Executive summary.
The Lapidary Club of Northern Tasmania inc has been active in Launceston for 53 years and has seen many changes.
The organisation is an incorporated not-for-profit entity, focused uoon geology, minerals, rock formations and related actIvities.
Interestingly over its life, the organisation has evolved from a relatively small group of like mined enthusiasts and 'hobbyists' into what can now be understood as a 'community enterprise'. As such, the current need to relocate brings into sharp focus all that the organisation has achieved so far and its potential as a community focused enterprising operation looking ahead.
The organisation's membership has very strong links Australia wide with similar like-minded people – collectors, makers, prospectors et al. Also, the membership has deep and ever expanding network linkages within Tasmania broadly and within the diversity of Northern Tasmania's diverse network of communities – social, cultural, business etc.
Due to the pending sale of organisation's current premises and the ongoing uncertainty of a suitable location that meet current needs and the aspirations of our members into the future. Therefore the organisation finds itself in need of support.
The following information illustrates the organisation's expanding activities and potential. The value of our membership to the wellbeing of the wider Launceston, indeed Northern Tasmanian community is increasingly clear against the background of the organisation's history and potential.
Core activities of the organisation include:
- The fossicking of stone and precious minerals in accordance with Tasmanian fossicking regulations for prospecting.
- The cutting, grinding, and the polishing of selected stones to highlight and reveal the brilliance of Tasmanian stones and geological transformation.
- The faceting of selected gemstones as an artform that spans centuries but currently is made more accessible with the introduction of the user friendly contemporary faceting and cutting equipment.
- The introductory fundamentals and construction of jewellery items that focus on Tasmanian semiprecious stones and gem material.
- The organisation offers a place of respect and acceptance for a wide variety of the Launceston and the wider Northern Tasmanian community and the diverse network communities – social, cultural, religious, academic, etc.
- In addition to the above activities the organisation provides it offers discussion forums and lectures, specialist workshops and classes for members and the wider community. It offers a background against which to plan social and cultural activities, citizen research as well as the evolving ways and means available to understand, treat and process various minerals and geological deposits in Tasmania.
Organisation's Profile
- Current Membership: 186
- Age Demographic: 10 years to 85 years – Majority in the senior age group.
- Membership Catchment: Northern Tasmania
- Income and finances: Savings and Investment A/C in the order of $18,000 plus
- Grant Pending $10,000 – First grant made available to the organisation to facilitate access for disabled people
- Estimated Replacement Value of Equipment: Currently being reassessed .. In the order of $120,000 plus
- Estimated Value of Tools and Stores: Currently being reassessed .. In the order of $20,000 plus
- Estimated Value of Mineral and Cutting Material: Inestimable and largely irrelevant . However it could be in the order of $60,000 plus
- In Overview: The organisation is a viable self sustaining operation with a demonstrable capacity to play a valuable role in a community context and with the capacity to grow and deliver diverse outcomes and and increased range of services to members and the wider community.
- Semiprecious Stone Lapidary – cutting cabochon gems , grinding , shaping & polishing
- Precious Stone Lapidary – gem faceting , grinding , shaping & polishing
- Jewellery & metalsmithing classes
- Lapidary classes and workshops for people seeking the skills
- Prospecting field trips seeking lapidary materials plus mineral and fossil deposits in Tasmania
- Community engagement with schools, individuals and recently the organisation has offered support for a number of at-risk students.
- Looking ahead, the publishing of material relevant to members interest, skills and qualifications – how-to videos, touring exhibitions (digital & real world0, just-in-time hardcopy books, scientific data, surveys, lifestyle publications , etc.
- Again looking ahead, the initiation of citizen science project, cultural residencies and various engagements with industry – jewellery manufacture and tourism.
Equipment Held
The image here is typical of the saws and cutting equipment used to process minerals and 'rocks' owned by the organisation. There are currently three large diamond saws and three smaller saws.
This equipment only requires a 240volt power supply.
Machine size is desk height and about 0.5 x 1.0m. Good room ventilation is required.
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO ENLARGE
Lapidary Equipment
Grinding and polishing equipment in an Ideal layout for general lapidary work to utilise collected materials cut into cabochons and other 'hard stone' items.
Single phase power supply and dedicated filtered water needs to be provided in these spaces. Access to plumbed in hot and cold water is also required.
The image below is indicative of a typical layout that would be suitable for organisation's needs.
The layout would change depending on the available space provided but would still require:
- A dedicated Saw Room;
- A general lapidary space for grinding and polishing hard stone material; and
- A dedicated workshop area for faceting and associated making processes;
- A meeting room, forum/lecture space and recreation facilities.
Many 'Men’s Sheds' have an adequate size shed and this could be an indicator for a starting point for our organisation's 'new home'.
The Rotary Community Men's Shed Kings Meadows is a good example of size and a purpose-built venue such as the LCNT inc. needs . Click here to access the Kings Meadows Men's Shed Face Book .
Looking ahead, it is increasingly clear that organisation will ideally need access to 'open space' adjacent to its workshop and meeting place the better enable the initiation of community events – exhibitions, market days, fetes & festivals, rallies, celebrations etc.
Please note that:
- The equipment mentioned here is not portable, thus adequate security is required;
- Collectively, the organisation's membership holds a significant collection of Tasmanian mineral material, scientific specimens (rare, exotic and otherwise), Tasmanian gemstones etc.;
- Collectively, the organisation's membership is significant resource relative to Tasmania's geology, minerology, natural histories plus holding a broad range of trade, professional and academic qualifications;
- Collectively, the organisation's membership individually owns lapidary and other equipment that complements that owned and maintained by the organisation;
- Increasingly disabled people are seeking to take advantage of the organisations facilities and its experience base membership and consequently the organisation will need to provide access to a disability toilet; and
- The organisation is, and has been, by-and-large self-sustaining even though it has not yet been able to acquire and own property. Nevertheless, to organisation is a significant community resource.
Please click on the image to enlarge
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