Tags: Bribie Island Gem and Fossicking Clubs. Group. Brisbane
A REAL GEM OF A FESTIVAL
When we think about giving someone a gift, we very often consider the possibility of making that gift a piece of jewellery and for anyone who is a friend or relative of a Bribie Island Gem and Fossicking Club member, their chances of receiving a beautifully handcrafted piece of jewellery as a gift are greatly increased.
Featured image(above): Gem Club members hard at work on their designs
The Bribie Island Gem and Fossicking Club operates from premises in the Bribie Island Community Arts Centre complex and is a not for profit organisation with more than ninety members who enjoy practising the various skills associated with the lapidary craft and these include casting, silversmithing, enamelling, faceting and even wax casting. Publicity Officer Kerrie Western explained that being in the club offers members a lot more than just the opportunity to cut stones and making jewellery.
Busy on the faceting machine – Ron Griffiths visits from South Australia each year
‘We often go on field trips and visit other clubs,’ said Kerrie. In October we will be visiting Inverell and this will coincide with that club’s gem festival,’ she added. Kerrie also told me that the items that the club has for sale are not synthetic or heat treated. ‘When someone buys one of our handcrafted pieces, they always know exactly what they are getting and we can even tell them roughly what area of Queensland the stone came from,’ she pointed out. For anyone who would like to see the beautiful jewellery that members produce or perhaps find out more about what is involved, I would suggest a visit to the Bribie Island Gem and Fossicking Club’s Gem Festival which will be held on the weekend of September 8th and 9th.
An example of the beautiful handcrafted jewellery for sale
The festival will offer visitors a chance to check out the displays by over seventy vendors and also pick up a few early Christmas presents. From when the club was founded in November 1998, it has grown to be one of the best equipped Gem and Fossicking clubs in Australia and after spending time there recently and seeing the range of devices that are available to members, I can see why. Kerrie also mentioned that the club takes pride in ensuring that new members are taught each craft by the volunteer tutors and she added that the tutors hold lessons at U3A each Tuesday.
If anyone would like to find out more about becoming a member of the Gem and Fossicking Club, they can pay a visit to the premises during opening hours which are from 8 am to 1 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday or call Colin Thorpe on 0420 917 625.
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https://thebribieislander.com.au/bribie-island-photography-club-july-2018/