Illawarra Lapidary Club Inc.

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Rolf Baker
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1 Illawarra Lapidary Club Inc. PO Box 15, Wollongong NSW 2520 Print Post Approved No /00012 Clubrooms Tarrawanna Hall, 51 Meadow St, Tarrawanna Web site: - illawarralapidaryclub.com.au address:- illawacq@illawarralapidaryclub.com.au Newsletter - March 2013 President: David Hindmarsh Phone Club Welfare Officer: Maureen Young - Phone Secretary: Dorothy McGonigle Phone Past Activities February 26th. The rock swap at Stuart Park. Nearly but not quite a wash out. The fossicking trip to Kangaroo Valley was cancelled the previous day due to very heavy rain and add to that a thunderstorm in the early hours of Sunday morning. It appeared to be no way it could go ahead. Personally I had no hopes at 3am during the thunderstorm and so did not set the alarm clock. Waking to brilliant sunshine, later than I had intended, thoughts were revised, the car was already packed. Arriving at the park after 9am I was not the last person to set up a stall. There were about eight stalls set up, far fewer than previous years. Although less members of the public were wandering round, selling appeared to be brisk. The same can be said of the wind off the sea. I had the shelter pegged down but it was lifting and ready to go flying. In stepped David and Ken with extra pegs and rope, they soon tied it down. Thanks guys, saved Geraldine or I from hanging onto the roof for hours. As usual the rock scramble saw a crowd of youngsters just champing at the bit to get in at the rocks on the canvas. When David said the word "Go" the scramble was on. Bucket loads of rocks vacuumed up by the kids in seconds. Bet they do not tidy up their toys or rooms as quick! (If at all!!) The April social night will be Ken Mitchell giving a talk on some of his fossicking trips. Ken has traveled the length and breadth of the country including overseas on his fossicking trips.

2 Mineral Group Meeting Fourteen members attended and reported on recent purchases. Don Anderson ran the mineral identification exercise and the minerals were; beryl, apophyllite, quartz, topaz, barite, calcite on siderite, actinolite and lepidolite - mica group. Homework for next month - same as this month - create your own mineral/non-mineral starting with Q. Mineral group working bees at club - Monday 11th March, 9am for approx. 2hrs. and Saturday 23rd march,8.30am. Both W/B to sort rocks in shed. Carol presented Pyrite as the mineral of the month. Pyrite (FeS2-iron sulphide) is the classic "fools gold" because of the uniform pale brassy yellow colour. It is so common in the earth's crust that it is found in almost every possible environment, hence it has a vast number of forms and varieties. Pyrite is a polymorph of marcasite, which means that it has the same chemistry, FeS2, as marcasite; but a different structure and therefore different symmetry and crystal shapes. As the topic of the month, Noel discussed the composition of minerals 1 and part 1, identification of minerals and the periodic table of elements. Noel asked members to read these notes so they can name the chemical composition of minerals etc. Freebies supplied by Ann and Noel. Future Events - Workshops and Fossicking Fossicking Easter long weekend 29th - 31st March Wee Jasper area. David Hindmarsh will lead the trip in conjunction with the fossil club. Hammers, chisels and safety gear required. Stay at Yass Caravan park (no cabins available). Trips on the Sat/Sun to a site costing $10 per person per day. For the remainder of the year Peter has indicated prospective trips. Actual dates to be in the trips book and advertised in the newsletter. June 22nd - Collections visit (Volunteers?) August 23-26th - Lightning Ridge September 12-19th - Tambar Springs October 18-20th - Muttama November 22-24th - Oberon Workshops March 9th and 10th the enameling workshop was well attended with everyone making a few little pendants etc. To go on as a club in this art we will need an appropriate kiln (on the wish list). Certainly something that would appear to be a good extension to the various activities of the club. Thanks to our instructor Annette, the Lapidary Council and Dorothy for organising the session. General

3 Supervisors responsibility - updated Supervisors please note that when you are considering going on holiday or leave of absence etc. It is your responsibility to arrange for an accredited supervisor to run your class in your absence. If you are unable to obtain a replacement while you are away, then the members attending your class must be notified that the class will be cancelled. All members supervising classes must be accredited by the Illawarra Lapidary Club Inc. as being proficient in the use of all equipment and safety requirements. This is the primary role of every supervisor. President. Geoff announced the annual income and expenditure as part of the AGM. One item of significance is the cost of the newsletter. Where possible please accept the newsletter by only, postage at 60c (soon to rise) adds up rapidly. If you are not already on my list please me on illawacq@illawarralapidaryclub.com.au I have also considered placing the newsletter onto the web site each month as a pdf document. Please note as of 1st May 2013 the joining fee will rise from $5 to $10 per person. Jeff Carey is now out of hospital and at the Olunda nursing home in Bourke Street. Jeff would welcome visitors. In the silver room there is a "for sale" flyer with contact details and price for a kiln. It is probably suitable for lamp work beads as it loads from the top. Business Meeting General business:- 1. Fossil Club of NSW using hall on 19th May and joint Fossil Club/Lapidary Club trip headed by David to Bowning, Yass and Wee Jasper over Easter Weekend 2. IMB grant did not make the cut but Bob Webb completing other grant applications. Note club members wishing for items to be part of a grant application should provide their wish list plus current costing for those items PLUS any additional costs for installation, maintenance etc. 3. Quote for electrical work (Single phase) across creek over $6200 inc GST by WCC approved contractor. Executive recommended we pursue a grant for this work over next six months. If no grant is available to fund that out of club funds. Further quotes to be sought, possibly also 3 phase. 4. Update of Supervisor's responsibilities: (a) If for any reason a supervisor can not attend a day's class, they must arrange for another club supervisor to be present for those hours. If this is not practicable, the class is to be abandoned. (b) All members undertaking classes need to be accredited as being proficient at

4 undertaking a standard of workmanship, knowing the limitation of equipment being used, and safety requirements. This is a primary role of every supervisor, and is to be recorded, with date, in book. 5. The club joining fee will increase to $10 per person as of 1st of May Green waste bin is ONLY for green waste 7. WCC has installed stainless steel gutter guards to all gutters - thanks to WCC 8. Sales maintenance team to receive $500 for purchases 9. Gem and Lapidary Council to be approached regarding judges for our exhibition. 10. Key register required to be compiled for WCC - All key holders notify Dorothy. 11. Spray bottles purchased and labeled. 12. Test equipment was accessed and used including tags. Suggested change of lock to that cupboard. 13. Shed at rear left in untidy condition. 14. Various additional assistant positions not recorded in club rules or constitution voted into effect and to be filled at the AGM 15. Life membership awarded to Jane and Gary Farnham - Congratulations to you both. Photo of award to be on our web site soon. 16. Induction of new members. Welcome to new members. At his last meeting as Club President David presented bunches of flowers to both Dorothy and Thelma for their work supporting him at the meetings. Photo will appear on our web site in the near future. (just need Telstra to fix my landline so I can get onto my ASDL. - two weeks waiting and counting!) Annual General Meeting Following the general business meeting the Annual General Meeting elections were held with Noel presiding. All positions became vacant. David did not wish to re-nominate for President and the club elected Eva Auerbach as president for Congratulations Eva and thanks to David for four years as president that has included the 50th year celebrations. Club Executive for 2013:- President - Eva Auerbach, Vice President - Rose Cook, Junior Vice President Alex McGreevy, Club Treasurer - Geoff Irwin, Club Secretary - Dorothy McGonigle. Elected club officers for 2013 and their positions will appear on the club web site very soon. Dates to remember 27th March Wednesday 7 pm Mineral Group - Malachite and colour of minerals power point presentation Mar Fri-Sun Fossicking trip in conjunction with Fossil club - Wee

5 Jasper area. David Hindmarsh trips leader. 17th April Wednesday 7 pm Business Meeting 8 pm Social - Fossicking talk by Ken Mitchell 24th April Wednesday 7 pm Mineral Group - Calcite 19th May Sunday Fossil club of NSW using hall am pm - Lapidary club members also invited - BBQ and Robert Beattie speaking on Talbragar insect fossils - for those that missed it at our social night this is very interesting. 26th May Sunday 9am - 2 pm Open day at club hall, Cancer Council biggest morning tea - donations of unsliced cake very welcome June 22 Saturday Fossicking - collections visit Aug Fossicking - Lightning Ridge Sept Fossicking - Tambar Springs Oct Fossicking - Muttama Nov Fossicking - Oberon Other Clubs 29th March - 1 April 13th 14th April 18th 19th May 1st 2nd Jun 13th & 14th July 19th - 21st July 2nd 3rd Nov Easter W/E Gemboree Murray Bridge showground, Murray Bridge, South Australia Saturday/Sunday Canberra Lapidary Club Rock swap, Wagtail Way Saturday/Sunday Lismore Lapidary Club Gemfest, Lismore showground Saturday/Sunday Canberra Lapidary Club winter gemcraft and mineral show, Parkes Room, Exhibition Park Saturday/Sunday Campbelltown Lapidary Club Annual Gem & Lapidary Show, Greg Percival Centre, Ingleburn Yowah Opal Festival Canberra Lapidary Club Spring Gemcraft & Mineral Show, Parkes Room, Exhibition Park

NEWSLETTER AUGUST ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

NEWSLETTER AUGUST ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING THE MINERALOGICAL SOCIETY OF NEW SOUTH WALES INC. C/o School of Natural Science B.C.R.I. Parramatta Campus University of Western Sydney Locked Bag 1797 Penrith South DC N.S.W. 1797 Website: www.minsocnsw.org.au