OPAL MINERS are crazed by the infection of feminine beauty that is the object of their pursuit, the ‘Queen of Gems‘ passionately drives their foolhardiness!
Queensland Miners (1988 to present)
Black Dragon
Bob & Branko
‘Tesla’ Cindric
Jarra RIP
Col Duff
Gidgee Bill RIP
Jerry Doktor & Branko Priebevich
Elisabeth Delarue tunneling
Wally ‘Wombat’ Lineck RIP
‘Tarzan’ Antic
Kerry Jackson
Joe Kanny
James Hinds
Lilo & Meryl
Peter Christianos
Steve Ballard at ‘Lina Glen’ Jundah 1991
Joe Taranto in Opal Creek
‘Silky’ or ‘Jundah’ Joe RIP
‘Fearless’ Frank Tyne playing in PJ’s @ Lina Glen 1993.
‘The Balkans Club’ Milenko Kaljevic, Monty Negovanovic & Big Marko Uzelac, at the Tatts Hotel Winton April 2009.
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Coober Pedy & Andamooka (late 1950’s on)
Jim Megalos, Lenny Butts & Peter Christianos 1970
George & Zoe Christianos c.1958
Andamooka – the bare essentials!
Greg Sherman and American David Caplan inspecting thousands of ounces of Spencer Dunstan’s Opal in 1962.
Oldtimers Hut Andamooka
Jago Jozic preparing gelignite sticks
Zoe’s yard
John & George Doumtzis
Harry spent 13 years hunting crocs before trying his luck in Coober Pedy where he resided in his famous cave until his passing in 2006. The real deal Opal Dundee!
Ken Male of Coober Pedy with BT a Mintabie girl & tour guide & Trevor Richter Miner from Mintabie
Ray Rhiney pegging on old Mintabie airstrip – Claim No.51. The last release of the airstrip & no opal there *#@^!!!
Ross Christianos, Bill Antoniades & author P.Vin Wake
Farid Khan(right) & Abdullah Chan, Opal Hotel Coober Pedy ca.1972, photograph by Bruce Howard
Margret Mackay editor of ‘Coober Pedy Regional Times’ tumbling 14 mile find with partners Steve & Jimmy Efstradiou
Tony Nicolitsi aka ‘Beethoven’ – champagne for one!?
Buying on the fields – Jocks Club Inc. or ‘Grasshoppers’ as they were better known.
Nick Macris & Anthony Maras
Con ‘Atlas’ Kyros & Beethoven with noodlers in the cut!
‘Groover’ Peter Damianos entertaining the ‘Grasshoppers’ camp at Mintabie circa 1976.
‘Gorgeous’ George Vinall & Nikola Stupar (RIP) at the Tatts July 2009.
Vlado Prpic delivers an empassioned speech on the challenges of mining for Opal in Queensland at the 2009 National Opal Symposium in Winton.
Stanko @ The Australian Hotel Winton May2010 RIP February 2012.
Freddy Salkanovic Outback Gourmet!
Tony Christianos, Richard McConnville & Peter Christianos Jnr.
Nikola ‘Picin Dimm’ or ‘Pussy Smoke’ RIP
Chuck another snag on the barby!
‘Carpooling’ to the Opalfields in the late fiftiesJohn Benny Snr mining at Coober Pedy in 1969The young Benny family enjoy noodling with a local Aboriginal familyLeft to Right: John Bernard, Diana Benny & Ron Benny
Opal mining has long attracted eccentric individuals. The baffling nature of Opal occurence captivates their creative genius and the harsh beauty of the Australian outback sustains them in their quest!!!
LIGHTNING RIDGE Miners (1900’s On)
Digger’s Rest Hotel, ca.1972, photograph by Bruce Howard
Stephen & Mary Aracic, 2009. Author of ‘Determined’ first mined at Lightning Ridge in 1965 and still mines today!
Len Cram in Winton 2009.
Sources and Image Credits:
B.5) OPAL MEN, P. Vin Wake, 1969.
B.18) ‘Carpooling’ to Coober Pedy in the fifties. Photo courtesy of Stella Samaras
B.17) Zoe’s yard. Photo courtesy of Stella Samaras
B.12) Farid Khan(right) & Abdullah Chan, Opal Hotel Coober Pedy ca.1972, photograph by Bruce Howard used with permission by the artist, taken form Australian Pubs Collection, nla.pic-vn4361734 the National Library of Australia
C.1) Opal Miner at his campsite, Lightning Ridge, 1911. B & W Photograph by E.C.Kempe. nla.pic-vn3801038 used with permission from the National Library of Australia
C.2) Digger’s Rest Hotel, ca.1972, photograph by Bruce Howard, taken form Australian Pubs Collection, nla.pic-vn4361361 used with permission from the artist.
