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Lightning Ridge’s pre-eminent Opal Trade Show and Gem Expo will swing into gear in the last weekend of July. This year’s event has been themed “Opal Muster 2002” to coincide with the Year of the Outback Celebrations and will include a Bushdance and the Australian Wood Chopping Championship.
This year, the focus is on entertainment with four fun filled days jammed into the program. The event will be kicked off with a Bushdance and NOW FM’s Coops and Blink will broadcast live on Saturday from the Bowling Club’s carpark.
There is also an Opal Nera promotion on Friday night and the woodchoppers will be out on Saturday night at the Bowling Club.
Thursday night will be an evening of toe-tapping, thigh-slapping fun at the Bowling Club with bush dancing and a smorgasbord of sumptuous bush tucker. Newcastle band, ‘Simply Bushed’ who has played in major Sydney venues, will play some whip-cracking tunes to sing and dance along to.
The spectacular Opal Trade Show and Gem Expo will open from 9.00am to 5.00pm daily at the Bowling Club on 25-28 July 2002. The exhibition will include loose and set opal, antique and collectable jewellery and a selection of quality items from Sydney, Brisbane and local dealers. The winning pieces from the 2001 Australian Opal Jewellery Design Awards will also be displayed on screen. The Gem Expo will showcase quality opal and gemstones as well as a whole range of country collectables including arts, crafts, tools, timber displays, and chocolates.
With what is set to be a real crowd pleaser, World Wood Chopping Champion David Foster will be on hand to show his strength and vigour with over 40 fellow axemen as they compete in the Australian Wood Chopping Championship. The event organised by the NSW Axemen Association’s has a full program of wood chopping events, which will take place from 10.00am to 4.00pm on Saturday and Sunday at the Sports Ground.
Popular radio station, NOW FM will broadcast live outside the Bowling Club on Saturday. Coops and Blink will run a number of competitions including ‘Toot for Loot’ and giveaways for the kids. So get down to the Club’s car park to say ‘Hello’.
There is also an Opal Muster Opal Nera promotion on the Friday night at the Bowling Club. There will be plenty of hats, t-shirts and giveaways and a band on to enjoy the night. The axeman will be at the Club on Saturday night to enjoy celebrating the day’s results.
Artwork by the Lightning Ridge Central School students will also be displayed and judged at the Opal Trade Show by local artists John and Vicky Murray and Helen Ledgard. There is also a ‘People’s Choice’ Award and opal prizes and certificates will be awarded in the Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary categories.
Sue White, President of the Opal Design Jewellery Awards Association said, “This year’s event will be fun for all the family and young at heart. While we are not having the extravagance of last year’s Australian Opal Jewellery Design Awards, there will still be plenty of quality opal and gemstones on show at the Exhibition”.
“The entry fee to the Exhibition is only a gold coin donation and the Wood chopping Competition is $7 per adult, $2 per child or $15 per family. There will be a fantastic range of opal by interstate and local dealers and the Wood chopping Competition boasts world class axemen, so the event is great value for money and is sure to be very entertaining”, said Ms White. The Opal Muster is held in conjunction with the biennial Australian Opal Jewellery Design Awards. The event is the brainchild of local business leaders, developed to showcase and celebrate black opal. It is now in its third year of running and attracts over 1500 visitors and interest from international jewellery designers and media.
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