Echuca-Moama Doll and Bear Show a success

They ranged in age from five to 85, seizing the opportunity to be part of the first show held since 2019.

Organisers Liz Baxter and her sister Kathleen Walsh ensured all questions were answered promptly.

“The people are enjoying themselves and the traders are doing well,” Ms Baxter said on Saturday.

“So far, we have one volunteer wanting to pursue this and following the event, similar to when a stone is thrown into the water and the ripples it creates.”

Margaret Colliver from Tongala has been making tiny teddy bears for the past two decades.

Many of the bears only stand between 7cm and 10cm tall.

“After working as a health and safety officer for a retirement village in Shepparton, I decided to start making dolls. I hope I continue making these little bears for many years to come as I love making them,” Mrs Colliver said.

“Now that I’m retired, I can spend as much time as I like.

“Mind you, there are limitations, because the smaller they are, the more detail there is in making one of them.

“When you’re putting them together, you have to keep looking to make sure that you’re doing the right thing all the time.”

Val Osborne, who has now retired to Echuca, was selling a range of dolls she created.

“I’ve been making dolls for the past four decades,” Mrs Osborne said.

“The process of making them can be quite involved as every time you paint them, you then need to fire them up in the oven. This way, the colour on them becomes richer.

“As a doll maker you’ll never become wealthy, it’s a passion, you really don’t make money. It’s an expensive hobby, but it’s a lovely hobby.”

The Echuca-Moama Doll and Bear Show also raised funds for a local charity, with Ms Baxter delighted with how this year’s event fared.

“I’m unsure to how much money has been raised, we won’t know till the end of the day,” she said.

“So far it looks as though a steady flow of people (have visited), so if that keeps up we’ll be very happy and we’ll be able to make a donation to the Food Bank.”