On Saturday mornings, the gentle strumming of an acoustic guitar drifts across the Dawesville estuary, where children play along the banks and parents purchase fresh weekly produce directly from the farmers who grew it. This scene stands in stark contrast to recent headlines of brawls and police clashes that have troubled the suburb.
A Weekly Community Hub
Once a week, the community, along with holidaymakers staying in nearby homes and Mandurah residents willing to drive an extra 20 minutes to bypass large supermarkets, flocks to the Peel Produce Markets. Many shoppers express a desire to eliminate the middleman by buying directly from producers, while the strong sense of community by the estuary is palpable.
This was precisely the vision Megan Aalsh had when she launched the market five years ago. During the COVID-19 pandemic, amid lockdowns and societal divisions, Ms Aalsh decided to rebuild goodwill within the community. Having moved to Dawesville from Taranaki, New Zealand, she asked herself, "What can we do for our community here?"
"We just moved here. What can we do? And so this is how this came to life, really," she said. "It was like, OK, this is a good way to bond a fractured community, you know, because there was a lot of fractures happening. And I mean, look at it. Everyone's sitting down, everyone's enjoying, the kids are running feral, it's wonderful."
Fresh, Local Produce at the Forefront
Ms Aalsh emphasised that the goal was to have most stalls selling produce. "People come here because they know they're going to get good quality food and they like to talk to the people that source the food, make the food, grow the food," she noted.
On a recent Saturday, stalls featured goat cheese produced just 30 minutes away, crabs and seafood caught in the Peel Inlet, and fruit grown in Dwellingup. While many other suburbs have seen their local markets close due to unviability, the Peel Produce Market continues to expand, attracting up to 70 stalls on sunny Saturdays.
"You can come down and fill your whole pantry, other than the toilet paper," Ms Aalsh laughed.
Eco-Friendly Initiatives and Community Support
Although toilet paper might be absent, a stall run by Kieran Chappell allows eco-conscious customers to bring empty bottles and fill them with dishwashing liquid, shampoo, conditioner, and vegetable wash. Mr Chappell visits the market fortnightly to reduce plastic waste with his bulk plant-based products.
"People are definitely trying to cut down on plastic, but also know what's in their products as well. They're becoming more aware of what they're using within the household too," he said.
A special group known as the "market babies"—children of stallholders who have been born and raised in the community—also frequents the market. Laurens Zwart, father of one of these babies, has been bringing his home-grown fruit and vegetables since the beginning. "Megan found us on the internet, so we drove here and it's the best location. I love the people and they love having contact with the grower. That's what's missing at the supermarket, you can't talk to the grower. This is also my socialising for the week, because on an organic farm you spend a lot of time on your own," Mr Zwart said.
Giving Back to the Community
Ms Aalsh ensures that leftover food is donated to Pay It Forward, a local food pantry, while Ocean Road and Oakwood primary schools receive free apples. A puppeteer who performs at the market never pays for their stall, and once a week, a 'community stall' participates without a fee. "Sometimes there's more than one community stall," Ms Aalsh confessed.
The market recently received a $50,000 boost from the State Government's farmers market grant program. Dawesville MLA Lisa Munday praised the market's strong community focus. "This is a fantastic example of community leadership in action. Megan has built a place where people can support local producers, connect with one another, and feel part of their community," she said.
Ms Aalsh revealed that the funding will go towards a purpose-built equipment trailer and shelter, ensuring the market can continue without disruption during winter months.
