By Sheree Hoddinett
It’s time to shine bright like a gemstone.
If you like sparkling gemstones, jewellery, rocks, minerals and all they encompass, then Caboolture Gem Fest is definitely the place you want to visit on August 3. This year heralds the 11th Gem Fest for the Caboolture Gem Club and for the first time it will be held in a completely new location at the Caboolture Showgrounds.
Caboolture Gem Club acting vice president, silver instructor, chief steward for competition and Queensland Lapidary & Allied Craft Club Association (QLACCA) delegate Donna Parker described the event as one to mark on the calendar for the whole family.
“People can look forward to seeing many different types of gemstones and minerals all in the one place,” Donna said. “There will be many market stalls to purchase gemstones, jewellery, fossils, minerals - just about anything gemstone related. There will even be a kids corner, where they can sieve for gems, have their faces painted and join in the fun of bracelet making.
“For those interested, we will be having demonstrations on some of the things we do at the club and visitors can also come and see our competition showcases. At the last annual Gemboree which was held in South Australia this year, four of our members received medals ranging from first, second and third. Our own competition is held in conjunction with Gem Fest, so no one will know the outcome until then.”
Wanting to create her own jewellery, along with an interest in gemstones and minerals, is a big part of why Donna decided to join the Caboolture Gem Club, a little over six years ago. She loves to get out and find her own gemstones when she has the chance to.
“Mother Nature is amazing with what she produces,” Donna said. “You pick up a rock and slice it, shape it and polish it and the most prettiest colour or amazing patterns in the stone just pop out and amaze you.
“I’ve recently been out to the Gemfields looking for sapphires. I found a pretty 1.4 carat sapphire - funny story attached to the one. I dropped it and my son-in-law scraped up about a square metre of dirt with a shovel, dustpan and brush and I had to re-sieve it to find the sapphire, which I did thank goodness.”
If you would like to join the Caboolture Gem Club, they are open Monday to Thursday and Saturday from 8.30am-2pm and also Monday nights 5pm-8pm and can be found at the Caboolture Historical Village.
Caboolture Gem Fest is on Saturday August 3 from 8am-3pm at the Caboolture Showgrounds (140 Beerburrum Road, Caboolture). Entry is $5 with children aged 12 and under free. There will be a gold coin donation for car parking going to the Moodlu Men’s Shed. They are raising money for a concrete slab to build a big shed that was donated to them.
For further information about Caboolture Gem Club or Gem Fest phone 0493 838 287 or visit the website (in the process of being updated) https://caboolturegemclub.com/ and Facebook event page https://facebook.com/events/s/caboolture-gem-club-gem-fest/25570051892641529/
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