AN early skirmish in the winter war on clutter ended with cheers from a Redlands woman who says she was "blown away" by the power of classified advertising.
A replaced laundry sink that took space in Mary Belz’s Birkdale home was among the first trophies from the front line of hagglers, thanks to our June special offer.
Mary was looking this week for more items under $100 to list in a free for-sale notice after the sink and metal cabinet sold for $30 on Saturday to the first of four callers.
"We haven’t advertised like this before and we were quite blown away by the response," Mary said.
"The lady who bought it read the paper only about 9 or 10 on Friday night and was very keen on Saturday."
Mary and husband Mervyn are enjoying their return to the Redlands after living at Toowoomba for about 40 years.
"I grew up here and we moved back about four years ago to be closer to the family," she said.
Mary advertised the sink in another paper but failed to get a call.
SOUTH at Victoria Point, retired fitter and turner and woodworker Kevin Tersteeg still had the mini bar fridge he listed last Friday for $80.
Kevin has been a devotee of classified advertising for much of the half century since he migrated from the Netherlands in 1956, just in time to see the Olympic rowing at Ballarat.
"I have always sold everything I have advertised," he said.
"I think I have sold five caravans and campers over the last 20 years or so."
Kevin and wife Cecelie enjoy camping, mainly at seaside parks between Yamba and Coolum.
The mini fridge suited a camper trailer they have replaced.
Many Redlanders know Kevin from the woodturning gallery he formerly had in Bloomfield Street, Cleveland.
Kevin says his trade in metal work paid the bills for many years and he became the foreman of a Capalaba workshop after moving to Queensland in 1974.
Then wood won his heart. Much of his work was in camphor laurel, rosewood and rose mahogany.
"It was much more rewarding working with wood and for myself," he said.
"I have given it up now because it affected my lungs."
Fishing is now among his favourite pastimes and he gleefully tells about a mate hooking a 69cm flathead in Canaipa Passage.
Kevin’s mini fridge drew three callers and two inspections but was just a tad small for their needs. Like Mary Belz, he received no calls from a notice in another paper.
This column has appeared in the Redland Times, which serves a lively community on Moreton Bay at the gateway to Australia’s rising economic star, south-east Queensland.