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WARRNAMBOOL GEM CLUB ACTIVITIES

2010 Activities

June 19 Some 28 VGCA members, led by George Faderson, arrived at the Mortlake quarry at Mt Shadwell; as part of a weekends fossicking in the area. Mt Waverly, Mt Gambier, Geelong, Murray Valley, Blue Hill and Warrnambool clubs were represented. Alan Wood, of the Warrnambool Gem Club, guided the visitors as to what to look for and provided some fossicking hints. After a cool start to the day, the sun came out and the fossicking conditions in the quarry were good. This 'writer' found 2 good 'gemmy bombs' whilst there during the morning. Calcites, aragonites and some ilmenite crystals were also collected while I was there. Visitors were lucky to have Keith Hargraves in attendance, he is both the quarry supervisor and a club member, and used machinery to provide access to fresh fossicking material. It is nice to see such support for fossickers by the local community.
Fossickers enjoyed a BBQ at the local caravan park on saturday night, with Alan Wood showing some of the cabachons he has cut from the Mt Shadwell material as well as his techniques for making 'Peridants'.
There was some rain on Sunday, though I understand that at least one good 'gemmy bomb' was found in the morning. Later in the day, fossickers spent time at Alan Wood's place viewing his collection and having afternoon tea.
Mortlake has become a popular fossicking locality for many Australians and overseas visitors!

L.H. PHOTO Some of the fossickers at the Mt Shadwell quarry. R.H. PHOTO Keith shifting some of the black scoria to expose fresh fossicking material for the visiting vgca members.

May 1-2 The Palmer Rockarama was held over the weekend and kathleen Brockett, John & Marion Chivers attended. They reported that the show was great fun with good attendances.


John and Marion Chivers tailgating at the Palmer Rockarama.	Part of the evening entertainment. Kym (left) stars again!

May 1 Eleven Post-graduate geology students from the Australian National University visited the Mount Shadwell quarry in Mortlake as part of their 'geological tour'. Alan Wood and Alan Altmann from our club spent 2 hours at the quarry with these geologists (from Russia, Italy, South America, the U.S.A. and other countries) as they fossicked for mineral specimens. Some nice peridot specimens in volcanic bombs were collected along with other mineral specimens. The group then viewed Alan Wood's mineral and gem collection where they had 'a cuppa' and purchased some 'bargains' from Woody. The group then travelledg to Tower Hill near Warrnambool, to view the caldera (and emus & kangaroos). A good time was had by all.

Geology graduates from ANU with Keith (rhs, shire foreman)

Examining some of the 'really large' volcanic bombs near the enterance to the Mt Shadwell quarry.

April 15-19 Some 14 club members spent the weekend fossicking at Eldorado. Members sieved and panned in Reedy Ck, obtaining some gold dust, agates and quartz crystals. Members also dug at an abandoned tin mine and found quartz crystals, citrine and amethyst crystals. Most finds were small and required a lot of digging. Members had a great time at the 'happy hours' at the Eldorado campground after each day's fossicking.


Keith Fisher seiving for gems.	Len & Robin fossicking in Reedy creek.

Digging at the tin mine.	Keith sorting some finds.

Alan Wood showing how not to search for gems.	Panning for gold in Reedy Creek.

April 10    Club workshop reopens after renovations. See the 'Club history page'.
March 6-7    Club members will be visiting the Gemkhana in Ballarat.
February 7    Club members spent the morning fossicking at Mt Shadwell, in Mortlake, for peridot. The morning yielded little peridot, but some anthoclase was found by two members. For lunch a BBQ was held at Alan Wood's home where members viewed his collection.


Club members fossicking for peridot. New members Heidi and Brandon on left of photo.	A lot of digging went on for limited reward on the day. Some peridot and calcites were found.

Club members relaxing at Alan & Jenny Woods home.	At the end of the fossicking with temperatures high, members had a pleasant bbq.

The 2010 Warrnambool Gem Show was held in January on Friday, 8th to Sunday 10th . For a full report go to the CLUB SHOWS page.

2009 Activities

December 6: Club members had a pleasant end of year breakup, at Keith & Janice's Place, in Woodford.
November: 15th Thirteen club members travelled to the Geelong Gem show on Sunday with Alan Wood driving the bus down. Club members had a good day, catching up with friends and making some necessary purchases at the show. The standard of the work in the show cases was up to it's usual high standard.


Club members arrive at Geelong	Jenni (left) and Alan Wood (rt)

Kathleen purchases some faceting gear	Keith & Janice 'shopping' at the Geelong show

Keith & Utah relaxing	Val and Alan 'shopping' at the Geelong show

October:     Saturday 24th, 11-30 am. Ten club members attended the 'Celebration of the life of Allan White' at the Fritz Loewe Theatre, McCoy Building, University of Melbourne. Some 140 people from all over Australia, and overseas, attended the celebration. It was a fitting tribute to a great, but very modest, Australian.

ALLAN WHITE    1931 - 2009

    Professor Allan White grew up on a dairy farm in the Adelaide hills. He studied at Adelaide under Professor Sir Douglas Mawson and was awarded the Tate Memorial medal by the University of Adelaide in 1952. He completed a PhD in London in 1956 and was appointed a lecturer at the University of Otago. In 1960 he returned to Australia, to the Geology Dept. at the ANU, where he quickly established himself with publications on a wide range of petrological topics. He eventually focused on the origin of granites where he became a world leader as a result of integrating detailed field work with their petrography and chemical compositions.
In 1971 Allan became the Foundation Professor of Geology at La Trobe University, where he published a number of landmark papers on granites.
After retirement, Allan continued his research on granites and was a regular contributor at scientific conferences, publishing regularly in leading journals.
Allan taught at the University of Melbourne and was a regular reviewer/examiner of theses, papers and books. He was the best know petrologist in the world.
Allan received a number of major awards:

1994 the Browne Medal by the Geological Society of Australia
2002 the Mawson Lecture & Medal from the Australian Academy of Science
2007 the Geological Society of Japan Medal

Allan was a director of the Victorian Institute of Earth and Planetary Sciences, (VIEPS), which is a co-operative educational and research institution based in Melbourne. In recognition of Allan's contributions to education, the 'Allan White Medal ' was established which is awarded to 'honours graduates of outstanding calibre and demonstrated excellence' each year.


Alan White ( wearing one of the 'hats' he liked for field work)	Alan White

Alan White closely examing granite, an area where he was the leading expert in the world.	Alan White (lhs), doing field work in Scotland

Alan White's visitor pass at N.A.S.A.	Anakie Gem Show (L to R), Alan Altmann, Allan White, Mary Peterson, Heather White

Medal awarded to Allan White in 2007, by the Geological Society of Japan	Medal awarded to Allan White in 1999, by VIEPS

Medal awarded to Allan by the Geological Society of Australia	Medal awarded to Allan by the University of Adelaide
	Medallion awarded to Allan by the Geological Society of Australia. These medals are some of the many awards given to Allan during his lifetime, during which he became known as a world leader in his field, as well as being a driving force in the teaching of Geology in Australia.

Friday 23rd, Two USA citizens, Kevin & Irene Won, visited the Mt Shadwell quarry and spent a few hours fossicking there. They finished the day with some nice calcite & peridot specimens and some small 'cutters'.
Saturday 10th, A large contingent of fossickers from the Ballarat club spent several hours fossicking for peridot at Mt Shadwell, along with some Warrnambool Club members. Some members from both clubs ended up with some cuttable peridot and a nice 'vent' lined with calcite crystals was uncovered and some large specimens obtained.


Ballarat club members working on the 'vent'	A view of the vent, lined with calcites.

One of the calcite specimens (400mm wide)	Kevin & Irene Won, from San Francisco, USA

                         September    The club regrets it must announce the passing of Allan White, club member, geologist, geology lecturer and a good friend to many club members.

!!!!! NOTE THAT THE MT SHADWELL QUARRY IN MORTLAKE IS OPEN TO FOSSICKERS AGAIN
July   Larry, Mary, keith & Janice are in Queensland fossicking. Larry has found some nice green/yellow agates at Agate creek. They are attending the Atherton show before spending a few days at Obrien's creek.
    The stadium beside the clubrooms is being demolished at present. Repairs to our clubrooms roof are being undertaken and further works are expected in the near future.
April 09    Recently a club member brought into the club for identification the specimen shown in the photos below. It consisted of a fossil shell encased by limestone from a local quarry. Of special interest were the crystals of barite which had formed around the shell and inside it.


	Top LHS: fossil shell, limestone and barite crystals (15cm long). Top RHS: closeup of shell and barite crystals. Left: Barite filling of inside of shell. The barite was clear with well formed crystals and had the appearance of a 'crystal snake'.

April 10 - 13 (easter). Gemboree in Horsham! A large number of club members attended the gemboree over easter. One of the best Gemboree's in years! The weather was fantastic, displays and competition entries were impressive and members enjoyed themselves. Many members attended the talks at the show and came away with a greater knowledge of the hobby. The evening entertainment was great fun.


The main hall worked well as a venue	The main hall.

Part of the tailgating area	Some of our club members relaxing!

Gem trees	Silver work

Cabachons	Warrnambool member Alec, who rode down from Port Macquarie for the gemboree.

March 2009 Three club members (Alan, Chris & Janice) were at the Hobart Gem Show on the 7th & 8th of March. The show was located at the casino on the waters edge and a good crowd were in attendance. Some snaps of the show are below.


The Hobart show was located at the casino.	Teaching gold panning!

Serpentine & stichtite carvings	Crocite specimens

Fossils	Chris & Janice's stall

Lune river agates	Mineral specimens
	LEFT: azurite specimen, very attractive!

SUNDAY 1/2/09 The club to a field trip to Mt Shadwell quarry in Mortlake. Warrnambool club members were joined by members of the Geelong club, making a total of some 29 keen fossickers at the quarry. Several members and visitors found peridot, calcites and other mineral specimens.


Digging in the scoria for olivine, calcite etc.	The quarry equipment used to excavate at the quarry.

Alan Wood (field officer)	Different colours of scoria are obvious in photo.

Keith (quarry foreman) explaining 'local' fossicking techniques & 'know-how' to visiting fossickers.

2008 Activities

7/12/08 Christmas Breakup:    will be held at Keith and Janice Fishers' home at Woodford on Sunday 7th of December, from 12 noon. B.Y.O. meat and a salad or sweet. Bring along a chair and a $5 'present' for 'Santa' to distribute.

29/11 08    THE ALAN WOOD COLLECTION    A significant number of attractive ilmenite crystal specimens have been collected from the Mount Shadwell quarry over recent months. If you would like to view these specimens then have a look at the THE ALAN WOOD COLLECTION on this website. Beware that the photos are of a larger size than normally used on the site, to provide you with an opportunity to appreciate their beauty, and so may take longer to download than normal!

30/11/08    On Sunday the 30th of Nov., some 25 members meet at the car park at Childers Cove. Young and old then headed off for some tektite fossicking. However, the tektites were as 'scarce as hens teeth'! Congratulations go to young Matthew for being the only member to find a nice tektite.

19/11/08 A.G.M.    The Annual General Meeting of the club voted in the following office bearers for 2009.

President TED MORTON
Vice-President ALAN ALTMANN
Assistant Vice-President ANTHONY MARSH
Secretary JANICE FISHER
Treasurer KAY KEEN
Workshop Maintenance Officers KEITH FISHER, ALAN ALTMANN, JOHN HONAN
Field Trip Officers ALAN WOOD, JOHN CHIVERS, CHRIS AHYEE

VALE BILL RODGERS

Warrnambool Gem Club members wish to express their sorrow at the passing on October 30, 2008, of Bill Rodgers, age 97. Bill was a member for several decades. He worked tirelessly in maintaining the club workshop and taught many newcomers over the years. Bill was an excellent lapidary; as well as his cabochon work he was a high standard facetor, gem carver and silversmith. Bill was also an outstanding artist and a lover of music. Bill was a life member of the club and a returned 'Rat of Tobruk'.
A week before his passing Bill enjoyed viewing the photos of the club's visit to the Melbourne museum and discussing the progress at the club. Bill was interested in lapidary to the end.
A good man, sadly missed!


Bill & Phyl Rodgers (LHS) with Ron Lovell, at Moonlight Heads, March 1984	Bill Rodgers celebrating his Birthday at a club meeting at 'Lyndoch'. (Roy Coleman in background)

October 18-19: 12 club members traveled via mini-bus to Melbourne to view the Melbourne Museum's mineral collection and attend the Nunawading gem show, meeting up with other club members who had traveled independently to Melbourne.
Our first stop was at the Nunawading show. This was the first time the club had attended the show and members were impressed with both the displays and number of people attending the show. From the show cases it was obvious that Nunawading club has many very capable lapidarys among it's members.


A general view over of the show	Demonstrations of cabbing and faceting

Club members jewellery for sale	Jenny and Alan Wood relaxing at the show.

John Tunzi's stall at the Nunawading show	Club members relax after spending Saturday at the gem show

On Sunday, club members traveled to the Melbourne museum where we were shown the museum's mineral/fossil/gem collection by a very informative and friendly Dermot Henry. Dermot explained the different parts of the collections and how they are used for scientific and mining purposes. Many of the mineral, gemstone and fossil specimens had members 'drooling' and aiming to improve their own collections. Hopefully one day many of these magnificent specimens will be on display in the main museum area in Melbourne.


Club members arrive at Melbourne Museum	Dermot Henry (rhs) discussing some fossil specimens with club members

Members get a close up view of some fossil specimens	Early 'bird' fossil.

The jaw of an unknown species of whale of the genus mammaladon, found at the blue circle cement quarry at Waurn Ponds	Several mineral specimens including a large Crocite specimen

White sprays of mesolite with green apophyllite from India	Blue cavanssite clusters on white stilbite from India

A beautiful Rhodochrosite specimen	Rhodochrosite specimens

Dermot Henry & Alan Wood opening one of many trays of mineral specimens in the museum.	Saleeite specimens

Magnificent Dioptase specimens	Beryl specimens

The skull of Janjucetur hunderi found at Jan Juc beach, about 25 m.y.o. An ancestor of the modern baleen whales	A fossiled squid

August I had the pleasure of visiting the Rockhampton Gem club this month while in QLD. The club members are very friendly and helpful and I would recommend dropping in if you are in the area. The club rooms are located in the 'Walter Reid Cultural Centre', which is in the CBD, a short distance from the tourist information centre. This large multi-story building holds several community groups and is an example of how a council can successfully cater for community groups by reusing an older factory style building.


Walter Reid building in Rockhampton which houses the gem club and many other clubs.	Part of the gemclub workshop, showing grinding units. Note lockers in rear for club members use.

Carving and silversmithing area of workshop.	Alf and Beryl, two of the very friendly club members at 'Rocky'

Faceting & Silversmithing!	Kitchen area.

One of several display cases the club has on show.	A close-up of some of the work area.

During august I also had the pleasure of visiting the 'Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum', which houses the Somerville Collection. The museum is located at 224 Howick St., in the centre of Bathurst, in a refurbished public school building. The museum has a website with much information at http://www.somervillecollection.com.au I recommend parking at the rear of the museum and allowing 4 to 5 hours to view the collection, but take a break halfway through as it can be overwhelming in one viewing. The staff are very helpful and the labelling of the exhibits is excellent. Some of the collection is shown below.


The Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum.	Part of the interior display.

An amethyst specimen.	A magnificent beryl crystal on display.

A purple flourite specimen.	Rhodochrosite.

Yellow flourite specimen.	Fossil from the Green River Shale deposit in the U.S.A.

Fossil from the Green River Shale deposit in the U.S.A.	Fossil on display.

May 2-5 A number of club members attended the 2008 Palmer Rockerama in S.A. John & Gillian, Janice & Keith, Brian, Sarah, Tarna, Alan, Jenni, Chris, Janice and John enjoyed the great weather and the large number of tailgaters. Members had a good time (who spent a lot of money in the first few hours John?), with several members taking part in the metal detecting competition. All Warrnambool members who took part in the competition came away with a prize as a result of their efforts. Special mention must be made of Tarna Alexander and Alan Wood who were 'over the moon' when they won metal detectors. And in a pleasant change this year, Alan Wood managed to avoid getting sick, much to the relief of Jenni!


Brian Alexander at the Palmer Rockerama	John Chivers at his stall

Janice Krause at her fossil's stall	Keith & Janice Fisher discovered their van was for sale, without their knowledge!
	LEFT: Warrnambool Gem Club members displaying their prizes from the metal detecting competition. A very happy group!

April 29 Club member John Adams has passed away suddenly at South West Healthcare. John was a member of the club in it's early days and has been an enthusiastic member again over the last few years. He was faceting at the club workshop on Saturday (26th) before falling ill at home the following day. Club members will miss John's friendly face around the club and offer their condolences to John's family.

April 16 Club meeting
April 6 MORTLAKE FIELD TRIP A great days fossicking, in perfect weather conditions, was had by club members at the quarry today. Matthew started the day off well, finding a very impressive gemmy bomb soon after arriving at the quarry. Jenni found a great bomb, close to Keith's feet as he was explaining to new members what they should be looking for. How did you miss that one Keith? Several club members, both old and young, had good finds during the day.


Volcanic bomb with Peridot found by Matthew	Gemmy volcanic bomb picked up by Jenni.

Matthew with his volcanic bomb!

April 4    Our life member Bill Rodgers celebrated his 97th birthday with club members. Happy Birthday Bill!

March 20 - 25    Gemboree in Murray Bridge S.A. Nine club members travelled over to the Gemboree for a get together with other rockhounds. The weather was fine, sunny and 'mid-twenties' during the days, though' brisk' first thing in the mornings.
    Other Victorian clubs were present, and myself, Ted & Val found ourselves camped between members from the Glen Waverly club and the Nunawading club. Many rockhounds from other states were present (QLD, N.S.W, W.A) as well as the South Australians. A great group of friendly people!
    Meals were well catered for, and toilets and showers were excellent. Tail-gaters were numerous and the two main halls had an excellent combination of displays and traders.
    Congratulations to Chris Ahyee on his win in the open section (fossils)!


General view of some of the campers	Steam machinery display

Tailgating area	Larry tailgating

Janice tailgating	Part of one of the main halls

Part of one of the main halls	Display cases

Display case	Novelty case

Display of stone aircraft	Stone carvings

Minerals in display case	Chris Ahyee's first prize in Open fossil section

The importance of a good diet!	Some club members relaxing after a 'long day'.

    One of the great things about these gemborees is the chance to obtain new information about equipment (new and old) , lapidary techniques and competitions. Be sure to attend the next Gemboree in Horsham, Vic. next year!

March 19    Club meeting. The club has purchased a 'as new' Robilt 8" grinding/trimsaw combination unit for the very reasonable price of $100! Also, the club has had a set of tubular steel mining ladders plus a diff. based winch donated to it. These items will be offered for sale to club members at a nominal price at the march meeting!

February 20    Club meeting. Show discussed, new members welcomed. Several members travelling to the Gemkhana on 9/3/08. A group of members will be spending several days at the Gemboree at Murray Bridge next month.

January 25-27    Our Gem show was held over the weekend and was very successful (see the report on the club shows page)

If you wish to view earlier club activities, then go to our Archived Club Activities Page