Was my first time going to the event and it was a great day.
Great to catch up with everyone from the forum Tone, Grahame, Simon. I was hoping to catch up with some new folk to Cairns but they didn't show.
Caught up with George from NQ Miners Den who has a stand at the event every year.
Met some new friends today too Kim Hillier from TurboPan and Warren and Coleen from NQ Explorers.
Joined the the NQ Miners Association as an Associate.
Entered 4 events but struck out in each.
I was robbed, robbed I tells ya, in the Novice event as I cleaned the bucket out and found all 5 nuggies in just over 4 minutes but lost three of them somehow when picking them up out of the pan to put them in the vial, I think I swallowed them, how embarassment. :8
Heres some photos of the day for those who couldn't make it and our interstate and overseas members:
The stalls selling an eclectic mix of goodies:
How they tell the weather up in FNQ:
Georges stand representing Minelab and Garrett two of the major sponsors of the event:
Someone brought along a rocker / sluice with the ladel:
Kevin Hillier making it look easy with the Turbopan demonstration:
Georges stand had a regular stream of punters through it:
Warren from NQ Explorers showing how its done:
One of the timed events in full swing each event only lasts 10 minutes:
The mens and womens perpetual Gold Panning Trophies with the past winners names engraved on them:
Warren and Graeme having a chat over at Georges stand:
Heres the main Raffle prizes worth thousands created with Donated Gold from the members of the FNQ Miners Association and made by one of the retired miners:
Tone at the back waving to someone in the crowd, Simon in the middle:
Heres George handing out Prizes to some of the Winners:
Gratuitous Gold shots of the gold I won
