It’s time to shine bright like a gemstone.
If you like sparkling gemstones, jewellery, minerals and all they encompass, then Caboolture Gem Fest is the place you want to visit.
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 and Allied Craft Club Association (QLACCA) delegate Donna Parker described the event as one to mark on the calendar for the whole family.
What’s On at the Gem Fest?
“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.”
An interest in creating her own jewellery 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.
“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 just 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 metre square of dirt with a shovel, dustpan and brush and I had to re-sieve to find the sapphire, which I did thank goodness.”
Caboolture Gem Club details
If you would like to join the Caboolture Gem Club, they are open Monday to Thursday and Saturday from 8.30am to 2pm and Monday night from 5pm to 8pm and can be found at the Caboolture Historical Village.
Entry to Gem Fest is $5 and children 12 and under are free. There is a gold coin donation for car parking, which will go to the Pumicestone Rural Fire Brigade.
For further information phone 0493 838 287, visit the website (in the process of being updated) https://caboolturegemclub.com/ or search for the Facebook event ‘Caboolture Gem Club Gem Fest’.
Caboolture Gem Club Gem Fest
- Saturday, 3 August, 8am-3pm
- Caboolture Showgrounds
- 140 Beerburrum Road, Caboolture.
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