Entertainment
5 November, 2026
Gem club shines for families
A CLUB with a glittering history is drawing more families as people seek more connections.
Innisfail Gem and Allied Craft Club president Sebastian Torrisi, who has been a member for 15 years and president for three, said the club was welcoming and growing.
“I have quite a few family members of all ages involved and three families joined up on the day (annual Gem Fest), which is what the club is all about,” he said.
“I find gemstones very therapeutic. Our club is super friendly, we have great camaraderie and provide a safe environment for socialising, sharing and learning.”
Operating from the Innisfail Cultural Complex at 6 River Avenue for more than 30 years, the club now has around 70 members aged 11 to 84, with new members welcome from age 15-plus (younger members must be accompanied by an adult). Annual membership costs $35 for individuals and $40 for families, providing access to equipment and expertise.
The clubhouse is open Thursdays and Saturdays from 10am to 5pm, with a $6 workshop fee covering consumables, machine use and instruction.
Members learn skills, including slabbing, cabbing, tumbling, faceting, silversmithing and jewellery making.
Monthly open days invite the public to meet members and see the workshop in action.
A record crowd of about 1000 people attended the club’s annual Gem Fest in August. It was the largest in the event’s 20‑year history and a major fundraiser for the club.
With 45 stallholders, live entertainment and hands‑on fossicking, the festival cemented its place as one of the region’s most vibrant community events.
Visitors browsed an impressive range of precious and semi‑precious gemstones, rocks, jewellery, allied crafts and lapidary supplies. Stallholders travelled from Townsville, Tolga, south‑east Queensland and even Tasmania, joining strong local representation.
One of the most popular attractions was the river‑sand fossicking pit, where adults and children eagerly sifted through sand to uncover agates, moonstones, garnets, topaz and crystals.
For more information, phone 0489 215 456, email innisfailgemclub0@gmail.com, or visit the club’s Facebook page.
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