The GEMBOREE is the National gathering (or Convention) of enthusiasts in Lapidary, Minerals, Fossils, Silversmithing, Enamelling and other allied Crafts. A little-known fact is that the word "GEMBOREE" is a registered trademark of the Australian Federation of Lapidary & Allied Craft Association (AFLACA). GEMBOREE should always be printed in capitals, and it may not be used without permission of AFLACA.

Nowadays the GEMBOREE is held in a different State each year according to a timetable agreed at AFLACA Annual Meetings. It is staged by the host State Lapidary Association under the auspices of AFLACA.

The first GEMBOREE was held in 1965, during Easter, at the Warrumbungle National Park, Coonabaraban in NSW. It was organised by Mr Norm Patison, the then Editor for the Australian Lapidary Magazine. Mr Patison had the vision of the GEMBOREE becoming the national gathering of Lapidaries who, forming a few Clubs, with little thought to communication or interaction. As for interstate contact, it was non-existent.

The 1965 GEMBOREE attracted visitors from all Eastern States and to quote from the report in the May 1965 ALM:

"This in itself was most gratifying, but the wonderful spirit of friendship and lack of aloofness...was in itself rewarding enough for the efforts made by the organisers of the GEMBOREE."

Strange to think of aloofness between Lapidaries., but back in 1965 things were different! After organising the 2nd GEMBOREE in 1966 - again with great success - Norm Patison issued "a challenge to any one, two or three Clubs to host next year's GEMBOREE". The challenge was taken up and three Sydney Clubs got together to organise GEMBOREE '67 at Nundle. They repeated the dose in 1968 at Gundagai.

In that same year, the newly-formed Combined Victorian Gem Clubs Committee (later to become the Victorian Gem Clubs Association), staged the first Victorian gathering - the Gemkhana. It was held over the VIctorian March Labour Day weekend to avoid clashing with the Easter GEMBOREE.

Success of the Gemkhana encouraged the Victorian Committee to seek permission to run the 1969 GEMBOREE - with the object of making it a truly National event, staged in a different State each year. Permission was readily granted by the (then) NSW GEMBOREE Committee, and Beechworth in Northern Victoria was the first site of a GEMBOREE outside NSW. The ALM gave terrific support to the organisers, and it was a great success.

Since 1969, the GEMBOREE has been staged in every State of Australia:

QLD - Nambour, Gympie & Mt Isa
NSW - Inverell, Gunnedah & Glen Innes
VIC - Coleraine & Shepparton
TAS - Devonport
SA - Tanunda (twice) & Loxton
WA - Wanneroo (twice)
VIC & SA - Broken Hill (twice)

This year Victoria is the host - again at Shepparton. Forward plans are for Canberra (1988 and Bicentennial year), Tasmania, Western Australia and South Australia, in that order.

Crowds of between 3,000 and 6,000 are now common at the GEMBOREE, which means that organisers have quite a job to find a suitable campsite. It's not easy to find a town with a facility to accommodate 500 campsites with power, toilets & showers - plus space for swapping & tailgating - at an affordable price.

Another major requirement is a venue for the National Gem & Mineral Exhibition which, since 1975, has been an integral part of the GEMBOREE. The hall has to accommodate 30 or so Traders from all over Australia plus all the exhibits from museums and private collections as well as entries in the National Lapidary, Mineral, etc competitions. Space, power, parking, catering, comfort for the public and a hundred other requirements have to be met - not to mention (again) at a reasonable cost.

The thousands who come to the GEMBOREE have to be kept occupied and entertained - apart from making their own entertainment. Activities include Field Trips, Bubbly Breakfast, Fancy Dress, Easter Bunny (Sunday morning traditions), Lectures, Princess Quest, BBQ meals, Slide Shows, Dances, Church Service, Treasure Hunts & similar for the youngsters, Annual Meetings and many more.

Every GEMBOREE is different, in that organisers try to put their own stamp on their GEMBOREE. But the prime objective always is to try and ensure that hobbyists, traders and new chums have a relaxed and enjoyable experience that makes them want to come back again.

Because this is my 21st year of being involved in organising a Gemkhana or GEMBOREE, I make no apology for writing this article from the viewpoint of an organiser. And I haven't really scratched the surface of what it takes to organise such a function. Planning starts 3-4 years ahead. I'll bet not too many readers realise this.

However, I can readily say that when I attend a GEMBOREE in another State, I have a ball! Catching up with my once-a-year-friends, doing a bit of voluntary duty, having a yarn or a sing-song at night, viewing the Exhibition, batering with the Traders, swapping on the campsites, discussing the competition results, queueing for a shower - it's all part of this magnificent event we call the GEMBOREE.

Norm Patison's dream of the GEMBOREE becoming a National event has been well and truly realised.