Word search Coober Pedy News Vol 3 No 3, September 2, 2009

Page 1

Opals set to shine with new grading technology
From a CSIRO press release 31 August

CSIRO and a consortium of Australian Opal miners (Opal Producers Australia Limited) have unveiled the world's first automated device to grade opals using image
analysis, at the 2009 National Council of Jewellery Valuers forum in Sydney.
CSIRO Mathematical and Information Sciences image analyst Leanne Bischof helped
develop the Gemmological Digital Analyser (GDA).
She said that opals have a unique range of colour characteristics that makes them by far the most difficult gemstone to appraise.
"Qualities such as 'flash', the way an opal reflects light and colour as it is rotated, can vary with human eyesight and lighting conditions."
"A person's judgment of an opal's colours, the brightness of those colours and the area each of them covers is a really difficult task, even for a skilled opal assessor. You really need objective image analysis and automation to assist with that."
Incorporating the expert knowledge of over 60 opal industry professionals, CSIRO
designed a GDA prototype with Australian company Applied Robotics.
CSIRO then developed the complex mathematical algorithms to drive the image analysis system behind the GDA.
A small camera inside the GDA takes 871 images of the stone as it rotates on a stage which moves 360 degrees horizontally and tilts 90 degrees vertically.
High powered computers linked to the GDA analyse the images and quantify the opal's gemmological characteristics, providing a classification grade based on colour,
clarity, carat, cut and character and a summary graph showing proportions of the opal's colours
A database of information on the GDA graded opals will allow participating jewellers
and industry organisations to accurately assign a dollar value to a particular grade of stone depending on the daily market price.
Director of Opal Producers Australia Limited and Lightning Ridge Opal miner Peter
Sutton said the value of the Australian opal industry is estimated to be worth around $50 million a year, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
"We suspect this figure is grossly underestimated because valuations for a single stone can sometimes vary by thousands of dollars," Mr Sutton said.
The demand and trade for other Australian commodities like wheat, coal and gold have benefited from the introduction of an independent grading system, ensuring fair
prices for producers and the supply of a consistent quality product to customers.
"We wanted to create an objective grading system that would improve the demand for
and value of the Australian Opal industry, giving miners a fair price and consumer's
confidence to trade with grade quality assurance," Mr Sutton said.
"This will be an independently-graded Australian opal product, which we will brand
as Opallia."

OPAL director Peter Sutton and CSIRO's Leanne Bischof with the Gemmological Digital Analyser (GDA)

A suction pump holds an opal in place on the stage inside the Gemmological Digital Analyser (GDA)

Image credits – Chris Taylor 

Page 2 Coober Pedy News     2 September 2009

SA Pharmacist of the Year   
Irfan Hashmi, with his wife Sobia, owner of four pharmacies in country SA, has won this year's prize as South Australia's Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) Pharmacist of the Year. 
The Hashmi's pharmacies are in Port Pirie, Coober Pedy, Orroroo and Quorn. All of the pharmacies were opened within the last two years - Orroroo and Quorn did not have pharmacies before then. Coober Pedy has been without a pharmacy for many years. The PSA award celebrates and rewards excellence in pharmacy. 
The Coober Pedy pharmacy in Hutchison Street

Contact Details

Phone  +61 8 8672 5840

Mobile Phone 0427 815 561

P.O. Box 533,  Coober Pedy,  South Australia 5723                   Lot 1949 Cnr Flat Hill Road & Stuart Highway Coober Pedy

news@cooberpedynews.com.au

Editor: Gary D. Atkins

Skype - opalminer@webopal.com

Page 3 Coober Pedy News   9 September 2009

Greyhound Bus Terminal Re-location Saga Drags On

As the evening Greyhound bus passengers disembark from the coach, with the engine running, at Lot 100 Hutchison Street, DCCP CEO Trevor McLeod makes a note of the sound level as recorded by Council employee Grant Maxwell, watched on by Michael Nance.

At the DCCP Development Assessment Panel meeting on 24 August the panel passed a motion "that Council's Building Surveyor inform the Commissioner of the ERD court at the Mediation Hearing on the 31st August 2009 that Mr M Nance has now satisfied the concerns of the Development Assessment Panel with respect to the proposed development of a bus stop at Lot 100 Hutchison St subject to the following conditions:
1. The coach drivers enter the subject land from the Northern invert
and depart via the Southern invert across St Nicholas St and via
the proposed new entry into the Council carpark.
2. The Applicant bear the cost of constructing a bus only entry
to the northern side of the Council carpark abutting St Nicholas
Street.
3. Coach drivers to be instructed to park in front of the existing canopy
and turn off the coach while stationary.
4. The applicant, his staff, and drivers make every endeavour to limit
the noise generated by carrying out the business of operating a bus
stop at lot 100 Hutchison St.
5. All paved areas are to be properly maintained and kept in good
repair at all times.
6. Areas set aside for parking shall be line marked and the lines so
marked shall be maintained in a clear and legible condition at all
times.
7. A plan depicting the parking of vehicles on the subject land be
lodged, for the approval by Councils Development Officer, within
two months from the date of the consent."

The ERD meeting on 31 August was adjourned at the request of Mr Nance.

Page 4 Coober Pedy News    2 September 2009

New Faces in Town

Hello from Pastor Alan Walker Tuionetoa and my wife Iolani of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church. 
We now live in Coober Pedy, arriving from Sydney on 12 August to start a full time ministry for the SDA church.
The services will be held on Saturdays from 10am to 12, at the Lions Club on Seventeen-Mile Road.
We are going to the Umoona Aged Care Centre every Friday evening from 6 to 7 for Singalong.
Prior to four years study at the SDA Bible College at Evandale near Sydney Ps Alan worked for 15 years in the building industry; Iolani worked for 10 years in hospitality.
We can be contacted on Mobile 0404 472 796 or at home on 8672 3274.

On yer bike Andy

Andrew Atkins about to set off from his brother Ben’s home, on a bike ride to Marree via William Creek

Andrew Atkins, on holiday from Tasmania, paid a visit to his brother Ben recently. Then he set off on a bike ride to Marree via William Creek. He has cycled in North and South America and South-east Asia and enjoys the solitude, albeit the going is 'a bit hard' sometimes.

Page 5 Coober Pedy News    2 September 2009

Tidbits

The DCCP Development Assessment Panel meeting on 24 August had been rescheduled to coincide with a visit by Grant Riches (Council's Building Surveyor).
It was scheduled for 5.15pm. 
At 5.20pm there were five members of the public present and only two panel members.
With the arrival at 5.30 of Cr Boro Rapaic the meeting was declared open, with apologies from Crs. Staines and Athanasiadis.
The first matter was decided quickly. Mr Riches said he has file photos of around 2006 - before the fire on the property in Flinders Street - so he knows that the structure already in place is not a replacement and therefore needs development approval.
Approval was refused.

On the matter of the re-location of the Greyhound bus terminal, DCCP CEO Trevor McLeod said Mr Nance had chosen not to engage professional help regarding the measurement of bus engine noise levels. Instead he had provided technical information from the CSIRO concerning noise levels that occur beyond 300mm thick rammed earth structures.
Noise levels had been recorded in the evening, while the bus engine was running, at the side of the bus, and in St Nicholas Street, and inside the Mud Hut premises. Kath Mitchell was present at the Mud Hut site noise level recordings. The instrument used gave a guide only.
Trevor McLeod, Kath Mitchell and Michael Nance had agreed that Greyhound should educate their drivers to educate passengers not to be rowdy on embarkation.
Senior Sergeant Greg Burns had been consulted re egress of the bus from Lot 100 Hutchison Street into St Nicholas Street.
Council's insurers had been consulted re the passage of the bus onto Hutchison Street via the Council car park.
Chair Steve Baines said this business 'has gone on long enough.'
He suggested Council and Mr Nance share the approximate cost of $3,000 for infrastructure needed.
Cr Woon said he couldn't agree to a shared expense.
Grant Riches said that he has already sent t letter to the Opal Inn requiring them to cease allowing Greyhound to use their car park and this will take effect in about six weeks time.
Chair Steve Baines moved the recommendation (details on page 3).

More Race Pics

Above: Brandon Duffin from Melbourne.
Right - Top: Gail Dodd - Lyndhurst, Sharon Nunn - Leigh Creek, Jackie Dadleh - Leigh Creek, Nathan Prosser - Marree
Middle -
Rochelle Crombie, Kinney Williams, Pamela Dodd, Leekeshia Kelly, Beverly Duffin-Dodd, Renae Dodd
Above: John Hobbs - Pt Broughton, Trevor Williams - Nilpena, Brendan Nagle, Nilpena (from Ireland), Omar Farkas - Hamilton Station

Page 6 Coober Pedy News    2 September 2009

Local ASX Mining Company SharewatchWDFL Grand Final 6th Sept

2009 MAIL MEDAL WON BY DANIEL ROGERS
(http://countryfooty.com.au/Woomera.htm)

This year’s Mail Medalist is Daniel Rogers from Olympic Dam on 30 points.

Tied runner up Scott Montgomerie of Olympic Dam and Damien Smith of Hornridge on 22 points.
Under 21 winner was Cody Kenny of Roxby Dists on 21 points
Leading goal kicker Scott Montgomerie from Olympic Dam on 34 goals
Golden Whistle award went to Andrew Fyfe
Umpires encouragement award Shaun King

WOOMERA & DISTRICTS FOOTBALL CLUB INC
PRELIM FINAL 29th August 2009
Roxby Districts 9 - 10, 64 def Hornridge 8 - 9, 57.

Best players for Roxby: C Kenny, L Devlin, J Roberts, T Roberts, S Finey.
Goals: S Finey, J Watson 2; J Telfer, B Wray, R Prosser, I Mc Bey 1.

Best players for Hornridge: D Smith, R Price, T Price, A Howie, W Giles.
Goals: D Johnson, W Giles 2; J Coulthard, W Moroney, R Briggs, D Smith 1. 

Next Saturday is the grand final between Olympic Dam and Roxby at 2pm.
Junior games under 10's at 8.15am Junior Colts 9.45 am and Senior Colts 11.30am
Presentations are after each game.

Scripture

Jeremiah chapter 22 verse 12: Doomed is the man who builds his house by injustice and enlarges it by dishonesty; who makes his countrymen work for nothing and does not pay their wages. 

Page 7 Coober Pedy News    2 September 2009

Coober Pedy, 2009 Champions of the Far North Junior Sports League. Back: Luke Kenny, Garry Orvad
R3: Pamela Duffin-Dodd, Kinney Williams, Dylan Orvad, Brandon Lennon, Robert O'Toole, Jarrod Williams
R2: Damon Bamford, Peter Kyrtzaliotis, Keithy O'Toole, Arthur Kyrtzaliotis, Tim Underwood, Francis Lennon, Dylan Roesch, Patrick Carmody-ParrotR1: Patricia Brown, Shirley Brown, Robert Brown, Bevan O'Toole
Front: Captain Roy Murray, B&F winner Stephen Chamberlain

Runners-up - OodnadattaYouse all make sure you shake hands now!

Best and Fairest winner Stephen Chaimberlain wind the football donated by Bob Hamblyn

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