Volunteers help to build the beating heart of the Barossa

Volunteering is a thread that runs through the Barossa, linking people together through time, as well as creating moments of pure joy and satisfaction for those willing to walk the rewarding path of giving back to their community.

Tanunda native, Julie Modistach, knows a thing or two about how important volunteer-driven events in the Barossa are, having rich childhood memories of time spent at the Ziegenmarkt, or ‘Goat Market’, a much-loved fresh produce and livestock market that forms part of the Barossa Vintage Festival, held every two years.

Located at Goat Square, at the intersection of John and Maria Streets, Tanunda, the hustle and bustle of Ziegenmarkt attracts thousands of visitors, and is considered one of the most iconic events on the Vintage Festival calendar.

Known as a heritage event because of its longevity and enduring love within the Barossa community, people of all-ages attend to enjoy the fresh produce, the sights and sounds of a time-gone-by, and of course witness the much anticipated live auction – finalised with the sale of a goat.

It appears that Julie has come full circle, reprising her role as event organiser for Ziegenmarkt for the second time at the upcoming 2025 Barossa Vintage Festival, scheduled for April 23 to April 27, 2025.

Julie also volunteers at the annual Tanunda Show, another place full of fond childhood memories for her.

“These two events – I love them, love them!” said Julie.

“I grew up with an inspirational Mum, Charmaine Lynas, who was also a volunteer in the community, and I’m born and bred in the community, so I absolutely loved attending Ziegenmarkt.

“Ziegenmarkt is one that I remember as a kid, so when I was asked last time to volunteer, I was like, absolutely!”

A mother of two small children herself, Julie loves that she has the opportunity to give back and be involved in making these important events special for the next generation of children in the local community, where she can help create memories for them.

“For this role it’s a lot of asking for things, which is out of my comfort zone completely,” shared Julie.

“I struggle with that the most, that was the hardest thing, but people are so happy to give back in this community. People are so generous,” she said.

With everyone sharing a common goal, it’s a rewarding feeling for Julie, because with all the money raised at Ziegenmarkt, the committee can continue to keep running this much-loved community event.

“It allows us to bring our Vintage Festival back, which is so great, because we don’t want to lose that. It’s a really big event that can’t be run without volunteers,” Julie shared.

Julie also loves working with all the other passionate people who volunteer¬¬¬, because she appreciates that each individual brings something special to the table.

She suggests that people reach out to the Barossa Vintage Festival committee if they are interested in becoming a volunteer.

“I’ve had one of my friends move back into the Valley and she said, ‘I would love to be a part of that, I used to go as a kid,’ and I’m like, ‘great, I’d love you to, I need help…this is a huge event’,” Julie shared.

Volunteering is so much fun according to this passionate Barossan, and you get to know and meet some amazing people.