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WARRNAMBOOL GEM CLUB

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January 2008 Gem Show!

Our 40th Birthday show was held from the 25th to the 27th, at the Archie Graham Centre once again. We were grateful to have our regular traders such as Des Liston and Craig's Crystals, as well as several additional new traders at the show.

The show was a success in terms of the numbers of visitors, interest generated in the club, the standard of club members displays. The income generated from the show will help the club meet it's share of the costs involved in the redevelopment of the club's workshop, which we hope will occur in the next few years.

A special feature of the show this year was the display of material the club recently received from the MAARMUSEUM IN THE EIFEL REGION IN THE WEST OF GERMANY

In 2007, Dr Martin Koziol, of the Maarmuseum, found the Warrnambool Gem Club website, while searching for information on Maar Volcanoes. Dr Koziol contacted the Warrnambool Gem Club because the part of Germany where he lives has many maar volcanoes which are similar to those found near Warrnambool.

Our club forwarded mineral & fossil specimens (plus a reference book) from the Western District of Victoria to the museum, which in return has sent the club a fine collection of mineral and fossil specimens from Germany, along with several mineral and fossil references, some of which are shown in the photos below.

Note: Maar volcanoes result from explosions occurring when hot magma (molten rock) meets groundwater near the earth’s surface, producing high pressure steam and an explosion of rock fragments & magma into the air. These generally form a wide shallow crater with layers of tuff or ash around the edge. Some 40 examples of maar volcanoes exist in the southwest of Victoria, including Lake Bullenmerri (near Camperdown), Tower Hill (near Warrnambool), Lakes Keilambete and Purrumbeet and Mt. Rouse.

Alan Wood and Allan White holding a photo Alan painted of Allan! In the background are paintings with a 'rock' theme which formed part of the Gem Show this year.

Allan White operating the lucky dip

Des Listons' stall

General View of show

The show once again had a great display of showcases representing the work of club members and several of these cases are shown below. The 'Champion Showcase' prize for the 2008 show was won by Alan Wood with his 'Periants' display.

Our club appreciated the support shown by other clubs, with visitors to the show coming from Melbourne, Geelong, Mount Gambier, Colac, Ballarat and other clubs. Our most senior club member, Bill Rodgers, visited the show and had a good time catching up with his many friends.

The show was opened by the Warrnambool Mayor Cr. David Atkinson, who continues to show good support for community groups. Our club was also fortunate to receive considerable support via a generous sponsorship from Collins Book Sellers in Warrnambool.

January 2006 Gem Show

The club holds an exhibition every 2nd year, at the Archie Graham centre in Warrnambool, Victoria. The 2006 show featured our regular dealers and traders selling a wide range of minerals, fossils, equipment & jewelery. However, the main focus of our show was the extensive displays of the work/collections of members. We make a big effort to show the public the standard of work that club members can produce and the club show cases were comprehensive and well presented.

Club members conducted demonstrations of opal cutting and faceting. A ‘wire-wrapping’ demonstration was very popular with visitors to the show. Members of the public were given the opportunity to create their own individual pendants from Australian gem materials and participate in lucky dips and raffles.

General view of the show

Alan's faceted gems

Alan's carvings

A display of fossils by Chris & Janice

Lorna's showcase

Alan giving a faceting demonstration

Allan White mans the lucky dip

Ted making jewellery

Chris and Doris examine some display cases

Brian demonstrates opal cutting to Kay

3 industrious kitchen workers plus Keith!

Janice and Keith share a laugh at the plant stall at the 2008 show. N.B. This photo is out of order as it was only received recently from a club member.