7.30am-5pm 86725036 THE GREAT OPAL HEIST OF 2014 · 4/24/2014 · Other items that were stolen were solid opal gold pendants, solid opal rings, doublet and inlay gold rings and earrings.

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SERVING THE OPAL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD SINCE 1982

http://cooberpedyregionaltimes.wordpress.com Thursday 24 April 2014

THE GREAT OPAL HEIST OF 2014

•Mechanic on duty•Tyres

•Tyre repairs•Fuel •Parts

•Opening hours7.30am-5pm

Phone:86725036

ISSN 1833-1831

The Opal Room at Coober Pedy’s Comfort InnExperience Motel was open for business

on the Easter Opal Festival weekend after thievesmade of with the Clee family’s rare opal collectionand other merchandise totalling around $400,000.

Owner Manager of the Comfort Inn Motel Debby Cleediscovered on Friday 11 April that thieves had entered themotel the night before and stolen a large quantity of valuableopal and jewellery.

The Coober Pedy Police immediately sent out the alert toMedia outlets to help them spread the word on the robberytogether with descriptions of the jewellery and opal..

Debby sent photographs of all of the stolen pieces to localretailers in case something turned up at one of their shops.

The stunning 120-million-year-old opalised fossil sea shellsknown as the Desert Sea Collection was found during theexcavation of the motel and is valued locally at about$280,000.

Other items that were stolen were solid opal gold pendants,solid opal rings, doublet and inlay gold rings and earrings.

Debby appealed through the media, “If anyone seesanything or is offered anything please let us or the policeknow”.

Debby believes that the opal theft was a ‘crime ofopportunity’.

“Because guests have a security key to get in and out, Isuspect that somebody didn’t close the door properly andit was opportune that someone else came past and sawthe front door open. Once inside, the security camerashad been turned away to obscure vision”, said Debby.

“Heavy rains throughout the week meant that we werestill cleaning up water and mud on Friday morning andbecause of this, the usual procedures weren’t beingfollowed”.

“Rain had come into three of the guest rooms and floodedanother part of the property giving us a great deal ofunscheduled work to do. We had been stock-taking priorto the rains and wanted to get back to it. I said, we’lllock doors and the finish the stocktaking.”

“It was when we moved into the opal area that we noticedthe missing jewellery. The cheaper items which had beentaken first but as the thieves moved through towards the

“The Opal Room where the valuable opal was actuallystored was locked but the thieves broke through the doorto get inside. Unfortunately the collection hadn’t beenput into the safe the previous night, but it was in a lockedroom.”

“The thieves were on foot because we followed the trailof dropped price tags, through the Motel car park, acrossthe Old Timer’s Mine car park next door and out behindCoober Pedy Village (the IMX mining camp), and that’swhere we found all of the packaging and display trays,”Debby said.

Ben Manning Assistant Manager of the Comfort Inn said,“The thieves also stole the cash register, which is a datedcream-coloured register with the old push down keys.”

‘Opal Room’, and saw the shinier, bigger gold items, theydropped the cheaper items on the floor,.” she said.

Following assistance from the local community, CooberPedy Police arrested two youths after they allegedlyattempted to sell some of the stolen opal in Coober Pedyon Sunday afternoon.

Police then searched a number of premises resulting inthe arrest of three Coober Pedy men aged 28, 26 and 24-years, who were all arrested and charged with aggravatedserious criminal trespass and theft.

Two of the men were remanded in custody to appear inthe Port Augusta Magistrates Court on Thursday 24 April.

Debby said that 70% of all the gold pendants have beenreturned and 20% of the rings have been returned with80% still missing. “The police have been incredible”, shesaid

“I’m now looking forward to a busy tourist season. Weare full up over Easter and have plenty of forward bookingsfor the months to come, said Debby.

Above: Debby Clee shows motel visitors some of the lovely jewellery at theComfort Inn during Easter. Pictured right is a 31ct crystal fossil shell “TheTurtle” that was returned after the robbery.

Disclaimer: Opinions and letters published in TheCoober Pedy Regional Times are not necessarilythe views of the Editor, or Publisher. The CooberPedy Regional Times reserves the right to edit oromit copy, in accordance with newspaper policies.Letters to the Editor must be attributed with a name,address and contact phone number - names andtown of origin will be printed, or may be withheld atthe Editor’s discretion. During the course of anyelection campaign, letters to the editor dealing withelection issues or similar material must containthe author’s name and street address (not POBox) for publication.”

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7 DAYS WEATHER - mid - high 20s - Coober Pedy - an underground town, builton the back of opal mining

Coober Pedy is Australia’s real ‘DownUnder’, famous for its fabulous opals and bizarresubterranean homes. For generations, minershave dug into the white and orange rock to extractthe valuable, sparkling stone. The tunnels andchambers were converted into undergroundshomes in order to escape from the desert heat.

Coober Pedy ‘evolved’ as the result ofa massive post war Opal Rush where hardypioneers developed a make or break preciousgem industry in the desert terrain.

333 days sunshine

Enjoy LAWN BOWLS, TENNIS andTABLE TENNIS in the friendly atmosphereof the United Club Sporting Centre.

Spend a day on the most challengingGOLF COURSE in the world.

Watch the local footy team playAUSSIE RULES FOOTBALL & SRILANKAN CRICKET

During Easter Coober Pedy holds itsannual OPAL FESTIVAL & GEM TRADESHOW

Coming soon - The COOBER PEDYGLIDING CLUB

Visit the OPAL FIELDS - you’llbelieve you’re on Mars. Join tours to localmines to see how they work and get thechance to noodle (fossick) for your own opal

Take a tour to the natural landscapesoutside the town (see film locations like MadMax: Beyond Thunderdome and Red Planet)including the PAINTED DESERT, thecolourful BREAKAWAYS and the MOONPLAIN

Join the MAIL RUN out of CooberPedy to deliver outback mail! Take a leisurelyflight over the spectacular LAKE EYRE

Be part of the last frontier mining townand its living history 100 years on.

See the extravagantly built UNDER-GROUND SERBIAN CHURCH with it’smagnificent stained glass windows andcarvings.

Visitors can stay overnight andexperience underground life as the locals do!

Opal miners at work in Coober Pedy

Temperatures in CooberPedy - past 5 days

Thursday 24 April 2014 Coober Pedy Regional Times Page 3

POLITICS

94% VOTE “NO” ON HOMELESSCENTRE IN COOBER PEDY

The Meeting of Electors (informal referendum) took placeat the Greek Hall in Coober Pedy on 16 April 2014 todetermine the community’s view of a homeless centrebeing built in their town.

Over 140 people voted and an estimated 20 citizens werenot able to vote because either the registration had closedbefore they arrived, or they were not registered on thelocal government electoral role.

The question put to the citizens was as follows: “Doesthe community support the construction of a HomelessnessSupport Service (aka Transitional Accommodation Centre)in Coober Pedy?”

The official results of the vote were as follows:

TOTAL VOTING PAPERS DISTRIBUTED 142YES VOTE 8NO VOTE 129INFORMAL 1SPOILT/DISCARDED 3TOTAL VOTES COUNTED 141DIFFERENCE 1RESULT OF VOTE: NO.

For nearly ten decades Coober Pedy has been a curiosityfor visitors from both Australia and other parts of theworld. A town built by the sheer grit and determinationof opal miners who carved a unique town, undergroundhomes and an industry out of the bare desert sandstone.

The opal miners developed a way of life to cope with theharsh environment and the lack of many resources, inthat they developed a recycling culture that is part of theeccentricity that makes Coober Pedy so appealing anddifferent.

The discovery of opal in Coober Pedy and other parts ofAustralia brought the country its National Gemstone. Theresidents and the business sector have seen theGovernment interference in the direction of the town as athreat to their livelihood and reason for having investedtheir lives into an otherwise inhospitable region.

Very little of the massive taxes collected from opal minersover the decades by various Governments has beenreinvested back into the opal industry. In recent years theState Government deprived Coober Pedy and other remotetowns of vital funds for essential services, to pump up itscity electorates.

The community would be more pleased to see theGovernment keep its word and return those funds to theremote areas electricity subsidy and urgently reinstate thediesel rebate, so that opal miners can get the supply ofopal moving more quickly into the market place and reducethe need for a secondary and less satisfying income.

Coober Pedy’s polling booth count in the recent Stateelections reflected many disappointments.

The ball is now in the court of Premier Weatherill and hisgovernment to show their respect for the Regional SouthAustralian citizens. ¬

The community however is satisfied by the evidence infront of them after the new alcohol restrictions wereimplemented, that the homeless, away from hometravelers had virtually abandoned the town. Within daysof the liquor restrictions being enforced, Coober Pedyceased to be an alcohol destination and the streets becameorderly and safer for families both in the town and atUmoona Community.

It is extremely clear to the community that a HomelessnessCentre would be a waste of taxpayer’s money.

Now that the alcohol problem has been solved in CooberPedy it has solved the vagrancy and loitering problems aswell.

Liquor Commissioner Paul White recently reviewed therestrictions. He said that the aim of the review is to assessthe public order and safety impact of the liquor restrictionson the community.

Commissioner White informed Coober Pedy of hisfindings in April. “I’m pleased that all the reports I’vereceived indicate that the new rules are having a markedeffect on reducing alcohol related problems.” (Full reportCPRT 10 April, page 7)

SA Liberal member Hon Terry Stephens MLC, said inDecember, “Coober Pedy has been a destination fordrinkers over the years and it's caused enormous problemswithin Coober Pedy.”

.”

In his address to electors at Wednesday night’s meeting,Mayor Steve Baines said, “Council’s best endeavors toobtain information from Housing SA or Minister Piccolohave been unsuccessful, therefore Council has no moreinformation than you on the State Governments plans tobuild a Homelessness Support Service or TransitionalHousing Facility in Coober Pedy apart from beinginformed by Minister Piccolo that it will be constructedwhether the community wants it or not.”

Incoming Minister for Social Housing, Zoe Bettison MPsaid on Thursday, “As yet, no decision has been made asto whether the Government will proceed with this facility,

Minister Bettison said that she intended to arrange ameeting with Council and other stakeholders to help informher decision as to whether or not to proceed with thefacility or whether they will look at other measures.

By their attendance at the meeting of electors the residentsof Coober Pedy care deeply about the future of their town,despite the Easter and School break meant that manyregular families were away and unable to attend themeeting to cast their votes.

The people of Coober Pedy have now told the governmentthat they want to continue determining their own future;they want to retain their unique culture and they need theGovernment to listen to them and to respect them!

The majority of citizens at the Meeting of Electors onWednesday evening were long term locals who no doubtintend to remain in Coober Pedy for the foreseeable future.The few government employees in attendance wasindicative of a more short term existence with nocommitment to past or future direction.

Coober Pedy Community votes

“We’re absolutely adamant that the measures that havebeen put in place at the moment...there just won't be aneed for a homeless centre in Coober Pedy because itwon't be a drinking destination,” said Mr Stephens.

Coober Pedy electors register to vote

Despite the meeting was held during the Easter and school holidays, the community turned out tovote NO and make their views very clear on the unnecessary waste of taxpayer funds aHomelessness Centre would be now that the flow of liquor is being controlled


FOODcents®

Beef Masaman CurryBeef Masaman CurryBeef Masaman CurryBeef Masaman CurryBeef Masaman Curry

Ingredients Makes 6 serves Time: 1½ hours1 tablespoon canola oil1 onion, peeled, chopped2cm piece of ginger, peeled, chopped3-4 tablespoons Thai masaman curry paste600g diced topside or chuck beef1 tablespoon plain flour2 kaffir lime leaves (optional)2 cups salt reduced beef stock or water150ml lite coconut milk1 carrot, diced + 1 large potato, peeled, diced125g snow peas or 1 cup frozen peas1 tablespoon fish saucechopped fresh coriander

MethodMethodMethodMethodMethod1.Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onion andcook, stirring, for approx. 5 minutes.2.Add curry paste and cook for 3 minutes, then add beefand cook for approx. 5 minutes to colour on high heat,stirring to prevent it from catching.3.Add flour, lime leaves, stock, coconut milk and carrotand stir to combine. Bring to the boil, then reduce heat tolow and cook, covered, for 40 minutes or until meat issoft.4.Add the potatoes and cook, partially covered, for 30minutes. Add the snow peas (or frozen peas), fish sauceand coriander and cook for a couple of minutes more.Serving suggestionsSteamed wholegrain or Basmati rice / Sliced cucumberwith a tablespoon of natural low fat yoghurt /Tomato, onionand mint chopped together as a sambal

Almost nine in ten organisations (87%) have noguarantee of key funding for services beyond June 2014.

The survey run by ACOSS in conjunction with theCommunity Council for Australia (CCA) and NetBalanceand distributed through Pro Bono Australia - shows thatAustralia’s Not for Profit sector is in crisis with the lackof funding certainty forcing agencies to lay off staff andunable to fill vacancies.

The results show that only 13 per cent of organisationsreport that they have settled funding arrangements.

Australia has 600,000 not-for-profit organisations,supporting some of most disadvantaged people in thecommunity, and is a large and growing employer

“Our sector contributes more than $40 billion annually togross domestic product and shouldn’t be underestimatedor undervalued,” said ACOSS CEO Cassandra Goldie.

Key Points

• 248 respondents representing organisations in receiptof Commonwealth funding• 87% stated that their organisation was yet to agree alltheir funding for July 2014• 13% stated all their funding had been agreed• 57% stated that less than 10% of their Commonwealthfunding for July 2014 had been agreed• 15% stated that less than half of their funding had beenagreed – which means that almost three-quarters ofrespondents (72%) have less than half of their fundingagreed.

Implications of funding uncertainty

62% of respondents have not extended staff contracts34% stated that they had delayed filling staff vacancies35% have delayed recruiting staff38% have developed a contingency budget13% had increased the frequency of board meetings.12% have revised their reserves policy

NOT FOR PROFITNOT FOR PROFITNOT FOR PROFITNOT FOR PROFITNOT FOR PROFITFUNDING CRISISFUNDING CRISISFUNDING CRISISFUNDING CRISISFUNDING CRISIS

HEAVENS OPEN AND RECORDS TUMBLEOn 9th April Coober Pedy received 115mm – thefourth largest known single rain event since recordsbegan in 1921. With 149.5mm so far this month it isalready the wettest April on record.

Coober Pedy’s average rainfall over the past 93 years is156mm so we received roughly 96% of our average annualrainfall so far this month and 74% of our average annualrainfall on the 9th April.

Historic records show that Coober Pedy received180mm.on 14th March 1989 The entire month’s rainfallin March 1989 was 268mm – the wettest month everrecorded. 1989 was also the wettest year on record with391.6 mm recorded

Current rainfall patterns appear more comparative withthe big rains of the late 1930s with moderate to goodannual rainfall over the preceding previous 15 years dottedwith bone drying years. In 1929 Coober Pedy’s annualrainfall was just 30.6mm and in 2002 just 33.2mm.However anyone who has lived in the Australian outbackfor any length of time knows that that the weather isfickle and it is often a long time between drinks.

Right now the water is abundant and the desert will sooncome to life with all manner of interesting bugs, mites,rock-hoppers and other little creatures. With the bugscome the goannas, geckos and the dragons along withthe herons, plovers and ducks. If we’re lucky there maybe even a notostraca or two to study. Notostracas arefascinating little critters that appear in puddles and creeksafter rain at the right time of year. They are living fossilsthat have existed unchanged in 250 million years!

The weather is great and the desert it is in bloom – a greattime to go camping and exploring with family and friends.Just remember to bring the insect repellent.

By Steve Staines

Stuart Highway near Brumby Creek 60km Southof Coober Pedy

Desert around Coober Pedy to go GREEN

Terry and Josephine Brennan-Kuss’ back patio inCoober Pedy after the rain

COOBER PEDY UNITES TOCOOBER PEDY UNITES TOCOOBER PEDY UNITES TOCOOBER PEDY UNITES TOCOOBER PEDY UNITES TOFIGHT THE ELEMENTSFIGHT THE ELEMENTSFIGHT THE ELEMENTSFIGHT THE ELEMENTSFIGHT THE ELEMENTS

At last the torrential deluge stopped and stars filledthe sky. The deafening silence was broken by thesound of water running everywhere, streams anddrain offs rushing to find a way to the nearest creekto then race off into the endless desert.

Warnings had been issued by emergency services toexpect a rain at least as big as that of 2001. Weatherforecasters told us daily of impending rain which hadn’teventuated into much more than a healthy drizzle, andmany thought nothing would happen, however the MineRescue supplied sandbags for all who wanted them. Somemade use of the offer, then on Tuesday afternoon theMine Rescue Yard was invaded by people who came tonot only collect sand bags but to help fill them. Therewere Mine Rescue Squad members, local teachers,business people and newly arrived migrants to our townall working side by side filling hundreds of bags in casethe threatened downpour came. The local council deliveredload after load of sand to the yard.

The drizzle continued till late Wednesday afternoon whenthe heavens broke loose; the fight against nature had begun,water defences were breached and the impending floodingbecame obvious. Reinforcements were called to fill

more sandbags and many locals including the local footyteam stood out in the down pour supplying desperatepeople with a last line of defence against the flooding.

The Mine Rescue/SES and CFS began trying to savehomes, while in many cases they had to neglect theirown to help others. Neighbours helped neighbours; somewon the battle, sadly the deluge was just too much forothers. Three phones and two radios in theCommunication Room at the MRS/ SES rang constantlyas desperate Coober Pedians called for help. In a periodof just a couple of hours we received more than ourannual rainfall! Tired volunteers collapsed into bedaround 2 am that night only to be back on the job at 6am Thursday morning.

The normally dry dusty town took a battering from theevent, but I think it was one of our greatest moments;just to see so many people fighting side by side to helpeach others. We lost valuables in flooded homes, theroads are a disaster, but as a town be proud of yourselves,as from the devastation we became a strongercommunity. Be proud of your efforts Coober Pedy.

Brian Underwood

Near the back of 4wd a rescue worker is waistdeep in water Photo: Andy Wooden

Rain water gushing down a road in Coober Pedy,looking for a creek Photo: Andy Wooden

Photo: Wrights Air


LOCALLOCALLOCALLOCALLOCALNEWSNEWSNEWSNEWSNEWS

ORORORORORSTSTSTSTSTORIESORIESORIESORIESORIES

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OME OPENING HOURS:Mon-Fri 7.00am - 5.00pmSat 7.00am - 1.00pmSun Closed

•Fuel •Gas Refills •General Engineering and LightFabrication •Industrial and hardware supplies

•Filters all types •Hydraulic Fittings •Oils•Bearings •V Belts •Hosing •Air Fittings•Trailer Parts •Safety Gear •Dog Food

•Chain blocks, slings, rigging gear •Cigweld AgentSearle Trading Pty Ltd

Opal Miners’ EnterprisesLot 1299 Old Water Tank Rd

Coober Pedy SA 5723 Phone: (08) 8672 5830ABN: 44 761 266 367

OUTBACK MAILRUN TOURCards & StationaryComputer SuppliesDesert Parks Agent & other toursMaps & Books on the areaLocal Information/Road reportPhone: (08) 8672 5558

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Coober Pedy Saints10th Anniversary season

President of the Coober Pedy Football Club BenBuller welcomes the community to the 10th

Anniversary Season of The Saints.

“Our first match for the season is Coober Pedy VsAndamooka Home match at 1pm on Saturday 26 April.We hope of all the Saints supporters will be there for thegame,” said Ben

C'MON SAINTS

“Unfortuntately there won’t be a Junior game this weekbecause of the school holidays, but I would like extend amassive thank-you to the Junior volunteers as well as theSeniors for the effort they put into the Opal Festival Paradeand for putting on a stall at the Oval.”

“On behalf of the club, congratulations to Judy Underwoodwho won the Crows Guernsey signed by GrahamJohncock that was raffled off at the opal festival. Goodon ya Judy!”

“We are very lucky this year because we are playing 6home games instead of 4, so there will be more footy forthe locals who support the Saints year in year out,” saidBen.

“It is our 10th Anniversay Season so I think we deserveit,” he said.

1.) 26/04/14 (Sat) 13:00 Coober Pedy Andamooka

2.) 03/05/14 (Sat) 18:30 Roxby Late Roxby Districts

3.) 10/05/14 (Sat) 13:00 Coober Pedy Hornridge

4.) 17/05/14 (Sat) BYE BYE

5.) 24/05/14 (Sat) 13:00 Coober Pedy Olympic Dam

6.) 31/05/14 (Sat) 14:30 Roxby Late Andamooka

7.)14/06/14 (Sat) 13:00 Coober Pedy Roxby Districts

8.) 21/06/14 (Sat) 12:30 Roxby Late Hornridge

9.) 28/06/14 (Sat) BYE BYE

10.) 05/07/14 (Sat)13:00 Coober Pedy Olympic Dam

11.) 12/07/14 (Sat) 13:00 Coober Pedy Andamooka

12.) 19/07/14 (Sat) 14:30 Roxby Late Roxby Districts

13. 26/07/14 (Sat) 12:30 Roxby Early Hornridge

14.) 09/08/14 (Sat)BYE BYE

15.) 16/08/14 (Sat) 14:30 Roxby Early Olympic Dam

Saints Vs Andamookaat Coober Pedy

1pm Saturday 26 AprilFood and Beverages will be available

$5 entry per personBYO Chair

Coober Pedy Saints 2014Season Draw

Junior +Senior Saints (volunteers) with their 10thAnniversary Banner at the Opal Festival Parade

Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey hasannounced funding is available for more projects

under the Green Army program.

“The Green Army is an excellent way for communities toinvigorate environmental action in their local area,” he said.

“This is an opportunity for community groups and councilsto make use of these very worthy local programs andI’m looking forward to working with them to help deliverextra projects in our community.

“I will be alerting councils right throughout the electorateto this opportunity and hope that a project addressing thedamage inflicted by the catastrophic Bangor fires inJanuary may be able to be pursued.

“Under the program, participants will be paid an allowanceand undertake accredited training and will be involved inprojects addressing restoring and protecting habitat,weeding, planting, cleaning up creeks and rivers orconserving cultural heritage places.

Calling for Green ArmyEnvironmental Projects in Grey

“Importantly the Green Army provides an opportunity foryoung people to gain training and experience inenvironmental and heritage conservation fields and explorecareers in conservation management, while participatingin projects that generate real benefits for the environmentlocally.”

Already in Grey funding has been approved for projectsin Crystal Brook, Whyalla, Port Lincoln and Port Augusta.

Applications for project proposals opened on Monday 14April 2014 and close Friday 9 May 2014. To be eligiblefor the first round of the program, projects must be readyto commence between 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2015.

An application form and project guidelines for Green Armyprojects are now available for organisations to beginplanning new projects under the programme.

The Green Army will be Australia’s largest-ever teamsupporting environmental action across the country,building to 15,000 young Australians by 2018.

Project guidelines and information to help groups interested insubmitting Green Army Projects plan their proposals is available

now at: www.environment.gov.au/green-army


Coober Pedy Street andRoad Names

Where did the name of your street come from? Part 52 in a seriesby Sue Britt

TITHERADGE PLACEFrank Titheradge was mining partners with

Bert Wilson (Sr) at Eight Mile. (See CPRT 6/9/13)He found the Olympic Australis, widely regardedas world’s most valuable opal. In an interview

with Allan Eckert in 1995, Frank describedthe discovery.

“It was in 1956 – on August 9th, in fact at 8.30pm. I hadBert Wilson as a partner. He was an old-timer and I wasthe young buck who did all the hard work. I was about30 then. We were working the far edge of the Eight Milefield and he pointed out the place to dig and so I dug.Actually it was an old hole, about 4 feet deep, that someonehad started and then abandoned a long time ago. I cleanedout the bush and the bush snakes and began to dig andkept loading a four-gallon bucket, which Bert winched tothe top and went through for traces. As luck would haveit, we sank the shaft right on top of it. It took one weekto reach the opal level at 28feet deep and there it was.”

“There were a number of opals that we hit all at oncethere, big ones: two 80 oz stones, four 60 oz stones plusa number of others. . . The big thing, though, was theOlympic Australis. When I gouged it out, it was aboutthe size of a loaf of bread and covered all over with acrust of sandstone.”

Frank was a freelance photographer in Melbourne. Hecame to Coober Pedy in 1956 to take photos for a filmabout opal miners, part of a series about unusualoccupations for the Disney Corporation. He planned tospend several months on the project, perhaps travellingfurther north to film crocodile hunters, station hands orpearl divers. He brought his family (wife Nancy and 1-year-old Christine) and a caravan to live in. After gettinglost on the way, Frank completely missed the ‘town’ andended up at Eight Mile. He stopped and asked someone,“Where’s Coober Pedy?” The miner replied, “You’vecome through it.”

In 1956, there were just two tin sheds above ground –Wilson’s and Brewster’s stores – and the old police lock-up some distance away. Frank took many photos andsent them off to Melbourne to be developed. He wasconcerned about the difference in light and didn’t dareleave Coober Pedy before he got the photos back, in casehe had to re-shoot, so he decided to spend the time mining.

He soon found opal, sold some of it for £100, and washooked. He started hoping the pictures would be a longtime coming back. He was lucky. He went down holeafter hole, getting opal.

Film-making just couldn’t compete with the thrill andincome of opal mining. Frank teamed up with Bert Wilsonwho was an expert on opal and where to find it. And therest was history.

Nancy came to Coober Pedy with her baby daughter andhad a son and another daughter later. Being a mother andhousewife was interesting in those days with waterrationed to 10 gallons per person a week and electricitysupplied from the household generator. She was activein the CWA, secretary for 10 years.

The Titheradges had businesses. One was a soft drinkcompany called Coober Pedy Aerated Waters. They alsohad a mining workshop where they made and repairedwinches and other mining equipment.

Frank Titheradge made one of the first noodling machines.He was a pilot. He bought and sold opal. Frank wassecretary of the Coober Pedy Amateur Racing Club formany years.

The children went to school in Coober Pedy until 1974when Nancy left for a couple of years. She went back in1977 and stayed another year or two. Frank left CooberPedy in the 1980’s. They currently live in Smoky Baywith their daughter Tanya.

The Olympic Australis, one of the largest gem qualityopals in the world, remains uncut to this day. It is valuedat over $2.5 million and is on permanent display at theAltmann and Cherney showroom at 120 Exhibition St,Melbourne.

Information from

A Journey with Colour The History of Opal inSouth Australia by Len CramThe World of Opals by Allan EckertCPARC HistoryPhone interviews with Nancy Titheradge 10/1/14,12-4-14

Frank Titheradge at a wedding party in 1967,CPHS archives

Frank (middle, striped shirt) at a Coober PedyHistorical Society outing to 8 Mile 9/1991

SA Health is reminding people to be aware of therisks of handling eggs and eating raw or lightly cookedeggs following an increase in reported Salmonellosiscases.

Dr Fay Jenkins, SA Health’s Director of Food Safety andNutrition, said eggs form an important part of a balancedand healthy diet but proper precautions need to be takento reduce the risk of becoming ill from Salmonella.

“Cooked eggs, and food containing cooked eggs, can beeaten with relative confidence as the high temperaturesof cooking will kill most bugs, including Salmonella,” DrJenkins said.

“However eating raw or lightly cooked eggs, or eatingfoods made with raw egg, present a greater risk of foodpoisoning and therefore need to be prepared and storedcorrectly.

“So far this year we have seen 353 cases of Salmonellosisin South Australia, which is around 32 per cent higherthan at the same time in 2013.

Symptoms of Salmonellosis can include headache, fever,stomach cramps, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting.Symptoms can last from a couple of days to weeks andcan range from mild to very severe.

A total of 977 Salmonellosis cases were reported in 2013.Anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek medicalassistance.

Salmonella warningSalmonella warningSalmonella warningSalmonella warningSalmonella warningThe Dog and Cat Management Board has launched aguide to assist South Australian councils in creatingdog parks that are well-designed, well-used andenjoyable for both dogs and their human friends.

Board Chair Jan Connolly said Unleashed: A Guide toSuccessful Dog Parks would be a useful resource tosupport councils in the planning, design and managementof effective off-leash parks.

“It is a useful toolkit for councils to design and introducethe best possible dog parks, with designs tailored to theneeds of individual communities,” Ms Connolly said.

South Australia’s rate of dog ownership is higher than thenational average, with nearly 298,000 registered dogsaround the state, or one for every two households.

Planning Institute of Australia (SA) State President DrIris Iwanicki said she particularly liked the emphasis onboth human and canine needs and behaviour in the guide.

Dog park design made simpleThe mental and physical health benefits of owning andloving a dog, including reducing social isolation andloneliness, make our urban environment a more connectedand sociable place in which to live,”.Dr Iwanicki said.

“The guide also complements planning initiatives such asStreets for People and Healthy by Design and the PlanningInstitute of Australia’s national guide Healthy Places,Healthy Spaces.”

Unleashed was released at the Local GovernmentAssociation’s Good Vibrations 2014 Council InnovationsShowcase. It is now being distributed to all councilsacross South Australia and is available online atwww.dogandcatboard.com.au.

The release of the dog park design guide follows the Dogand Cat Management Board’s release earlier this year of aguide and template to assist councils in creating catmanagement by-laws.

TRIPLE ZERO (000)What happens when you call Triple Zero (000)?

When you dial 000, your call is connected to theTelstra Emergency Call service centre

You will be prompted by the Telstra operator"Police, Fire or Ambulance?"

Stay on the line and answer the questions

Thursday 27 March 2014 Coober Pedy Regional Times Page 7

Back to Kingoonyaby Sue Britt

They say they are bringing Kingoonya back to life.A ghost town since the Stuart Highway was re-routed in the mid 1980’s through Glendambo,

Kingoonya is making a comeback. Families havemoved in. John Brett and Alastair Murray, co-

licensees, are upgrading the hotel which has beenassociated with John’s family for a long time.

Bretty is 3rd generation licensee.

The old town hall (c. 1939) with the bulging stone wallshas attracted interest from renovators. A new toilet blockhas been built for campers and passers though. The fuelpumps work, which makes trips from Coober Pedy toCeduna shorter. Dean Jamieson is managing the caravanpark while Leesa Carty and her partner Sonny Crawfordare making plans to rebuild the old school building.There’s even a golf course with four sets of clubs forvisiting golfers.

The neighbouring town of Tarcoola is disappearing. Long-time resident Carol St Clair has gone to live with herdaughter Leah near Port Augusta. Buildings are beingremoved. Some houses and sheds are being bought andtransported to Kingoonya. Kingoonya ProgressAssociation wants to get the old church brought overtoo. They see it as preservation of what is left of Tarcoola.

Leesa and Sonny hope to raise the standard of theKingoonya Caravan Park and have it up and running, withthe old school refurbished as a shop where they will sellcrafts, homemade soups, sandwiches and biscuits by Maynext year.

Judith Inglis lives in the old general store building. She’sa founding member of the Kingoonya Golf Club. TonyRigden of Roxby Downs was passing through with hisgrader when he was made aware of the need for a sportingfacility so he volunteered to grade 4 fairways. With twoholes, one at either end of the first and ninth, they have anine hole golf course which begins and ends at the clubhouse, which also is being rebuilt. The holes are beetroottins sunk in the ground. There are no green fees ormembership charges, only fines if you lose a ball or breaka club.

There was a warm welcome for everyone who came Backto Kingoonya.

“Let’s try opal mining“Let’s try opal mining“Let’s try opal mining“Let’s try opal mining“Let’s try opal miningfor three months!”for three months!”for three months!”for three months!”for three months!”

Leesa, Judith, Ann and Jim Halls, John Brett and Ronald Halls climbing on Donald the old red truck

Dean Jamieson in front of the Old KingoonaSchool which will hopefully become a shopattached to the caravan park

Kingoonya makes a comebackOpalios owners Stella Boussios and son George in their Hutchison Street opal shop before theOpal Festival parade on Easter weekend

Easter weekend marks the beginning of thetourist season in Coober Pedy keeping the

local traders extremely busy.

Stella Bussios at Opalios in Hutchison Street never tiresof greeting customers and answering the many questionsthat new travellers to the town ask her.

Opal has been a way of life for Andreas and Stella Bussiosand their two children George and Lyn since they arrivedin the busy opal mining town in 1973 with limited moneyto live on.

The town had all of the facilities required for a family(Police Station and Hospital) and so the couple agreed,“Let’s try opal mining for three months.”

Andreas set out to support his family through opal mining(and is still opal mining today at 73 years old.) In 1987Stella opened the doors of their shop in Hutchison Street,originally named Discount Opal House

Stella has always been the chief opal cutter in the teamand the very talented Lyn is the major jewellery designer.George is a fine goldsmith and jeweller and works onsitehand-crafting his sister’s designs.

After growing up in Coober Pedy George Bussios says,“Its a pleasure to be in this unique industry, meeting peoplefrom all over the world. We are delighted to be involvedin the whole process, from mining all the way to the finalproduct.”

With Lyn and George’s commitment to the opal industrythe Bussios’ rebranded their business a few years agoand are now widely known as Opalios.


SKILLS FOR LIFE

JAM

SA

A/0

260

/A

Become an ambulance volunteer.

won’t just be your own.

changeThe life you

Becoming a volunteer ambulance offi cer is not just a great thing to do for the community, it’s also an amazing thing to do for yourself.

Imagine what it would be like to have the skills and confi dence to save lives – to learn leadership skills and gain a broader community perspective.

Aside from the medical skills they learn, SA Ambulance Service volunteers gain from every aspect of the vital role they play.

Ambulance volunteers come to this calling at all ages, from all walks of life. Some work in full-time jobs and others have more time on their hands.

If you’re ready to change your life and the lives of others or want to fi nd out more about volunteering call 1800 655 306 or visit our website: saambulance.com.au.

COOBER PEDY GEM TRADESHOW 2014

The 2014 Gem Trade Show held inCoober Pedy, 19 and 20 April sawtwo days of steady activity fromboth local and overseas buyers, withthe standard, quality and variety ofthe Australia’s National Gem,exceptionally high.

The Croation Club was the venuefor the Gem Trade Show providingminers and traders the opportunityto showcase their products buyersover Saturday and Sunday of theEaster weekend.

The Chairman of the 2014 GemTrade Show Yanni Athanasiadissaid, “on behalf of the Gem TradeShow committee, I would like tothank all the participants for theirsupport including the visitors andthe buyers, all of the sponsors andall of those people who made theshow so successful.

I would like to thank Mr.DavidMiller from Austrade for hiscommitment and hard work inbringing International buyers whoattended from overseas.

We expect that the Gem TradeShow will continue to grow as ithas with more local and regionalparticipants”.

“The two days had a steady flowof interest from both locals,travellers and International visitors,”said the Gem Trade Show Chairman.

Booth holders were generally pleasedwith the steady stream of visitors tothe Show with many good sales overthe two days.

Coober Pedy Stall holders Tanja andDale Price were very pleased withthe outcome of this years event.TADA OPALS are fifth yearexhibitors.

Tony Wong has also expressed hisapproval of the 2014 Gem TradeShow event.

Long time resident and opal industryidentity Stuart Jackson and his sonMark travelled to Coober Pedy totake part in the Gem Trade Show.

Next year Coober Pedy will becelebrating its Centenary and wehope to have even more success.

The Gem Trade Show is proving tobe a glamourous event and we willcontinue to improve it.

Most importantly I’d like to mentionour sponsors. They are very valuableto the success of the Gem TradeShow and we appreciate theirenormous support

Please keep helping us, without youwe cannot have this show.

I would also like to say thank you toall the booth holders . Some of themhave been involved from the start.

Photos: CPRT

Mark Jackson, Brad Green and Stuart Jackson. Markwho travelled from Cairns said, “You can take theboy out of Coober Pedy but can’t take the opal outof the boy.”

Booth holders Gunter Hackenberger,Julie Carmichael,Kenneth Helfand andMarcus Hammermeister

At James Mougris Booth was daughterSofia Mougris and Ryan Sterry

Yanni Athanasiadis (Chairman Gem TradeShow), Tony Wong and Robert Coro

Artwork was displayed, adding a touch of local colour by Johnand Yoka Opal and Art, pictured with Slavko Laskarin

At the Croation Club bar were Tom Zarkovic, Slavko Laskarin,Steve Zagar, Melmut Schwarz and Col Kenyon (Crim John)


Opal Festival 2014This years Opal Festival came together on the

19th April 2014 with a fantastic community paradeand a very busy day at the OZ Minerals Oval.

Once again the parade was a highlight of the festival,from the colourful and dynamic walking floats of OutsideSchool Hours Care and the Karate Club to the fantasticcommunity floats of the Greek Club and the Catacombchurch. Thanks to everyone who put together a float.It was great to see so many people lining the streets forsuch a colourful display of community spirit.

At the oval the attractions and colour continued withperhaps the largest number of stalls and marquees inquite a few years. All the emergency services wererepresented as were a number of local businesses. Thek ids had arcade games and art and crafts to keep thembusy. For the adventurous Animals Anonymous werehere again with their snakes and other interesting animals.

The novelty events kept people busy with many localsand ex locals giving them a go. The balloon toss run bythe CFS was popular again as was the practise for thewater slide contest. For a while there were about 25kids found playing on the slippery plastic perfecting theirtechnique. Unfortunately they must have all decidedthey needed more practise because the number ofcompetitors for the water slide contest had dwindled toabout 6!

Coober Pedy’s exclusive events, holding sacs of opal,sausage toss, and opal king and queen were verypopular. The backhoe competition, while not highlyvisible, was once again entertaining. Footballs were alsoseen flying as the footy club ran their events.

Article: Chevahn HoadPhotos: CPRT

The Opal Festival in full swing makes its wayalong Hutchison Street

Locals and travellers commandeer a vantagepoint near the bank

Catacomb Church “We’re on Colour” Float wonOverall Best Float. Prize money was $1000 donated by IGA See page 10

After School Care won the Best use of Colouraward of $250 sponsored by REX Airlines

Page 10 Coober Pedy Regional Times Thursday 24 March 2014

Opal Festival 2014Opal Festival 2014Opal Festival 2014Opal Festival 2014Opal Festival 2014Some events were taken out of the program in theplanning for this year due to lack of volunteers,hopefully they can be added back in next year. TheOpal Festival runs on volunteers, this years festivalwas no different. The volunteers who helped onthe day should be commended for their dedicationand commitment to their community.

Zoe and Nicola sang beautifully for the local musicperformance. The fire show by Psycus Pete waswell received, if a little scary! Kids don’t try his tricksat home! The fireworks were great with spontaneousapplause and whistles throughout showing thecrowds appreciation.

Overall everyone appeared to have a great time withmany families staying until the very end. The bandhad three encore requests before they had to call ita night. You know the event is successful when thecrowd is reluctant to leave!

A special thanks to all the volunteers on the day inparticular:• George Russell for his coordination of the parade• Maria Brellas and Leanne Marjanovic in the infotent with Jenny Davison, Judy Underwood and RoseBerry from the Coober Pedy Centenary Committee.We would have been lost without you!• Bob Pryce for MC during the parade.

The gate, all novelty events and the noodling pitwere run by volunteers, a big thanks to all of you forgiving your time to your community.

Thanks to all the fantastic community and businessstalls without which the Opal Festival wouldn’t bethe great community event it is.

The final thanks needs to go to all who attended thefestival, took part in the events and supported thestall holders. We hope you had a fantastic weekendand don’t forget to be here in 2015 for the CooberPedy Centenary Opal Festival!

LUNAR ECLIPSE ATCOOBER PEDY

Those Coober Pedians enjoying a balmyevening outdoors on the 15 April, may havewitnessed the Lunar Eclipse taking place

A lunar eclipse occurs when Earth passes directlybetween Sun and Moon; its shadow creates a lunareclipse.

Lunar eclipses can only happen when the Moon isopposite the Sun in the sky, a monthly occurrencewe know as a full Moon.

But lunar eclipses do not occur every month becausethe Moon's orbit is tilted five degrees from Earth'sorbit around the Sun. Without the tilt, lunar eclipseswould occur every month.

There will be another Lunar eclipse on these datesin 2014April 15: Total Lunar EclipseOctober 8: Total Lunar Eclipse

from page 8 - by Chevahn Hoad

Final stage of Lunar Eclipse as Earth’s shadowpasses across the Moon on 15 April 2014

Photo: CPRT

Wayne Borrett CFS oversees the water games

The novelty events were popular with the kids

Mine Rescue/SES won $250 for their “CelebratingMining & Opal float sponsored by Oasis Tourist Pk.

Esperito and Tanya Musolino, the Nikoloudiscontingency, travelled from Adelaide for theOpal Festival

The IGA Supermarket, recent winners of 4 SouthAustralian Store Awards dressed their truck upas an Easter Rabbit

SA Ambulance Volunteers were handing outinformation for their recruitment drive

Photos: Chevahn Hoad andCoober Pedy Regional Times


It’s been a little wet around town, and I have spentsome time playing in the mud and tramping it throughthe house. So as you can tell I am into the simplepleasures of life.

Local Legends

Lin Andrews Real Estate for their generous support

Mandy Sparrow, for your support and help on the day.

The Poulivaati Family, who carried, erected, picked up,put up, took down, helped cook and bag donuts,transported, patted me and spent the whole day helpingwhere ever they could, you are Local Legends, hope youcome back soon.

Woof WoofCharlie Paris

Drive In Cinema Legends

The other thing that comes to mind as one of life’s simplepleasures is hot sugar and cinnamon donuts. The Drive-In have the best ones ever. When I heard they weregoing to make them at the Opal Festival I put in my order.

The Drive-In committee would like to thank Lin AndrewReal Estate for supplying all the ingredients for the donutsand sharing their tent.

The Drive-In raised $310.00 to go to the rebuild of thekitchen.

Charlie Paris, Dog Reporter([email protected])

How could any of us local dogs resist this muddytemptation?

Lin Andrews staff watch the opal festival parade

Lin Andrew Real Estate was in the procession

FRACKERS Linc Energy charged withcausing serious environmental harmThe Department of Environment and HeritageProtection in Queensland has charged Linc EnergyLimited with causing serious environmental harm.

If found guilty, Linc Energy could face a maximum penaltyof $2.2 million per offense.

Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection AndrewPowell said the charges followed a detailed nine- monthinvestigation in relation to the company’s pilot UndergroundCoal Gasification (UCG) plant near Chinchilla.

“UCG is a very different process to that used to extractcoal seam gas (CSG). It involves converting coal to asynthesised (or non-natural) gas via enforcedcombustion,” Mr Powell said.

“As a result of this ongoing investigation, the Departmentof Environment and Heritage Protection has now filedcharges against Linc Energy for causing seriousenvironmental harm.”

While the harm allegedly caused to the environment isconsidered serious, the information available to thedepartment suggests there is no immediate risk toneighbouring landholder water bores.

“The department is continuing its formal investigation intothe activities of Linc Energy Limited.”

Lock the Gate national president Drew Hutton said theGovernment decision to release the statement, devoid ofdetails and on Friday at 5pm was "a cynical act".

"Releasing this important information at 5pm Friday andon the night a major cyclone was about to hit the statewas obviously designed to ensure as few people as possibleread about it," Mr Hutton said.

"This underground coal gasification technology is highlydangerous and the State Government should never haveallowed it. Any sensible government would ban it now."

Mr. Hutton called on the government to release all relevantdetails including what specific damage was done, andwhere and when it occurred.

"The Newman government is allowing dirty and dangerousexperiments in Queensland with unsafe technologyincluding UCG, coal seam gas, shale gas and shale oil,"Mr Huttonsaid.

Environment Minister Andrew Powell said, “Thisgovernment has implemented a regulatory strategy that isdesigned to get our staff out from behind their desks andonto the ground to ensure all operators meet theirenvironmental obligations”.

“The Queensland Government encourages emergingindustries to develop, however they must comply withthe state’s strong environmental laws.”

The two UCG technology pilot trials in Queensland areboth entering a decommissioning phase.

IN THE MEANTIME the South AustralianGovernment is considering granting SAPEX (LincEnergy) another Petroleum Exploration Licence forit’s shale gas operations near COOBER PEDY.

Linc Energy have not yet gained their social licenceto operate in the area. Despite several explorationpermits have been granted, there has been noconsultation whatsoever with the local community.

The NOTICE attached has not been seen by the CooberPedy Community.(Kindly sent to us by a reader in Victoria.)

A 2011 study by Congressional Democrats [USA] foundthat, in the process of hydraulic fracturing, "oil and gascompanies injected hundreds of millions of gallons ofhazardous or carcinogenic chemicals into wells in morethan 13 states from 2005 to 2009," according to the NewYork Times

A 2011 peer-reviewed study found, on average, methaneconcentrations 17 times above normal in samples takenfrom water wells near shale gas drilling sites employinghydraulic fracturing. Water samples from 68 private waterwells in the states of Pennsylvania and New York weretested and some were found to have extremely highconcentrations of methane: 64 milligrams of methane perliter of drinking water, compared with a normal level ofone milligram or lower. Source: Wikipedia

CLASSIFIEDS ADVERTISINGSee page 2 for Rates, Deadlines & Publishing Dates


Indemnity

Providing a regular service toCoober Pedy, Oodnadatta, Marla

and surrounding areas

Truckin’ Frozen, Perishable andGeneral Freight.

Also Specialising in Livestock,Wool and Bulk Cartage Phone: (08) 8280 5033Mobile: 0408 859 037Fax: (08) 8280 5788

Address: 397 Burton RoadBurton SA

Advertising agencies, advertisers andother contributors accept full

responsibility for the contents ofadvertisements and other submitted,

signed material and agree toindemnify the publishers against any

claim or proceedings out of thepublication of such advertisements or

material.Provision of material or copy forpublication in the Coober Pedy

Regional Times Newspaperconstitutes acceptance by

advertisers, advertising agencies andother contributors of this condition.

McEvoy TransportUpper Eyre Peninsulato the WA – SA Border

McEvoy’s – We Care forUpper Eyre

ADELAIDE DEPOTLocation: 397 BURTON ROAD

BURTONPh: 08 82808044

Fax: 08 8280 [email protected]

MINERAL LEASES

HELP NEEDED

PUBLIC NOTICE - AGM

DUGOUT FOR SALE

Coober Pedy CFS urgentlyrequires new members,

particularly those who hold aMR and above Truck Licence.

All welcome to attendtraining - every Monday

night at 7pm

Contact CFS 1st LieutenantWayne Borrett 0439881049

or Training Officer Nigel on0402 003262

CFS CadetsCFS is now recruiting Cadets.Anyone from the age of 11 -

18 may enquire by contactingthe Cadet Coordinator Julie

on 0498 472 519

RECRUITSNEEDED

*Tyres *Tyre repairs*Fuel, *Parts

Opening hours 7.30am -5pm Phone 86725036

Close to Town, SchoolOwner must sell

Ring 0886255100 for furtherinformation

PUBLIC NOTICE

Mining Act 1971Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 28 (5) of the Mining Act 1971, that the Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy proposes to grant an Exploration Licence over the undermentioned area.

Applicant: Iluka (Eucla Basin) Pty LtdLocation: Wynbring area – approx.

100 km west of Tarcoola Pastoral Lease: Mobella Term: Two yearsArea in km2: 1281Ref: 2013/00046

Plan and co-ordinates can be found on the DMITRE website: http://www.minerals.dmitre.sa.gov.au/public_notices or by phoning Mineral Tenements on 08 8463 3103.

J MartinMining Registrar

www.dmitre.sa.gov.au4284790

Coober Pedy Regional Timesemail:[email protected]

Tel: 08 86725920

NEED TO ADVERTISE

PUBLIC NOTICE

NEW DATEDue to weather conditionsWilliam Creek Gymkhana

will be heldSaturday 28 June 2014

See page 14 for more details

Coober PedyCoober PedyCoober PedyCoober PedyCoober PedyMulticultural ForumMulticultural ForumMulticultural ForumMulticultural ForumMulticultural Forum

Annual General Meeting7.30pm

Tuesday 13th May 2014at AFSS

223-224 Giles Street Coober Pedy

SA Ambulance reform

The face of ambulance services ischanging, to give you a moretailored level of care.

“Defining the road ahead” outlinesthe way SA Ambulance Service willdeliver services in the future to meetincreasing demand and thechanging needs of the community.

It includes a number of exciting newinitiatives to put SA AmbulanceService at the frontline of alternativehealth service options.

For example, when you call theambulance you may not always betransported to a hospital emergencydepartment.

More people will be treated in theirown home and surrounds, andother alternative treatment optionsmay be used where appropriate.

New initiatives include:

• Single ParamedicResponse and INTervention(SPRINT) paramedics• Extended careparamedics (ECPs)• Volunteer supportedcrewing• Automatic vehiclelocation (AVL) systems.

“Defining the road ahead”

Download “Defining the road ahead”at http://www.saambulance.com.au/


CFS T

IGIGIGIGIGA COOBER PEDA COOBER PEDA COOBER PEDA COOBER PEDA COOBER PEDYYYYY- A- A- A- A- AWWWWWARDED SAARDED SAARDED SAARDED SAARDED SASTORE OF THE YEAR 2014STORE OF THE YEAR 2014STORE OF THE YEAR 2014STORE OF THE YEAR 2014STORE OF THE YEAR 2014

Elaine Ayers - IGA Brand Manager; Penelope Carter, DeclanCarter, Tim Carter, Richard Hinson - Metcash SA GeneralManager; Colin Northway - IGA Coober Pedy Store Manager

Thilan Karunarathna Fruit and Vegmanager

On Friday 28th March at the AdelaideConvention Centre the Annual IGA Retailer of

the Year Gala dinner was held.

The night showcased excellence in the independentsupermarket sector and where Coober Pedy IGAFresh had been nominated for several awards.

On the evening IGA Fresh Coober Pedy was awardedSA Winner for several departments.

• Fruit & Veg- Fresh Produce• General Merchandise- Variety• Grocery Department

IGA Fresh Coober Pedy then went on to be awardedthe prestigious ‘IGA Store of the Year’ whichrecognises the highest overall standard of excellenceamong independent retailers.

Tim Carter & management at IGA Coober Pedywould like to sincerely thank their dedicated staffand the Coober Pedy community for their continuedsupport they have shown over the last three years.

Dinesh SernandoGrocery Award

Second generation opal miner George Kountouris and his wife Nicky attheir shop Miners Direct

EASTER TRAVELLERS LOOKING TO BUY OPALThree generations of opal minersrepresent the Kountouris family in

Coober Pedy with George pictured inhis opal shop Miners Direct and wifeNicky who also sells opal mined byher husband in their Adelaide outlet

‘Rockson’ at Henley Square

George mines everyday then mans theretail outlet in the afternoons where healso cuts and sets his opals. He is proudthat the entire process is locally made andproduced, and has Australian Madecreditation.

Growing up at the Eleven Mile with hisfather Konstantinos, George haswitnessed many changes in the opalindustry and its town. “There are mixedpros and cons in some of those changesfor the Kountouris family,” he said.

“The advent of technology means thewholesale arm of our business is madesimpler and reaches many markets.”

“The loss of community is the greatestdisappointment in todays opal town withfewer miners, more idleness and less opalcoming out of the opal capital,” saidGeorge

Q: What advise would you give travellersiooking to purchase an opal?George: Buy it from a miner not a dealerand there are three golden rules -

1.) Do you like it? 2.) Set a budget andstick to it. 3.) If it is what you think youare buying get the outlet to issue you witha hand written receipt describing the opaland putting it into one of 7 categories.“Finally beware of large discounts.”

850 Kilometres for a sleep underground!850 Kilometres for a sleep underground!850 Kilometres for a sleep underground!850 Kilometres for a sleep underground!850 Kilometres for a sleep underground!Phil and Lyn Davis from Adelaide

decided they would like to spend partof their Easter break sleeping in an

underground dwelling inCoober Pedy.

The couple, with their grandson Jaketravelled the best part of 9 hours to CooberPedy after making a booking at theUnderground Motel and were pleasantlysurprised to find a great deal to see anddo.

After seeing the Opal Festival parade,they Davis’ walked around looking in theshops.

“I grew up in Woomera between 1960 -1972 and then I joined the Army,” saidPhil.

“Andamooka was close by and I spent abit of time there, but didn’t ever get tostay in Coober Pedy.”

John Dunstan who owns “John & Yoka’sOpal and Art” shop was an Andamookaraised lad and lived in the same area as Philbetween 1957 - 1968 and strangely or notthey didn’t recall meeting each other.

Nevertheless the memories of the outbackbrought Phil and his family on a trip downmemory lane to visit a place that was acuriosity back then and he had alwayswanted to visit.

The Davis family were on the hunt forsouvenirs and allowed Jake choose a giftfrom his grandparents.

Jake chose a carved zebra stone ornamentfor himself and Phil and Lyn then had todecide what to take back for their grand-daughter.

When it came down to choosing a gift withopal, Yoka pictured left, set aboutexplaining the various types of opal, givingvisitors some insight into the opal industry.Above: John and Yoka Dunstan with Phil and Lyn Davis. Yoka explains

the type of opal that Phil and Lyn are looking at


Mine Rescue Training(Alternate Saturdays)

LEGO CLUB 10am—12pm5 year olds and up Lions Club.Does not run on the LastSaturday of the Month

FRIDAYS

TUESDAYS

BABY BOUNCE RHYME &TODDLER STORY TIME 10amLibrary Catering for 0 to 5 y/o

Golf (CP Golf CourseRegistration 12:00 noonTee off time 12:30

United Bowling ClubLawn Bowls 1.30 pm

PLAY TIMECatering for 0 to 5 year olds2.00pm—3.30pmSchool Gymnasium

Catacomb Church Serviceand Sunday School 9:30amSunday. Bus pickup available.Ph 8672 5038

SATURDAYS

SUNDAYS

WEDNESDAYS

THURSDAY

ART & CRAFT PLAYGROUP10.30am—11.30am Lion’s HallCaters for 2-4 year olds & caregivers

TJITJI TJUTA INKANYINI PUKULPA12pm—2pm A Playgroup for 0-5 yearolds and caregivers. Home Makers,Umoona Community, Lunch &Activities.“Pick up available Ph: 86723066”

DISTRICT COUNCIL MEETINGS3nd Tuesday each month at 7pm

CFS TRAINING 7pmNew Members Welcome

AMBULANCE TRAINING7.30pm Umoona Roadevery Tuesday except school holidays

LITTLE MUSICIANS10.00am—10.45amCoober Pedy Area SchoolMusic RoomCaters for 3 to 5 year olds

TINY TACKER PLAYGROUP0 - 2 year olds 10am—12.30pmCommunity Health MeetingRoom (behind Dr. Kami’s)

CP SHOOTERS CLUBFriday night shotgun 8pm tilldark (daylight savings time)

GREEK CLUB - Bingo 7.30 pm

COOBER PEDYMULTICULTURAL FORUM.Over 65s FREE TAI CHICLASSES. Sit or stand for thesegentle exercises. 1:15PM atCommunity Health

CP Social Scrabble 7.30pmUnited Club . All skill levelswelcome

AA 8pm Underground CatholicChurch - Hutchison StreetContact Dave 0409349753

SOCCER Workshop 6pmSchool Oval 10-16 year olds

VETERINARY 2014

CP SHOOTERS CLUB9am and 11am Pistol

CFS TRAINING 10PMLast Saturday each month

CUT ‘N PASTE - 2013 2.00pmto 3.30pm at Youth Shed Ages5-17 Please call Donna 0439864 166 for more info. Every2nd Saturday

WHAT’S ON in COOBER PEDY?& Visiting Services

Roger Absalom BVMSRedgum Vet & Pet BoardingPort Augusta 08 86423308

CRICKET 5.30pm to 6.30 pm atSchool Gym

CRICKET 5.30pm to 6.30 pmat School Gym

MONDAYSKarate -Golf Club6 - 7pm General Class7 - 8pm Teenagers and Adults only

CRICKET AT OVALSaturday 7.00 pm andSunday 9.30pmPh: Fernando 0437 739 447

CRICKET AT OVALSaturday 7.00 pm andSunday 9.30pmPh: Fernando 0437 739 447

School Terms 2014 -15

Redgum Vet and Pet BoardingCoober Pedy Clinic dates for 2014

24/25 February7/8 April2/3 June4/5 August22/23 September10/11 NovemberActive Boys Group 3:15-5:00

ages 10 & up at the youth shed

Youth Shed 3:15-6:00 ages 8& up

Youth Shed 3:15-6:00 ages 8& up

Active Girls Group3:15-5:00 ages 8 & up

Late Night Fridays 6-10pm ages 12 & up

Karate -Golf Club6 - 7pm General Class7 - 8pm Teenagers and Adults

Youth Shed 11-2 ages 8& up Youth Shed 11-2 ages 8

& up

CP SHOOTERS CLUBRifle 10am -

COOBER PEDYLIONS CLUB

Trash & TreasureTrash & TreasureTrash & TreasureTrash & TreasureTrash & TreasureSat 29 AprilSat 29 AprilSat 29 AprilSat 29 AprilSat 29 April

Sellers 8.30amBuyers 9am

FREE SWIMMING for the Over65s, every day at the school pool.1:30 – 7:30pm. Bring a friend free

COOBER PEDYMULTICULTURAL FORUM

COOBER PEDYMULTICULTURAL FORUM

COOBER PEDYMULTICULTURAL FORUMOver 65s FREE KARATE CLASS.10AM at the Golf Club

Fridays 6.00pm Twilight Golf

18 JUNE 2014 The Opal Field’sGolf Club will host PerformanceGolf (15 Professional Golfers)

with Special Junior GolfCoaching.

Opal Fields Golf ClubDates for your Diary

GOLF: 6pm Twighlight Golf

Lion's Club Committeepositions for 2014 - 2015

President Kyle HayVice President Peter BroadbearTreasurer Noel HaySecretary Travis Karam

49th William CreekGymkhana

Saturday 28 June 2014

NEW DATECombined prize money

$5,000Cash prizes and ribbons for

all eventsBBQ and bar facilities

available(no eskies please)

8am startAdmission $15.00

Thank you forkeeping

the communityinformed

Over 65s FREE TAI CHI CLASSES.Sit or stand for these gentle exercises.1:15PM at Community Health


Mr Luke KennyPrincipal

CPAS NEWSA reminder for parents, to please pack spareclothes into your child’s school bag. We are findingthat some children do not have a change of clothesin case of an accident or wet/messy play.

Thank you to all the parents that have recentlyoffered support in the preschool. We enjoyhaving everyone stop in and visit.

Well done to all the preschool students thatattended the last whole school assembly.

As the children sat so well at the front of theschool they received the Primary SchoolListening Bear for the fortnight. This showed thatwe did the best sitting and listening out of all theprimary classes. Fantastic job everyone!

On Wednesday the 19th of March the schoolcelebrated Harmony Day. We invited all childrento dress in orange for this day to celebrateeveryone belonging.

The preschool attended the whole schoolassembly in the morning and then everyoneenjoyed a shared food time at the end of thesession.

Preschool

Preschoolers preparing the trays for their yummy cupcakes

The mixture was put carefully into the cupcakeholders and placed inside the baking tray

Preschoolers sat and waited by the oven for theircupcakes to cook - yummy!

Recently in the preschool we have focused onthe ‘Cc Kk’ sounds.

We made some kites that are hanging up in thepreschool and we also made some yummycupcakes.

The children took turns when adding theingredients and mixing.

Some children from Miss Winen’s class cameover to support us with this activity.

We also had lots of fun blowing bubbles andwatering our plants.

Stirring the cupcake mixture was a class effort

Blowing bubblesMore stirring and more cupcakes

Makingcupcakes

Blowing bubbles is fun

Above: Watching bubbles land on the ground

Left: Dipping into the soapy bubble mixture

Watering plants

Measuring out the right amount of water for theplants

Term 3 commences 28 April and ends

4 July 2014


The Amazing Race

Ph:08 8672 5561Fax:08 8672 5537

Email: [email protected]

Open 7 days 9am -10pm 10% Discount for Pensioners

¨ Alfresco dining,TakeawayRelax in air-conditioned comfort

or heated elfrescoINTERNET ACCESS for touristsGroup bookings and large

functions roomsExtensive menus - breakfast,

lunch and dinner .Large selection of pizzas and

a range of new regular meals available.

Johns Pizza Bar & RestaurantJohn’s Pizza Bar &

Restaurant are the proudwinners of the National Best

Pizza in the 2010I Love FOOD Awards -

making Coober Pedy proud.Follow us on FacebookJohn's Pizza Bar & Res-

taurant AppreciationGroup

Johns Pizza Bar & Restaurant

On Tuesday 15th April the School Holiday Programwas taken over by Red Cross and IMX Resources.An exciting morning of games, activities and quiz

questions started at 9.15am with the first of 8 teamsmaking their way around town.

The Amazing Race started at the school gym and thenvisited 12 pit stops along the way. At each pit stop therewas a “Minute to Win it Game, Coober Pedy Style” beforethe teams answered a nutritional quiz question so theycould move on to the next venue. Each team membercarried a show bag, with a water bottle and a step meter.As the teams made their way around town they collectedtreats and extra items in their show bags.

Red Cross and IMX Resources would like to thank all theVolunteers that turned up on the day.

• Coober Pedy District Council Child Links workers• The energetic staff of Aboriginal Families SupportServices• Mel Aylett of the Good Start Breakfast Program• Simone Brooks• Amandine Bachmann Caire

Red Cross and IMX would like to thank the organizationsand local business that helped with their time and a spaceto play the games as well as their generous donations forthe show bags.

ADRA OP Shop and shop volunteersCoober Pedy Police Station and on duty officersCoober Pedy Post Office and staff.The Miners Store and staffCatholic Church as a refreshment stopFamilies SA and Roanna WardleAmbulance SAIGA staffComplete Personnel and Mandy SparrowIMX ResourcesLin Andrews Real Estate and Mary and Rose-MarieCFS and Wayne BorrettCoober Pedy Area School for the use of the GYMJill’s Wear House Arcade for donating the prize for themost steps on the day.

The winning team, L-R Shimaya, Vivian,Jeffrey,Abeseth and Betheny(Green Team)

Dilini Apsara Wickramasinghe (AFSS) and Jennifer Reissen (AFSS) with the Yellow Team

Amandine Bachmann Caire with Red Group

Families SA, Roanna helping Abeseth with theFlash Card Game

First pit stop, Shandor, Kasey,Harry, Anne, Ishka

Shandor and Wayne, looks like they put out thefire and are now washing the car

7.30am-5pm 86725036 THE GREAT OPAL HEIST OF 2014 · 4/24/2014 · Other items that were stolen were solid opal gold pendants, solid opal rings, doublet and inlay gold rings and earrings.

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