General News
4 September, 2025
Riverside Market bids goodbye to two founders
Tony Wood and Gary Daly are saying goodbye to Avoca and their beloved project, the Avoca Riverside Market, which they helped bring back to life four years ago.
Alongside fellow local Joan Quinlan, the pair worked to restart the market after it was closed after the COVID-19 pandemic. In the early stages, the group received vital assistance from the Beaufort Progress Association and Sarah Beaumont, whose support helped the market find its feet.
Gary Daly said their guidance was invaluable. “We owe a big vote of thanks to Sarah Beaumont. We had discussions with her, how to go about it, so we were able to get a lot of the stuff that the Beaufort Progress Association had until we got ourselves started,” he said.
“She was a great springboard for us.”
The new Avoca Riverside Market committee was officially formed in September 2021, with the first market taking place that November. Although Gary stepped away from the committee in 2022 due to other commitments, he remained a regular presence, chairing meetings and lending a hand when needed. “Yes, I was part of the initial group,” he said.
“It’s been very successful and I have no doubt that the current committee, will be fantastic. It’ll go from strength to strength, new people have new ideas, I’m sure they’ll do a great job.”
He also praised his long-time friend and co-founder. “He (Tony Wood) had such an enormous impact on the committee. He’s done a really good job.”
Tony Wood served as both president and secretary of the committee, bringing prior experience as a stallholder at various markets.
“It’s been a very cooperative group, and the market, quite frankly, has been growing substantially,” he said.
“Doing markets personally for me was always good. I’m really enjoying the markets.”
For Tony, the community spirit was what mattered most.
“The social side of markets, the social interaction at markets was fantastic,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed my time very much, and I think had we not been moving, I probably would have been going there for quite a number of years still.”
He said the support of local organisations had been key to the market’s success.
“I’m proud of what we’ve done in getting this market going,” he said. “We’ve also had terrific backing from volunteers like the Avoca Masonic Lodge and also from the Avoca Primary School.”
As he steps away, Tony said he was confident the market’s future is bright. “I am very happy with the handover, I know it’s in very good hands,” he said. “I’m happy with how it’ll continue to grow.”
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