Foreword: I arrived back home on 20th April, 2010, after a three delightful weeks exploring the wonders of Tasmania following a great GEMBOREE^® in Devonport at Easter. Sadly, at my wife Jenny’s insistance, some of this was done on foot. Let this be a lesson to all of you – 60 Short Walks in Tasmania – is not a booklet that should be taken lightly. I now understand why Tasmania’s National Parks & Wildlife Service rangers break into a grin whenever they see a Victorian with a copy.

GEMBOREE^® 2010 - Devonport

The behaviour of all of the Victorian contingent at the GEMBOREE^® was impeccable and anything you might hear to the contrary is simply mischief making of the most childish kind. My thanks in particular go to Peter Day, Richard Richards and David & Janett Maunder for their contribution to the formal AFLACA deliberations during the GEMBOREE^® and for helping explain the processes to Don and I. Thanks to the rest of you for participating with enthusiasm.

A popular showcase

I would like to extend a warm thank you on behalf of the Victorians who braved airline food or a rolling Spirit of Tasmania to attend the GEMBOREE^®, to all those Taswegians who obviously worked so hard to deliver a very successful event and who still had the time and the enthusiasm to provide us with a very warm welcome and plenty of helpful advice.

Some very helpful people:
Ralph Botrill (L) - Mineral Resources Tasmania
Barry Pope (R) - Mineralogical Society of Tasmania

Richard Richards helped rekindle my interest in fruit (albeit as cherries and raspberries mixed in ice-cream), while Peter Day charmed Jenny with more fruit (as raspberry wine) and chocolates, thus ensuring in turn, an ongoing supply of Jenny’s shortbreads. We couldn’t have been happier.

It is a pity then, when one is elated by the generosity of spirit of some people, to have the feeling dashed by the behaviour of others.

A fine specimen from Trader Dean McLaughlin, Tasmania

We discovered that the Billingsley’s* had been to the Cadbury factory twice before the GEMBOREE^® had even started. One should have guessed. Ray’s apparent cocoa coloured suntan, Bev hardly able to stand, and no one allowed anywhere near their sagging little caravan. The signs were all there – so much for sharing and caring.

To compound matters, Jenny and I accidently discovered them snuggly camped in a delightful east coast hideaway at  xxxxxxxx xxx – overlooking a glittering silvery sea (probably of Cadbury Turkish Delight wrappers). It’s one thing to keep your favorite fossicking sites a secret, but hogging magical camp sites like this is not what I expect of VGCA delegates. I’d tell you all where this place is, but then you’d all want to go there and it would lose it’s magic. If you’ve got chocolate to share then of course we can negotiate.

Saturday Night Entertainment - Fancy Dress

Jenny and I were not the only idlers and time-wasters who stayed on after the GEMBOREE^® to discover more of Tasmania. We met many fellow lapidaries in our travels and in the line-up for the ferry home. Lapidary and fossicking does create a great community around the country. Cheery greetings, good natured repartee, helpful travel tips and a real sense of fellowship that extends well beyond a GEMBOREE^® or GEMKHANA are all part of what lapidary is all about. May it always be so.

To my fellow travellers out there, go safely and enjoy what each day might bring.

Bill Gordon
PRESIDENT

April, 2010

PS: Just watch out for the Billingsley caravan!

PPS: Remember not all the “60 Short Walks in Tasmania” are what I’d call “short”, nor what I’d call “walks”.

PPPS: Remember “Get Shucked” is a great Bruny Island oyster place, not the standard Tasmanian greeting to Victorians.

*Seriously, Ray & Bev Billingsley are long standing VGCA Delegates enjoying leave of absence for a well deserved extended holiday around this wide brown land.

Camping at GEMBOREE^® 2010