Who are the Friends of Queen Victoria Market?
The Friends of Queen Victoria Market is a not-for-profit, independent, grassroots organisation that consists of customers, traders, local residents and the wider community who support the Queen Victoria Market.
Our members are interested in preserving Melbourne’s heritage. We have an active Facebook presence with over 6,000 followers and a reach of up to 20,000 people.
Mary-Lou Howie
President of Friends of Queen Victoria Market
The Queen Victoria Market, where my family were traders from the mid-1940s to the 70s, is in my blood. The Vic Market was my playground and it was where I learned the basics of market retail while I helped my parents during school holidays. I have shopped at QVM most of my adult life, as do my children and grandchildren.
I have had several careers, beginning as a teacher of children and then of adults. I set up a retail business in South Yarra in the 80s. I worked as publicity manager first for Multicultural Arts Victoria, and then for the Jewish Museum of Australia, before retiring to go to art school.
When, as a Vic Market customer, I became acutely aware of the perilous changes threatening my beloved market, I began my work as a community activist and President of Friends of Queen Victoria Market.
Liz Aird
Vice President of Friends of Queen Victoria Market
Liz Aird is a former teacher and public servant.
She has shopped at the market since the 1970s. In her eyes the Vic Market embodies the spirit of Melbourne. Its multiculturalism, colour and movement plus affordable food epitomise the democratic core of the city.
Markets abroad draw her like a magnet. Unfortunately, markets across the world are being transformed from these city hubs serving entire communities into sterile, gentrified soulless husks serving the affluent.
Liz wishes to help halt the demise of the Queen Vic Market as it has served Melbourne over many decades.
Jacky Pecotic
Secretary of Friends of Queen Victoria Market
Jacky, is a professional living in West Melbourne with 15 years or so Administration and Project Management experience. Since her earlier university days Jacky has been coming into the city and it was inevitable that she would become a true local.
She has migrant roots that worked at Queen Victoria Market and has fond childhood memories of going to Queen Victoria Market. To this day she is a regular shopper at the Queen Victoria Market and is passionate about supporting local businesses and traders. Jacky, is also a fan of open air markets and cares deeply about preserving the market vibrancy.
Fran Wadsworth
Treasurer Friends of Queen Victoria Market
Primary / Secondary Teacher.
I have been Involved in community groups at all levels of family commitment beginning with toy library and playgroup.
I grew up with South Melbourne Market being the venue for the family weekly shop and have strong memories of its pre modernisation.
In 1978 the QVM became my preferred market, at first fortnightly, but for past 26 years its been my weekly place to shop. It is an iconic and valued asset in my family's life.
Bob Evans
I am a retired strategic communications adviser having worked on high profile programs for both state and local governments in Victoria and South Australia. Before that I worked for 15 years as a news/feature writer for the Sydney Morning Herald and other metro and national publications, including the Bulletin, Vogue Living and the Adelaide Advertiser.
I have lived across the street from the Queen Victoria Market and been a regular market customer for more than 20 years. As student at Melbourne Uni in the late 1970s, I’d ride into the market on a weekend to shop at the delis and the vegie stalls.
Anne Taib
Anne lives and works in Melbourne and has been a customer at the QVM since living in North Melbourne as a student. She is an educator by profession, working in Higher Education. Anne's motivation is to see QVM remain the people's market. She is interested in the role that markets play as public spaces that build, connect and protect local communities and promote equity and diversity.
Dr Miriam Faine
Dr Miriam Faine has worked in adult education and community development as well as as a University lecturer In Education. She has shopped weekly at QVM on and off since 1970, and been a regular at many other famous markets all over the world. She believes the market is an important presence in, and contributor to, the community of Melbourne and It is worth fighting to preserve it - as a historic space, but also as a sustainable way of trading, for future generations.
Ann Brady
Ann Brady, a secondary school teacher, now retired, has been shopping at the Queen Victoria Market since moving to Melbourne from London in 1970. She has always lived within walking distance of the market and is currently as close a neighbour as she could be, with a back lane that opens on Peel Street, opposite F Shed. A fan of open air markets , she was delighted to find such an amazing example of a fresh market in the centre of Melbourne. On her many travels, always on the lookout for good markets, she inevitably concludes that the authenticity and atmosphere of the QVM is unique and to be preserved for future generations at all costs.