ISSN 1833-1831 Tel: 08 8672 5920 http://cooberpedyregionaltimes.wordpress.com Thursday 19 May 2016 EARLY COOBER PEDY SHOW HOME/DUGOUT - FOR SALE Coober Pedy is a town steeped in the rich history of early opal mining and its related industry tourism. The buying and selling of dugouts is a way of life in the Opal Capital of the World where the majority of family homes are subterranean. A strong real-estate presence has always been evident in Coober Pedy, but opal mining family John and Jerlyn Nathan with their two daughters are self-selling their historic dugout in order to buy an acreage just out of town that will suit their growing family’s needs better. The Nathan family currently live on the edge of town, a few minutes from the school and not far from the shops. Despite they brag one of most historic homes around with a position and a view from the east side of North West Ridge to be envied, John tells us that his growing family needs more space outside. “Prospector’s Dugout has plenty of space inside, with 4 bedrooms plus,” said John. “But the girls have grown in 5 years and we have an opportunity, once this property is sold, to buy an acreage outside of town, and where my daughters can have a trail bike and other outdoor activities where it won’t bother anyone.” “I will regret relinquishing our location and view but I think kids need the freedom of the outdoors when they are growing up,’ he said. John and Jeryln bought the 1920’s dugout at 720 Russell John and Jerlyn Nathan with daughters De’ Arna and Darna on the patio at Prospector’s Dugout. Street from opal miner Walter (Wally) Dieter Groeschel in January 2011. Going back a number of years it was the home and business of the Van Brugge family, who ran the original Prospector’s Tours in town. Tom and Lyn Van Brugge (parents) were opal buyers and exported opal overseas. “Prospector’s Dugout” became a show home and after a tour of Coober Pedy, the tourists were treated to an extra tour of the Van Brugge’s underground home. “They even handed out postcards of their home as a souvenir”, said John. “We were priveleged and honoured during the 2015 Centenary celebrations to receive a visit from George and Clair Van Brugge who asked if they could show View of the kitchen and dining shows the hand their family through our dugout, their former home. Prospector’s Dugout Postcard from the Van Brugge George Van Brugge filled us in on the long history of hewn features of the dugout period in Coober Pedy - nothing has changed the property and their planting of the large trees here.” When George and Clair left Coober Pedy they sold the dugout and business as a package to another family in the town and Prospector Tours and Prospector’s Dugout continued on for some time. John said, “I find it uncanny that all of the occupant/ owners of Prospector’s Dugout have been active in the opal industry. I feel cetain that the right person or family will knock on our door.” “The atmosphere here is warm and cosy. The early dugouts were hand dug, and have solid archways and a lot of character. Because we are facing east, we are protected from the harsh heat during summer and from Solid archways and space is a feature of If you would like a slice of history contact John the storms that come in from the west.” said John. Prospector’s Dugout Nathan - see advertisement on page 10 SERVING THE OPAL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD SINCE 1982 7 DAYS WEATHER - POSSIBLE RAIN! Editor - Margaret Mackay Coober Pedy Oodnadatta Tarcoola Andamooka * PO Box 275 Coober Pedy SA 5723 * Ph: (08) 8672 5920 Email: [email protected] * Next Newspapers DUGOUT Thursday 02 June 2016 Thursday 16 June 2016 Thursday 30 June 2016 WINTER SOLSTICE Thursday 14 July 2016 * * 21 June 2016 Advertising Rates Spring Solstice (Southern) Black & White * * 23 September 2016 Display $6.50 per cm/col * Summer Solstice Classified $8.00 per cm/col * 21 December 2016 Colour on Application Inserts on Application Bookings by Wednesday prior Material must be in Fri prior DISTRIBUTING to South HOW to send Australia, NT and the Far -Welcome to North Communities articles to CPRT Coober Pedy - The Coober Pedy Regional Times - “Your Outback Communities Newspaper”, became DISCLAIMER: Opinions and letters published in The Coober a FREE Newspaper in 2006, increasing its distribution to 4,500 hard copies + digital online An underground town, built Pedy Regional Times are not necessarily the views of the download, promoting news, events and distributing advertising to our regional towns. The Editor, or Publisher. The Coober Pedy Regional Times CPRT is a small business and receives no external funding. on the back of opal mining reserves the right to edit or omit copy, in accordance with newspaper policies. Letters to the Editor must be attributed with A feature of the newspaper’s long history is that it maintains its prominence in the region a name, address and contact phone number - names and town as a voice for the people; a regular form of communicating opinions for those in remote of origin will be printed, or may be withheld at the Editor’s areas who may otherwise be overlooked or underestimated. discretion. During the course of any election campaign, letters to the editor dealing with election issues must contain the Letters to Editor should be sent by email where possible and be relevent to the community. author’s name and street address (not PO Box) for publication. Right of reply is always available. 1.) 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Deadline dates are on the LHS of this page (check b4 sending) of the Coober Pedy Regional Times past and present is *Beautiful Opal Gemstones copyrighted as a collective work under Australian copyright laws and may not be reproduced without written authorisation. *Over 40 Nationalities living together The owner of the collective work is the Coober Pedy Regional SUBMISSIONS not received by Friday, prior to printing Times Newspaper. are unlikely to appear in that edition VISIT THE UNDERGROUND CHURCHES CROSSWORD UNDERGROUND MOTELS AND ACCOMMODATION AMAZING UNDERGROUND HOMES (at least 1500 people living underground) During Easter Coober Pedy holds its annual GEM TRADE SHOW and OPAL FESTIVAL PARADE While in town take an OPAL FIELDS tour - you’ll believe you’re on Mars. Take a tour to the natural landscapes outside the town (see film locations like Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome and Red Planet) including the PAINTED DESERT, the colourful BREAKAWAYS and the MOON PLAIN Join the MAIL RUN out of Coober Pedy to deliver outback mail! Take a leisurely flight over the spectacular LAKE EYRE Page 2 Coober Pedy Regional Times Thursday 19 May 2016 DistrictDistrict CouncilCouncil ofof CooberCoober PPededyy Keeping the community informed On the 21 April I attended the Family Day at the School, On the 4 May I met with the community members concert 1. The Renewable Hybrid Project it was a great day with a big turnout in the School Gym at 4pm in council chambers and had a follow up progress and Oval. Congratulations to the organisers exhibitors meeting for the Great Breakaways Marathon. Later that The agreement was signed by all parties in April 2016. and MC Matt Key for a very successful event followed evening I had the pleasure to present Volunteer Thank Energy Developments and a representative from by a free screening at the Drive In on Thursday night. you support certificate to SES / Mines Rescue. the Department of State Development will be in Live music was provided by George Pavlidis, David On the 6 May I was interviewed by Karma from the ABC Coober Pedy for a McCormack and Theo Poulis. Once again about the The Great Breakaways Marathon. congratulations to the organisers and exhibitors for a PUBLIC INFORMATION NIGHT very successful event! On the 10 May we had a meeting with Anthony Genovese on Wednesday 25th May 2016 from the Local Government Risk Services followed by at 6PM at the Greek Club on On the 25 April, The ANZAC Day Dawn Service was an Interview with French Documentary and later a St Nicholas Street.