Bargain hunters descend on Brunswick

By Luke Prendergast

ROBIN LAIDLAW knows a bargain when he sees one. He ought to ?V he ran a second-hand store in Alice Springs for 30 years!

So it was no wonder that the new Byron Bay resident was like a kid let loose in a lolly shop on Saturday at the Brunswick Heads Old and Gold Festival.

For around $150, Robin and his partner, Amanda Furze, from The Channon, filled the back of their old four-wheel-drive with two bicycles, a wardrobe, ??a beautiful old rug??, shelves, curtain rods, ??a beautiful running leopard statue??, several books and ??a lovely waistcoat?? for Amanda.

The couple was among hundreds of bargain hunters who descended upon a record 47 garage sales dotted around the town, as well as an indoor second-hand fair at the Memorial Hall.

There were books, CDs and vinyl records, clothes, furniture, crockery, bric-a-brac, collectables, toys, games and more available for those with a keen eye for that something special.

??My god, we??ve got the four-wheel-drive loaded with stuff,?? Amanda said.

??I??m doing up a flat so I??m on the lookout,?? explained Robin.

??We??re just going to buy a tambourine across the road at St Vinnie??s.??

??And that will just about do us,?? Amanda added, as they crammed a rather large mirror in amongst the rest of their booty.

??We??ve been cruising for four hours and we??ve only spent about $150,?? Robin said.

??We??ve got a couple of things for the flat ?V a couple of good things for the flat ?V and a couple of things we weren??t expecting.??

It certainly helps to pick up a bargain when, like Robin, you have three decades?? experience in the second-hand trade.

??I??ve got a fair idea. And about sticking it into the car too,?? Robin said.

Just as well!