GMCASA - What is it?
The acronym GMCASA stands for the “Gem & Mineral Clubs Association of South Australia” an organization consisting of all the Gem & Mineral Clubs, Detecting Clubs and Gold or Treasure Hunters Clubs in South Australia with the inclusion of Broken Hill and Mildura.
In 1972 six Clubs – AGMC, NDGC, WREI (Now DRCI), SR and YPGMC, and from the border in Victoria, Sunraysia, got together and staged GEMBOREE 1972 at Tanunda.
At the close of that GEMBOREE these six clubs decided to form a State Association – namely GMCASA, which has expanded as more Gem & Mineral Clubs and now Detecting Clubs have been formed in South Australia. GMCASA now has a Membership of 18 Clubs.
The purpose of the Association is to foster the Lapidary and Allied Arts and Crafts and Sciences; to get all Clubs under a common ‘Code of Ethics’ to protect flora, fauna, native arts and natural monuments. Another function is to watch and monitor legislation as it relates to Clubs and to maintain good public relationships with State and Local Authorities, Landowners and the general public.
Another important factor is the standardization of competition rules and judging throughout Australia. This means that no matter where or at what level of competition one is at, the rules will be exactly the same and judging will be standard.
GMCASA is a Foundation Member of AFLACA (the Australian Federation of Lapidary & Allied Crafts Associations) and through that organization maintains full contact and liaison with all Interstate and National affiliated and/or associated organizations. GMCASA, through a sub committee, co-ordinates the Clubs efforts in staging the National Gem & Mineral Show – GEMBOREE, currently held in SA every 5 years and we invite everyone to join us in Murray Bridge for Easter GEMBOREE in 2013.
