THE Bendigo Gem Club has been around for more than fifty years and over that time it has grown beyond just rocks to offer lapidary, silversmithing, and jewellery making.<\/p>\n
Publicity officer Andie Downing said the organisation\u2019s club rooms in Galvin Street are some of a high standard.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have arguably the best facilities in Australia as far as any lapidary or silversmithing club,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd that’s feedback from affiliate clubs that have come and had a look at the place.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’ve got all of this equipment for all of the different hobbies right here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Downing also said it\u2019s also hard to find a gem club with a better backstory than founder Charlie Bock and the effort take to set the facilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was literally built by old Charlie Bock,\u201d she said. \u201cThe story goes the founding members didn’t have enough money to buy the premises even after everybody’s chipped in and Charlie’s given a big loan.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, they all got together went down and picked fruit at Harcourt and raised the funds to literally build this place right here.\u201d<\/p>\n
While it might be half-a-century on, Ms Downing said the club is run on the same values as when it was founded.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s a cheap club to be a member of,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a $50 membership for a year to come and use the club to keep it accessible to the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause that’s what these fellas wanted and we are honouring their values of financial accessibility, giving people the ability to learn new hobbies, crafts and skills and then share that information.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s really important to us as a club, having that exchange of knowledge between the generations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Secretary, David Bannon, said the club is open for anyone interested in any of the disciplines offered and the senior members offered training on-site.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is expensive equipment here,\u201d he said. \u201cYou can do a lot of damage to the equipment, but you can also do some damage to yourself.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have supervisors in every workshop who are seasoned experts in and trained on each machine who will show you the ropes.\u201d<\/p>\n
For more information on the Bendigo Gem Club visit www.gembendigo.org.au.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE Bendigo Gem Club has been around for more than fifty years and over that time it has grown beyond just rocks to offer lapidary, silversmithing, and jewellery making. Publicity officer Andie Downing said the organisation\u2019s club rooms in Galvin Street are some of a high standard. \u201cWe have arguably the best facilities in Australia […]<\/p>\n