Lapidary and Gem Club celebrates 50 birthday

THE Alexandra and Eildon District Lapidary and Gem Club celebrated its 50th anniversary at their clubhouse on Tuesday, April 23.

The club started on July 23, 1974, when a meeting was held at the Thornton Hall. Sixteen people were in attendance.

All agreed that a Lapidary Club be formed and called the Alexandra, Eildon and District Lapidary Club.

Roy Heap was nominated as the inaugural president but declined until a later date.

He was however installed as vice president with Mr Parsons nominated as chair.

The other office bearers were secretary Mr Mintern, assistant secretary Mr Hillman, treasurer Mr Craig, and junior vice presidents Mr Walker and Mrs Polderman.

Meetings were held at the Thornton Hall until September 23, 1975.

From October 28, 1975, the club moved to the Alexandra Car Club rooms in Alexandra.

The rooms were formerly the office for Clark and Pearce, and then the ROAK mill office.

In 1980, a meeting was arranged between the Lapidary Club and Car Club to clarify the club’s position of tenure.

After negotiations between the two clubs, in 1981, a letter from the Car Club officially handed the club rooms over to the Alexandra, Eildon and District Lapidary Club.

The Car Club stated that in the event of the lapidary club ever closing, the said building should be…..

Image: Members of the Alexandra Lapidary Club celebrating the organisation’s 50th birthday. Pictured are secretary David Kelly, treasurer Jo Timbury, Barry Coller, president Alan Webb, longest active member of the club David Creighton, Dan Pike, Judy Pike and Pat Coller.