The Perth Mint
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The Official Journal of the Prospectors and Miners Association of Victoria 'PMAV' The REG No A0000422H Volume 23 No. 1 Print Post Approved PP334385/00074 March 2004 Government Launches In this Issue New Mining Policy Association News 2-4 The Minister for Energy Industries and launch of the policy the Minister Resources, Theo Theophanous, launched confirmed the Government’s recognition Presidents Report 4 a new Government policy in relation to of the tradition of small-scale mining in mining on 3rd December 2003. Victoria and their support for the News from the Department 6 continuation of this tradition. The policy has good news for PMAV A Truce Between members. Prospectors are treated well with If any of those attending the launch of the Parks Victoria & Prospectors 7 quotes like ‘The Bracks Government aim policy needed a reminder about the is to support outdoor activities such as importance of our sector they just needed prospecting and tourism, while also to look at the replicas of the Welcome The Perth Mint 8 ensuring that our environment is Stranger and Hand of Faith nuggets as protected, particularly in areas such as our they walked through the foyer of the Old Maryborough Gold Gem remnant box-ironbark forests’ and ‘The Treasury Building on their way to the & Treasure Expo 9 Bracks Government will continue to take launch. Small-scale miners/prospectors steps to ensure access for prospectors in found those nuggets and they will be BUG News 10 many areas of the newly formed Box- remembered long after the current suite of ironbark Parks and will ensure that larger mining projects have finished and Gold Investment 12 prospecting can continue to take place in been forgotten. Victoria, provided it is done in an Copies of the policy can be viewed at environmentally acceptable manner’. www.dpi.vic.gov.au/minpet (search for Small-scale mining is not specifically Promoting Victoria’s Prospects) or at any mentioned in the policy document but branch meeting. The oath made when questioned on this matter at the by the diggers The Nuggets Keep at Eureka on Coming Easter 2004 Maryborough Gold Gem “We swear by the This 18.5 oz piece was unearthed & Treasure Expo or Southern Cross to in Central Victoria in the last few weeks. The Gemboree at Lardner Park stand truly by each There are two big events for prospectors other & fight to defend over the Easter weekend. Full details inside our rights & liberties”. this Echo. The Eureka Echo Breaks Distribution Record Eureka 150 The level of demand for the Echo means that 4000 copies of this edition will be printed and distributed. 1854 - 2004 18.5oz Unknown Location THE EUREKA ECHO—March 2004 PAGE 1 Association News Officers of the PMAV: President Rita Bentley (03) 9572 1578 BH Melbourne Branch Report Vice President Jeff Douglas (03) 5475 1718 Secretary Allan Rossiter (03) 5444 0470 AH Since the last Echo we have had no field trips but we had our Treasurer Geoff Strang (03) 9532 0868 AH first meeting for 2004 with over 50 members attending. We Committee Eric Grummett (03) 9729 1026 Clyde Leatham (03) 5971 2877 had two guest speakers with the first demonstrating their Don Brereton (03) 9714 8329 range of camper trailers and the second showing their range of Rex Motton [email protected] Paul Wilks (03) 9720 3273 12 volt and solar light panels much to everyone’s interest. As On Line Branch: question time threatened to become an all night session I have Contact Steve Barnham [email protected] asked them to come back for another meeting and carry on (03) 5348 3668 the session. Central Victorian Branch (Maryborough): Contact Tony Mills (03) 5461 3217 Our meetings continue to be held on the second Tuesday of the (03) 5461 5067 Fax month at Miners Den starting at 7.30 but there is a new rule. If East Gippsland Branch (Stratford): President Stephen Dingwall (03) 5147 1186 AH you are under 50 you must bring your own chair. Why you ask? (03) 5147 3285 Fax Because we haven`t got enough for everybody. Vice President Jim Harrap (03) 5144 6470 Secretary John Munn (03) 5143 0754 Geoff Strang—Melbourne Branch Coordinator. Treasurer Martin Byrne (03) 5147 1618 Branch meets Miners Den, Mitcham—second Tuesday of each month South West Branch (Ballarat): President Keith Roberts (03) 5334 0302 East Gippsland Branch 0402 632 288 Mobile Vice President & Treasurer (Stratford) Report Alan Troop (03) 5348 6617 Secretary Eric Wooding (03) 5341 2209 We held our Christmas break-up and BBQ at our meeting in West Gippsland Branch (Drouin): President Colin Johnson (03) 5623 5329 November and then went into recess until January. Vice President Robert Bormann (03) 5627 8557 Secretary/Treasurer Our only field trip was another sortie to Mount Wills which was Doug Prestige (03) 5160 1424 well attended and proved to be a thoroughly enjoyable weekend North East Branch (Yackandandah): or so I have been told by all those that made it. (Due to a slight President Jeff Kennett (02) 6027 3412 Vice President Pat Wyatt (02) 6027 1137 mechanical failure I unfortunately didn’t get far past Bairnsdale Secretary Bill Gleeson (03) 5744 1263 and had to spend the weekend prospecting for parts in Treasurer Steve Newland (02) 6056 0753 Bairnsdale.) The gold was a bit scarce apparently but the Melbourne Branch: camping was great and there are still a few missing mines that Contact Geoff Strang (03) 9532 0868 AH (03) 9532 0868 Fax have to be found. The grass and under-growth is getting a bit Grampians Branch: long now so there is not much time left before the scrub once Contact Andrew Overton 0409 357 153 again reclaims this goldfield. Small Miners Action Group: Contact Jeff Douglas 0408 176 496 Mobile Cheers Rex Motton [email protected] Steve Dingwall —President- East Gippsland Branch The postal address of the PMAV is: Branch meets RSL Hall, Stratford, last Thursday of each month Prospectors and Miners Association of Victoria Inc. GPO Box 1706P, Melbourne, Victoria, 3001 North East Branch Fax No: (03) 9572 1579 Email: [email protected] (Yackandandah) Report General inquiry number: 0408 176 496 The PMAV website is: www.pmav.asn.au And: http://groups.msn.com/PMAV Despite the hot weather the North East Branch’s first meeting for the year in January was well attended. The Branch Gold Deadline for Material Month Published panning demonstration that is planned for the Albury Camping, 14th May 2004 June 2004 4wd & Leisure Show is well on the way with the planning The Eureka Echo is distributed to prospectors, the mining industry, politicians and other individuals and organisations with an interest committee holding a couple of meetings to organise the event. It in assisting and/or promoting the mining and prospecting industries. will be held from March 26th thru 28th at the Albury All editorial material in the Eureka Echo may be reproduced without Showgrounds. This should give the Branch some good exposure permission, however acknowledgments would be appreciated. and help promote the activities of the PMAV as a whole. Disclaimer Opinions expressed are those of the original authors and do Meeting dates for the coming months are: Wednesday 17th not necessarily reflect those of the Editor or the Association. March & Wednesday 19th May starting at 7.30 pm. All welcome. Persons acting on any opinion, advice, fact or advertisement Jeff Kennett—President, North East Branch published in this issue do so at their own risk. Branch meets Yackandandah Senior Citizens, Wellsford St Yackandandah, Wholly produced in Australia bi-monthly 3rd Wednesday To Advertise in the Eureka Echo, phone 0408 176 496 PAGE 2 THE EUREKA ECHO—March 2004 Association News South West Branch the display also thankyou to all the people Central Victorian (Ballarat) Report who helped make both Yarragon and (Maryborough) Noojee such a success. Branch Report Our first meeting for this year was on 18th The latest field trip was panning in the February with our AGM scheduled for Latrobe River at the horseshoe, Neerim Branch meetings have been so popular in 17th March. We are hoping for a large South—but that report will have to wait recent months that it has been virtually turnout at the AGM. I would like to say a ‘til next time. standing room only at the Coiltek Gold big thankyou to all those who helped out Colin Johnson—President —West Gippsland Branch Centre. The PMAV membership drive has in the year past and trust that this year’s Branch meets CWA Hall, 10 Sinclair St, Drouin certainly been successful in our region. If committee will have a lot of new faces. —second Thursday of each month Editors note: last issue we advised incorrect meeting the growth in membership continues, we Unfortunately a few branch members have date, apologies for any inconvenience. may have to hire the Maryborough Town been unwell: Eric Wooding—who we all Hall for future meetings. It's been very hope is on the mend after his operation Grampians Branch gratifying to see some of the original and Len Goldsmith, one of our longtime Report miners and detector operators from the members has broken a leg, so we hope he early days rejoining to support the PMAV. too has a speedy recovery. Whilst most of us have been avoiding the We were all saddened by the tragic accidental hot weather and not leaving the comfort of Xmas is well and truly gone but that death of Phil Gibbs, a valued member of our our air conditioners, a few brave souls have is when we had our end of year picnic branch for many years.