Gemfields Festival underway this week!
Posted on August 8th, 2023
The Gemfields Festival is underway for 2023, with a fabulous line up of events spanning the week, celebrating this truly unique and wonderful part of the world.
On Wednesday 9th August, the Rubyvale Progress Association is hosted a Wine and Cheese night, featuring the incredible storytelling of Melbourne-based scientific photographer, Michelle McFarlane among other local artists.
Despite generally working with Universities, Hospitals and Laboratories detailing the latest research and medical breakthroughs and news through her art, Michelle turned her focus to the Gemfields during the COVID-19 pandemic, joining her father Bruce who was publican at the New Royal Hotel in Rubyvale.
During this time, Michelle captured the essence of the Gemfields via an electrical storm that emblazoned the sky, she worked with miners to photograph gems, and developed a love of the “up & over trucks”, the Gemfields “mobile wash plants” and “mobile mining rigs”.
Michelle has put together her experience of sapphire mining in a unique collection named Rusty Gems: A Photo Collection of Up & Over Mobile Wash Plants which will be on display at the Rubyvale Hall.
Michelle’s collections will join other talented local artists displays, making the Rubyvale Progress Association’s Wine and Cheese night a colourful and enjoyable night out.
The Gemfields Festival is a community celebration, welcoming locals, and visitors from far and wide to take part in a suite of exciting events.
From family fun days, high teas, fossicking, workshops, mine showcases, historic walks and much more, festivities stretch across the townships of Rubyvale, Sapphire, Anakie, and Willows Gemfields.
Appealing to everyone of all ages and abilities, check out the full program and start planning.
