Certification Test

Attention to all interested in taking the Certification test for obtaining certificates of authenticity through the Opal Association website.

Paul Sedawie will be present at the Lightning Ridge Opal Show for the entire week.

Kindly contact Paul for an appointment to take the practical test, [email protected] or 0407 577 545.

We have attached the written test to this email. Please complete it and bring a printed copy with your answers to the practical test for marking. We have also included a study guide to help you prepare for the questions.

AGM

We are pleased to announce that the Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held during the Gold Coast Opal Show on August 3rd at 7 am. Join us at Southport Sharks, located at Olsen and Musgrave Avenue, Southport, QLD.

Nominations are now open for the following positions:

• President
• Vice President
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Public Officer

If you wish to stand for any of these roles, please submit your written nominations accordingly.

Membership Renewals are now due for 23/24

Please access your Member Area to proceed. Once there, scroll to the bottom of the page where you can renew your membership effortlessly. Upon renewal, your access will be automatically updated, granting you the latest Membership Certificate. Additionally, for those who have successfully passed the certification test, you will gain the privilege to create certificates of authenticity.

Link below

Member Login

Dear Opal Association Members,

We are excited to announce that the Certification test is now available to all financial members who reside in Australia and are able to travel to one of the local shows to take the practical test with a certified committee member. The following shows have been confirmed:

• Winton Opal Festival: 7th & 8th July 2023 (https://qboa.com.au/?page_id=517)
• Yowah Opal Festival: 15-17 July TBC (https://www.yowahfestival.com/)
• Lightning Ridge Opal Festival: 26th to 29st July (https://lightningridgeopalfestival.com.au/)
• Gold Coast Australian Opal Exhibition (Trade only): 2nd and 3rd August (https://www.austopalexpo.com.au/)

We have attached the written test to this email. Please complete it and bring a printed copy with your answers to the practical test for marking. We have also included a study guide to help you prepare for the questions.

To make an appointment for the practical test, please contact Paul at [email protected] or 0407 577 545.

We are thrilled to offer this certification test free of charge to our members and look forward to seeing many certified association members in the future.

Happy studying!

Best regards, Opal Association

Disclaimer Note We forward all emails received for the Opal association to all members as a matter of course. This does not mean we support or endorse the product /message and suggest members do their own due diligence and checking.

Opal Association committee Meeting minutes

Date 22/03/2023

25A Surfer ave Mermaid Beach QLD 4218

The meeting was opened by Paul Sedawie @ 10am

IN ATTENDANCE

Paul Sedawie, Wayne Sedawie, Sally Patel, Natassa Patel, Patrik Ujszaszi, Chris Gawthorpe, John Hamilton, Ross Sedawie, Ted Hamilton

Items discussed.

1.            Paul is planning on resigning his Presidency at the end of the financial year and would like to get the test organised and implemented before he resigns.

This is the first time an association is offering a test to enable members to issue Certificate of Authenticity’s

2.            Paul is volunteering his time to travel to the gem shows to offer and supervise the test for interested members

Motion by Paul Sedawie to pass the following regarding the Certification Test

The following items were discussed regarding the certification test:

• There will be a written and practical exam to be passed with at least 80% accuracy.
• Committee members are to be Certified by the end of April to enable them to offer the test to members at various locations
• Ted suggested for a booklet to be printed with all the references/information needed to be to study to take the test, Natassa will organise this.
• The practical exam will have to be taken in person.
• The written exam can be done with open book and presented to the committee member taking the test that day for marking.
• The association will offer this test free of charge.
• The certificate of Authenticity will show.

-probable location of opal origin

-solid, doublet, triplet, synthetic

-type of opal

-weight with 2 decimal points

-photo of opal

-rough, solid, assembled

-there will be NO N rating

-only black opal, dark opal , white opal or crystal opal

-Brightness – Vivid, very bright, bright, dull, subdued.

• Basic membership can issue 100 Certificates.

Medium membership can issue 500 Certificates.

Export Membership can issue unlimited Certificates.

• A standard set of stones will be put together by Natassa and Paul for the test.
• Stone must be in hand to be Certified.
• The Certificate is for the Opal only not Jewellery , if the stone is set in Bezel it has to be removed to be Certified
• Any type of Opal can be certified except Fossils.
• The test is to be revised when the new classification is passed by CIBJO.

Passed Natassa Patel

Motion by Paul Sedawie

for Ross Sedawie to upgrade the Website by Mid-May to allow for Certificates to be Issued through the site by Members that have passed the Certification Test.

Second Wayne Sedawie

• Expressions of interest in taking the test to issue Certificates to email Paul Sedawie @ [email protected]

Meeting closed by Paul Sedawie

11am