"THERE'S nothing better than face-to-face contact," says a grandmother and Red Cliffs Country Market organiser on the return of popular monthly market on Sunday.
The monthly market, which had been in hiatus since July 4 because of COVID-19 restrictions, returned to Barclay Square, bringing "lots of laughter", according to organiser Dianne Dalla Santa.
"We have got some really great patronage happening.
"People have been starved for meeting and greeting friends and neighbours (and) it's quite clear with the movement of people around the market that they have just been waiting for the opportunity to do this.
"I'm a grandmother of 13. And it just breaks my heart that I can't get to see my grandchildren basically in their home or my home.
"The best thing is that you can meet them out in a public place now."
Mrs Dalla Santa said the market's goal, ever since it first ran during the drought of 2009, was to allow local producers and specialty shops to "pick up extra trade".
However, she said for some stallholders, including produce holders, plant and flower propagators, and candle and jewellery makers, this market was "their only source of income".
"As one of the organisers of the market, we are so appreciative of the fact that everybody is enjoying the market. They've got the shopping bags and they're purchasing stuff, which is what we wanted to see.
"(People) know in their head what they want. They might be here for fresh bread, for fresh produce, for mobile phone covers. Our stallholders are generally in the same position they've been for several years, so (people) know the area to go to."
Mrs Dalla Santa said market organisers were careful to make the market safe for people concerned about COVID-19, but said attendees were observing COVID protocols with little need for prompting.
"Everything's distanced out. The stallholders in the park we've pushed back off the footpath quite some distance, so that you haven't got people walking shoulder to shoulder.
"Where we were able to we've made a few changes to fall in with the best ability that we have (to follow) social distancing.
"I would say 99 per cent (of people are) wearing their masks. They are doing themselves proud and ticking all the boxes as far as keeping our communities open.
"We're very, very impressed with how this Sunraysia community has responded to being able to come to a market after three months."
Mrs Dalla Santa said she had her fingers crossed the market would return on the first Sunday of November, followed by a "joyous market" in the lead-up to Christmas.
