Dayboro to sparkle at dazzling gem show

by Ashleigh Howarth

Looking to marvel at unique and beautiful stones from across Australia and the world? Head along to the 2023 national Gemboree event in Dayboro - the biggest lapidary, rock, fossil, crystal, mineral, gem and jewellery show in the country.

Visitors and hobbyists from all over Australia will visit the Dayboro Showgrounds over the Easter long weekend for the 59th national Gem and Mineral Show, hosted by the Queensland Lapidary and Allied Craft Clubs Association Inc.

President Les Hathaway, above right, says he is thrilled to bring the hugely popular event to the Moreton Bay Region.

“This unique event is held in a different state each year, meaning it only comes to Queensland every six years, so this year we are thrilled to bring the event to the Moreton Bay Region for the first time,” Les says.

“For the last 58 years the event has always been held in regional areas, meaning this will also be the first time Gemboree has been held in a metropolitan region near a capital city. “It’s also a real boost for the area as Moreton Bay has four local lapidary clubs, which is exceptional because most towns or regions only have one club.”

The four-day event will be a colourful showcase of all the amazing things you can dig out of the ground, with plenty of trade stalls and tailgaters selling rough gem materials, finished jewellery and gemstones, mineral specimens, crystals, fossils and the latest lapidary equipment.

“If you’re looking for a great deal on a piece of jewellery, this will be the place to be,„ Les says.

“Here you will find stones and pieces of jewellery that are so unique that there will never be a copy.

“You can talk to the person who found the stone somewhere in Australia, take that stone or raw material to the person that cuts and polishes it before then going to see someone who can turn it into a lovely one-of-a-kind jewellery piece like a necklace or a bracelet.”

There will also be more than 1000 entries for the national competition, where gem lovers can enter their own homemade jewellery pieces, stones, fossils and more for judging, as well as demonstrations, lectures, displays, activities for the kids and giveaways.

“There will be a thunder egg hunt for the kids on Easter Sunday, and a lot of the market stalls will have lucky dips for the kids,” Les says.

“Kids can also try their hand at sieving so they can fossick for their own gems.

“There will also a major raffle with prizes totalling $5000.”

7-10 APRIL

Dayboro Showgrounds, 3512 Mt Mee Rd, Dayboro

OPEN Friday noon-4pm

Saturday/Sunday 9am-4pm Monday 9am-3pm

ENTRY

Adults $10

Concession/student $5

Children under 12 are free

If you’re keen to know more, there are four lapidary clubs in the Moreton Bay Region you can join.

These include the Bribie Island Gem and Fossicking Club Inc, the Caboolture Gem Club Inc, the Deception Bay Gem and Allied Craft Club Inc, and the Redcliffe Gem Club.

Les says joining a club is a great way to learn new skills and meet other gem aficionados.

“Most clubs have got faceting, grinding and polishing machines so you can make your own beautiful pendants,” Les says.

“There is also usually a silversmith area where you can learn to be a silversmith and make your own oneof-a-kind jewellery like necklaces or

“Joining a club is a fantastic way to learn all these skills and it’s membership can een $30-$50 for the year depending on the club, and usually $5 to attend a session where you can use all of the equipment.

It’s a lot of fun, you learn lots of new skills, and meet some great people„