OPAL ASSOCIATION AGM
QT Hotel level 1 Mezzanine
5th August 2022 8 am
Present:
Paul Sedawie, Wayne Sedawie, George Christianous, Yanni Athanasiadis, Ruth Benjamin Thomas ,John Mc Dondald Damien Cody ,Mario Ikasovic, Sally Patel
Apologies:
Chris Gawthorpe, Patrick Ujszaszi
Meeting declared open by the Chair at 8 pm:
Treasures report:
Opening bank balance $30,792.44
Membership fees $ 2708
Insurance $ 550
Silvia Palmero admin $ 700
Bank balance 30/06/22 $32,050.44
We supported the ODJAA opal show at Lightning ridge to amount of $ 1500.
Paul Sedawie moved it to be accepted and seconded by John Mc Donald
President’s report
The association has been inactive the last 6 months. This will be my last year as the association needs new blood and direction. Hopefully some younger members will take up the challenge.!
However we were still active contacting gem labs who issued false or misleading certificates and shared some listings on our face book page. We also made a submission to the QLD govt through QBOA as there are no new claims being registered in QLD including opal and sapphire fields. The boulder industry in QLD was valued at 7 Million dollars but we disagreed with this figure and mentioned the value adding it does to local areas.
I did a trip out to White Cliffs where new prospecting is not allowed and many miners were fined for breaches of the mining act. It appears to be going the same way as Mintabie as govt dept are exerting pressure on the miners.
The Opal Association bank account was frozen for a few weeks, so I had to do two trips to release it. The age of compliance is here.
The main goal this year is to finish the opal certificate test and re design the web page. This is what many members have asked us to do, as this will increase membership. Membership numbers have dropped, and we understand it has been a difficult year for many members.
Moved by Wanye Sedawie seconded John Mc Donald
Election of office bearers:
President Paul Sedawie
Vice President Yanni Anathasiadis
Treasure Sally Patel
Secretary George Emmanuel Christianous
Publicity officer. Edmond Lahoud
Paul Sedawie moved we accept the same team as last year as all re stood. Seconded Yanni Anathasiadis motion carried.
GENERAL BUSINESS
Opal classification. We were bought up to date by Ruth Benjamin Thomas. Ruth mentioned the submission had been de railed by comments from JAA. So CIBJO has told us to get our act together and re- submit it .We are hoping to work with the new members of JAA to finalize this.
Opal certificates
Discussions were held about the opal association issuing certificates of authenticity. Ruth mentioned we should include the new classification when doing the test. Questions were asked about how to administer and check members certificates. Legal advice has been received making members responsible for what they issue. The test to be allowed to issue certificates will not be easy as we will keep a high standard. The feedback from members is the test will require some study and a high degree of knowledge of what treatments there are available.
Sadly, Andrew Cody passed away with a farewell in Brighton. Victoria last week. There were many stories about his superhuman abilities in regard to entertaining and then doing gems shows. There were many people from the opal industry who were touched by the passion he had for the industry and for living. Andrew will be missed but remembered by many. Our condolence’s to Damien and his family.
Meeting was declared closed at 9am