AFTER a year of no sales due to COVID-19, the Garage Sale Trail returned bigger and better than ever on Yorke Peninsula in 2021.

The national event, supported locally by Yorke Peninsula Council, ran across two weekends, November 13-14 and 20-21.

About 40 stalls across 10 locations offered Yorke Peninsula bargain hunters a massive range of preloved items, from surfboards and camp fridges to lovingly handmade craft creations.

Yorke Peninsula Council Mayor Darren Braund said it was wonderful to see so many people out and about perusing the various garage sales.

“Thank you to everyone involved in this year’s Yorke Peninsula Garage Sale for making it a huge success,” Mr Braund said.

“After last year’s Garage Sale Trail was affected by COVID-19, Council worked hard to rebuild local support for the initiative.

“It was worth the effort, as locals jumped on board with great enthusiasm, creating two weekends of wonderful community involvement.

“Even on the second weekend, when the weather was far from ideal, it was raining bargains and a lot of people still ventured out to the sales.

“The Garage Sale Trail is all about finding new homes for old items, boosting the circular economy and minimising landfill.

“Why throw something out when you could make some pocket money and let another person enjoy it for a long time to come?”

This year’s Garage Sale Trail also provided an opportunity for community fundraising,” Mr Braund said.

“Disability support service provider Yorke Peninsula Leisure Options held a community garage sale featuring 20 stalls at Brentwood, raising money for the wonderful local organisation,” he said.

“Participants sold items they had made during their time at YP Leisure Options, where group activities include arts and crafts, woodworking, cooking and much more.

“We look forward to making the 2022 Garage Sale Trail even bigger and better on Yorke Peninsula.”

There is only one week remaining to nominate worthy individuals and groups for Yorke Peninsula Council’s annual Australia Day awards.

“We encourage our community to nominate worthy individuals and events for our Australia Day awards,” Mayor Darren Braund said.

“There are so many amazing people who deserve recognition, and many of them fly under the radar.

“They don’t do it for recognition, but this is a chance for us to show them our gratitude nonetheless.

“The awards are also a fantastic way to acknowledge those who have worked hard to put on events for our region in the past 12 months, particularly given the extra effort required to comply with COVID-19 restrictions.

“Yorke Peninsula Council’s Australia Day award ceremony is always a wonderful celebration and we look forward to sharing it with some deserving nominees next year, so please go online and make your nominations.”

LAST YEAR’S WINNERS… Young Citizen of the Year Stacey Searle, Mayor Darren Braund and Citizen of the Year Kate Martin at the most recent Australia Day Awards ceremony.

Nominations are open in the following categories:

Citizen of the Year

Young Citizen of the Year

Community Event of the Year

Award for Active Citizenship

To make your nominations, visit https://www.citizenoftheyear.com.au/nominate.

Nominations close Wednesday, 24 November.

The Yorke Peninsula Salt Lake Trail is officially open.

The trail capitalises on the stunning salt lakes scattered throughout southern Yorke Peninsula by encouraging self-drive tours, from a 15-minute trek to extended adventures.

Many of these lakes are naturally pink, and they can also appear orange, blue and white.

The lakes also change dramatically throughout the year, rewarding repeat visits.

The Yorke Peninsula Salt Lake Trail begins at Weaners Flat Reserve on Stansbury Road, Yorketown, with a boardwalk and informative large sign at Par Lake.

This sign points visitors in the right direction for all of the different self-drive tours available.

Signs and lookouts are scattered along the trail to maximise the tour experience.

Mayor Darren Braund gave a speech before officially opening the trail.

“This trail is another wonderful offering for visitors to our region,” Mr Braund said.

Mr Braund commended the residents, council staff and elected members, particularly Councillor Adam Meyer, and everyone else involved in bringing the salt lake trail to fruition.Some of the key attendees at the official opening of the Yorke Peninsula Salt Lake Trail, Yorke Peninsula Council Director of Assets and Infrastructure Andre Kompler, Peter Stockings, Peter Twartz, Jason Swales, Alan Twartz, Cheryl Bates, Yorke Peninsula Council Visitor Information Servicing Officer Gabrielle Gutsche, Yorke Peninsula Council Operations Manager Stephen Goldsworthy, Yorke Peninsula Council Environment Officer Letitia Dahl-Helm, Yorke Peninsula Council Operations Coordinator Nick Hoskin, Councillor Adam Meyer, Mayor Darren Braund (also below).