on the day. "Earlier this year we sent out a survey and asked communities where they wanted us next and we got some amazing results, Newcastle was huge." Ms Jones said once a date for the Newcastle Vegan Market had been set, interested stallholders got in touch "straight away". "We came up here in June to have a look at the venue and fell in love with it," she said. "We want to prioritise locals, but we also want to have a good mix of Sydney people. We want to treat Newcastle to a bunch of stallholders that they wouldn't usually see." Ms Jones said veganism had exploded in popularity and was becoming more "mainstream". "I think that veganism is becoming more accessible," she said. "Back in the day, vegan food was boring and dry and it just wasn't done well. Now, that is absolutely not the case. "One of the big things about the market program for Vegan NSW is that we make veganism accessible. We show that it is doable." She said being vegan extended further than an individual's diet. "Being vegan is about not consuming any animal products," she said. "Which is why we've got more than just food [stalls] here. It's no meat, no dairy, no eggs, no honey, no leather, no sheep's wool or any kind of wool. "Anything that came from an animal, we don't believe we need that in order for us to thrive." While you're with us, did you know The Herald is now offering breaking news alerts, daily email newsletters and more? Keep up-to-date with all the local news - sign up here. IN NEWS TODAY
IT WAS arguably the most activated The Station has been since opening as a transformed community space almost 12 months ago.
The inaugural Newcastle Vegan Market got off to a flyer of a start at Newcastle's former railway station on Sunday, packed from platform to platform throughout the morning and into the afternoon as thousands flowed through the venue.
Organisers of the market said they were planning to run bi-monthly events but if attendances like Sunday continued over the next few markets then monthly events would likely be on the cards.
"Every second month, but when it's popular enough and we've proven that it's at that level, it's going to be monthly," Newcastle Vegan Market coordinator Dylan Weir said.
Kate Jones, market program manager for association Vegan NSW, said: "We just want to see if the community can sustain it."
"We want to make sure the community's up for it. We'd love it to be monthly, but we'll see," she said.
About 62 stalls were set-up at The Station, which the organisers said was not far off the venue's capacity.
Stalls varied from food, fashion, activism, beauty and health products. There was even vegan cat food on offer.
"They need to be 100 per cent vegan," Mr Weir said of the entry requirements. "Everything the business does has to be vegan."
SUCCESS: Dylan Weir and Kate Jones at the inaugural Newcastle Vegan Market. Picture: Jonathan Carroll
The Newcastle market is an expansion from the Sydney Vegan Market, which has proved popular since launching almost two years ago.
"We launched Sydney Vegan Market in November 2017 and have been running monthly since then," Ms Jones said. "We usually get up to 120-130 stallholders. Our max attendance has been about 15,000 on the day.
"Earlier this year we sent out a survey and asked communities where they wanted us next and we got some amazing results, Newcastle was huge."
Ms Jones said once a date for the Newcastle Vegan Market had been set, interested stallholders got in touch "straight away".
"We came up here in June to have a look at the venue and fell in love with it," she said. "We want to prioritise locals, but we also want to have a good mix of Sydney people. We want to treat Newcastle to a bunch of stallholders that they wouldn't usually see."
Ms Jones said veganism had exploded in popularity and was becoming more "mainstream".
"I think that veganism is becoming more accessible," she said. "Back in the day, vegan food was boring and dry and it just wasn't done well. Now, that is absolutely not the case.
"One of the big things about the market program for Vegan NSW is that we make veganism accessible. We show that it is doable."
She said being vegan extended further than an individual's diet.
"Being vegan is about not consuming any animal products," she said.
"Which is why we've got more than just food [stalls] here. It's no meat, no dairy, no eggs, no honey, no leather, no sheep's wool or any kind of wool.
"Anything that came from an animal, we don't believe we need that in order for us to thrive."
While you're with us, did you know The Herald is now offering breaking news alerts, daily email newsletters and more? Keep up-to-date with all the local news - sign up here.
