ISSN 1833-1831 Tel: 08 8672 5920 http://cooberpedyregionaltimes.wordpress.com Thursday 4 June 2015 “FOCUS ON OUR CORE STRENGTH - OPAL AND TOURISM” SAYS MAYOR The 2015 Far North SA Economic Forum took place in the Conference Room of Desert Cave Hotel on Tuesday 26th May. Mayor Stephen Staines opened the event with an authoritative speech that drew attention to the continuing importance of the opal industry for Coober Pedy. He talked about Far North SA and the State of South Australia “riding the wave of optimism” that large scale mineral mining had brought to the region but now, Coober Pedy had to “get back to basics and focus on our fundamental strengths, opal and tourism.” The Mayor spoke of the opal industry’s strengths such as: - In 1985, opal was adopted as the Gemstone Emblem of South Australia; - In 1995, opal took the mantle as the National Gemstone of Australia; - Australia continues to supply a staggering 95 per cent of the world’s natural gem quality opals; - The highest quality precious opal ranks with diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires as the world’s top five most valuable gemstones; - The state's three major opal fields - Coober Pedy, Mintabie, and Andamooka – are all located in Far North South Australia – and the opal from these fields continues to supply an estimated 80% of total world production. Yanni and Christo Pantelis gave a presentation on the transformation of the former Ampol Roadhouse, now Shell His speech implied that, despite our advantages over other opal producing countries, Australia does not capitalise on “Opal mining is an intriguing part of the mining sector Once again, the local businesses at the event were by far our strengths very well. and has a special place in Australian history. That fact the most engaging and relevant. Christo and Yanni Pantelis alone should be sufficient to ensure that the industry is gave a presentation on the history of Ampol Roadhouse preserved and cherished by this state and this country,” and it's transition from an ordinary service station in 2008 Mayor Staines explained. to the impressive world-class dining establishment it is today. “Opal and tourism in Coober Pedy are inextricably linked. In 2008 a full renovation and upgrade began on the Shell They exist in a symbiotic relationship. Without opal mining, - Coober Pedy. tourism in Coober Pedy loses its authenticity, its realness, its character, and becomes, in my opinion, a little tacky,” "In the past few years we have been known as Caltex Coober he said. Pedy and now Shell Coober Pedy," Chris explained, "but to the locals, we'll always be Ampol," he said. Mayor Staines drew the audience’s attention to the fact that, in 2015, Coober Pedy not only celebrates its100th Since 2008, all components of the petrol station have been birthday but also the 50th birthday of our hospital, our replaced and offer visitors and locals alike a fun and first police station, our first underground church as well relaxing atmosphere to visit and escape the heat. The as our drive-in. “1965 was indeed a boom year!” he renovation included a full new fit out of the petrol station explained, “and that boom was driven not by anything as well as the main attraction, the adjoining Coober Pedy else other than increased opal production.” Outback Bar and Grill. The mini-bar and beer garden is inspired by the small bar revolution that has taken place “Our town’s very existence is a monument to sacrifice, Adelaide over recent years. It offers modern inside and to independence, to hard work, to helping others when outside areas perfect for meeting up with friends to be their luck is down, to using what we have - not what entertained. The Coober Pedy Outback Bar and Grill is we’d like to have - to overcome the odds and, above all the perfect place for self-driver’s to fill up the car with else, a belief in ourselves and in our future. If we continue petrol and enjoy a nice meal and atmosphere. to live by these values, we will continue to overcome the odds, and grow and prosper.” The other local presenter was Colin Northway from IGA Coober Pedy. Tim Carter and family of IGA have invested After the event, the Coober Pedy Regional Times asked a huge amount of time and money into improving and Mayor Staines why his speech focused on the opal industry. expanding the old Lucas' Supermaket in Hutchison St. “I received a copy of the program in advance,” he explained In May earlier this year at Adelaide Convention Centre, “and noticed that a speaker on opal was conspicuously Coober Pedy IGA Fresh was awarded the IGA Fresh absent so I tailored my speech to address this oversight. Produce Department of the Year Winner 2015. This Opal and tourism are our strengths and that is what I prestigious award is given in recognition of range, variety, think we should focus on from an economic development housekeeping, customer satisfaction and excellence within Mayor Stephen Staines at the RDA’s 2015 Far perspective in the immediate future. That is not to say we the Fruit and Vegetable Department. As part of this award North Economic Development Forum do not keep our eyes open for other opportunities. But Coober Pedy IGA Fresh went on to be Voted 2015 SA addressing an audience of around 30 visitors until we either create those opportunities ourselves or they IGA Retail Store of the Year! They now automatically are presented to us from elsewhere, we need to focus on qualify for the National awards to be held in in Queensland our core strengths,” he said. in July. GO COOBER PEDY! (More on IGA inside) SERVING THE OPAL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD SINCE 1982 7 DAYS WEATHER Cold 7c - 20c - Coober Pedy - Editor - Margaret Mackay Coober Pedy Oodnadatta Tarcoola Andamooka an underground town, built PO Box 275 Coober Pedy SA 5723 on the back of opal mining Ph: (08) 8672 5920 333 days sunshine Email: [email protected] Coober Pedy is Australia’s real ‘Down Under’, famous for its fabulous opals and bizarre Next Newspapers subterranean homes. For generations, miners have dug into the white and orange rock to extract Thursday 18 June 2015 the valuable, sparkling stone. The tunnels and Thursday 02 July 2015 chambers were converted into undergrounds Thursday 16 July 2015 homes in order to escape from the desert heat. Thursday 30 July 2015 Coober Pedy ‘evolved’ as the result of a massive post war Opal Rush where hardy pioneers developed a make or break precious Advertising Rates gem industry in the desert terrain. Black & White Display $6.50 per cm/col Classified $8.00 per cm/col Colour on Application Inserts on Application Bookings by Wednesday prior Material must be in Fri prior Opal miners at work in Coober Pedy DISTRIBUTING 4,500 + to See the spacious UNDERGROUND SA : ADELAIDE CENTRAL How to send articles SERBIAN CHURCH with it’s magnificent . Also Cavan, Bute, Pt. Pirie, Dublin, Minlaton, Pt. stained glass windows and carvings. Broughton, PT. AUGUSTA, Snowtown, Pt. Wakefield, to CPRT Visitors can stay overnight and * Bute Foodworks 9 High St, Bute, SA * Snowtown IGA 36 Railway Tce, The Coober Pedy Regional Times - “Your Outback Communities Newspaper”, became experience underground life as the locals do! * Port Broughton IGA 27 Harvey St a FREE Newspaper in 2006, increasing its distribution to 4,500 hard copies + digital * Dublin BP Lot 7 Port Wakefield Rd, online download, promoting news, events and distributing advertising to our regional Enjoy LAWN BOWLS, TENNIS and * Port Wakefield BP Truckstop towns. The CPRT is a small business and receives no external funding. TABLE TENNIS in the friendly atmosphere 22 Snowtown Rd Port Wakefield of the United Club Sporting Centre. A feature of the newspaper’s long history is that it maintains its prominence in the Ceduna/Thevenard, Pt. Lincoln, Penong, Fowlers Bay, region as a voice for the people; a regular form of communicating opinions for those Coorabie, Nundroo, Yalata, Jacinth Ambrosia, Nullabor, in remote areas who may otherwise be overlooked or underestimated. Spend a day on the most challenging Eucla and Border Village GOLF COURSE in the world. Woomera, Roxby Downs, Hawker, Leigh Creek, Arkaroola, Letters to Editor should be sent by email where possible and be relevent to the Marree, Copley, Parachilna, Nepabunna, Lyndhurst Quorn community. During Easter Coober Pedy holds its and Stations, Innamincka, Andamooka, Pimba, Glendambo, annual OPAL FESTIVAL & GEM TRADE Kingoonya, Tarcoola, Cook, Prominent Hill Village, SHOW COOBER PEDY, Cadney Park and Stations, Marla, 1.) Aim for a 300 word story in plain text, if you are sending a News Mintabie, Oodnadatta, William Creek and Stations, Witjira - Article after an event. Arrive at COOBER PEDY on the Dalhousie All Communities: APY Lands, 2. If seeking an Editorial - “Advertorial” or “Special Feature”, please famous GHAN TRAIN enquire about the cost first. NT : Kulgera, Erldunda, Yulara Stuart Well, ALICE Visit the OPAL FIELDS - you’ll SPRINGS, Aileron, Kings Canyon, Tennant Creek, 3.) Advertisers may be entitled to editorials 4.) Sponsorship for material from clubs or community programs is by believe you’re on Mars. Join tours to local http://cooberpedyregionaltimes.wordpress.com mines to see how they work and get the arrangement chance to noodle (fossick) for your own opal Copyright Notice 5.) Names and Captions must accompany photos + DO NOT All of the content published by CPRT, including REDUCE PHOTOS Take a tour to the natural landscapes articles, photos, images, graphics, advertising, 6.) 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