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ROD: You ready, Les?LES: Yeah. Good luck!

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I think we're going to need it, Sam!

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Yeah, well, that crack hasn't gotten any better.

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That's exactly where our roof has let go,

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so we've got about a metre of roof sitting on top of the props.

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This part of the old mine, it is no good.

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It is condemned. You hear me, Sam?

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Righto, mate. We're just about to move the digger up

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to get it into position, and, then, we'll start banging the props out.

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But I'll let you know before we move the props, OK?

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OK, great. Thanks.

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Sam is staying up the top to be our safety officer.

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If anything goes wrong, she knows what to do.

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I am quite nervous. It's a dangerous job they're doing.

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The roof is unsafe, but they've got to take the props out

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to actually move the digger out. And it's just not good.

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The digger is located about here, around this, around the road here.

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So, they need to walk it back from the drives

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and bring it all the way back to this hole, to bring it out.

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Fingers crossed because we need the digger back.

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If we don't have the digger, we can't go mining.

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Righto, Les.Up and at it.

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Jesus! So, I've got to stand here

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to give a bit of extra bloody weight,

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because all she wants to do is go forward. Whoa!

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Whoa, whoa, whoa!

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Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE
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Where we are at the moment is reasonably safe.

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Once we come into, up into here,

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that's where it's gonna get dangerous,

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once over there, it's gonna get super dangerous.

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If I bring the digger up here... Yeah?

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..back it in here, then I can walk it up here.Yeah.

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I reckon then we'll take these two props out.

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Oh, geez, it's gonna be tight, isn't it?It is.

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NARRATOR: In Grawin, the Bushmen, Rod Manning, Les Walsh and Sam Mehan

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have their $45,000 digger stranded

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beneath a roof on the verge of collapse

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in their last working claim.

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We know there's colour down there and, ah, we can do very well.

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But it's not worth dying for.

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We cannot work there any more.

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We've had to put new shafts down into the solid ground

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down the back of that claim.

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Dubbed Robbie's, the old-timers' mine

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extends under the main road into Grawin.

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The digger is stranded on the claim's eastern boundary,

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while Rod has paid $8,000 to have two new holes drilled

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on the western side.

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We gotta get that digger down that hole,

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so we have to, ah, bell out enough room

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to be able to rebuild the digger underground.

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We also don't have Sam for a long time.

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She's actually a contestant in the, ah, Opal Queen Ball

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at the, ah, Opal Festival in Lightning Ridge.

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The Opal Queen, it's an ambassador

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for the industry here at Lightning Ridge.

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The Opal Queen Ball is really important for the community.

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It's really cool to be able to showcase that women are

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part of this industry. It may come across as a male-dominated industry

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but it's a night to really celebrate the women

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that help make this town what it is.

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The last time I dressed up like this was my school formal 11 years ago.

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So, it's been a while, that's for sure!

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You know, early in the season, we set a target of 300 grand.

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And early in the season, I thought we might have been able to make it.

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We spent an awful lot of money

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putting those new holes down at Robbie's.

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We've got to make money, otherwise we're buggered.

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Problem is because we're going uphill,

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when I try to lift my arm up, she wants to tip forward.Yeah.

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The super-digger is hydraulically powered

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and uses its digging arm to move the two tonnes of solid steel.

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The machine is craned down a shaft in parts and assembled

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and must be moved back to a shaft to be disassembled.

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OK.

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Geez, there's not much bloody room, Les!

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Oooh!

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Bloody Nora!

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Haven't even got to the scary part yet, Les.

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No, and you're panicking already!

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See, it just puts it on such an angle.

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Don't let it tip!

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Got him?Yeah.

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All right. Now from here on in,

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we have to be so careful just not to hit the roof.

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Hey, Rod, how's it going?

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Yeah, we've just got into position where we're about to pull the props.

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This is where it's gonna get real serious.

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OK, great. Thank you. Be safe.

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This one's gotta come out.

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You put props in, you're putting upward pressure on your roof.

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So when you're taking them out, you're letting that roof sag a bit.

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Now because this roof has already cracked,

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taking this prop out is about as dangerous as it gets.

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You should never take props out.

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We go disturbing the roof too much, it is gonna come down.

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Just give the top a tap.

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Righto. Oooh, righto.

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All right. I'll take it up here.

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If we take that out, I can come back here again

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and just get a different line up, I'm going straight up through there.

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I don't want to take this prop out, I really don't. But...

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..I can't see there being any alternative, Les.

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Just take it slow, Les. That's all we - Just, just slowly, mate.

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Oh, Jesus!

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There's some bloody weight on that.

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What do we do?

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CODY: Holy dooley!

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What am I doing here?

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ISSY: Hey!G'day, ladies!

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Got some more for you.

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Cool. Just what I need. Bring it over.

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ANGEL: Got it. Oh!Just when I think I'm getting through it,

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it doubles in size. Holy dooley!

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The process of treating the stone after we've brought it back home

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and, ah, cleaned it up, it's complicated.

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We treat it for a period of time in a sugar-water solution.

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We then take it out of there and put it into a low-heat acid solution

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so that's the sulphuric acid.

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The host rock itself is carbonised, enhancing the colours

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and patterns that are already in that rock.

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The acid itself, that's the danger element of this whole thing.

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Acid of any type, especially sulphuric, you know,

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this is a very corrosive acid.

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How are you going with it all? Yeah, I'm getting there.

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I see you've got a fair bit.

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To be honest, between you and I, I'm not exactly sure

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how I'm gonna get it done in these. Like, look at this and look at this.

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There's only so many rocks I can fit in, eh?

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We're gonna have to find a way to get a bigger

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pot or something for you cook.

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Well, at the moment, I haven't bloody slept.

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The Misfits are in a race

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to colour-enhance 150 kilograms of Andamooka rainbow-matrix opal

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to sell at the Lightning Ridge Opal Festival just days away.

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Yeah, we've got to get this quota, you know?

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Like without the 150 kilos - There's no point going, is there?

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Anyway, I'll get these rocks out

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and, hey, I appreciate youse dropping them over.

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Whoa, whoa, Cody! Hey, hey, hey!Whoa!

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Oh, what am I doing here?

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Far out!Ohhh!

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I reckon you take your five, you know,

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and just chill out for a bit, mate.

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Go and have another coffee or whatever.Yeah, just...

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We're gonna be back in a few hours with

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another one or two tubs for you.

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I've got to sit down and try and think of a solution.

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How we can get this done quicker. Because at the moment,

151
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we've got the two slow-cookers but I'm using those

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for sugar and those for acid.

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So I'm having to empty the sugar out every time.

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I'm not gonna get all this processed.

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We'll keep that between us. I'll come up with a solution.

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Joe's not gonna be happy if we don't get it.

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There literally is not enough hours

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between now and Lightning Ridge with my two slow-cookers

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to process and treat 150 kilos.

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I've really got to suss out how I'm gonna

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process more at once basically, how I'm gonna hit this target.

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We need 150 kilos minimum.Wow.

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Treated. What they're gonna be looking for is quality of material

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and what youse have been digging out at German Gully.

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And I know that Lightning Ridge is damn close.

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The added pressure is coming from Opal Joe Kalmar,

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the Misfits' mentor and financier,

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who wants 150 kilograms for buyers at the festival.

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The Lightning Ridge Gem Festival is a, pretty well,

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a world-famous event. It's where you can take material,

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all types of material, all types of grade,

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and you can literally sell everything you take.

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So, I know that it's gonna be a bit of an ask,

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you know, to get this done. But at the end of the day,

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youse are just gonna have to work harder.

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Cheers, Joe. Have a good day.

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This festival is only once a year

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and this payday, we're all relying on it.

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Our season target is 200 grand.

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In order for us to get our 150 kilo target of treated matrix,

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we're at the claim digging, moving dirt,

182
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doing whatever we can to find the material.

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Every 20 or 30 kilos that me and Issy find,

184
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we're taking it to Cody and, like, he's constantly cooking.

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Time will tell if we can hit the target!

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ISSY: Just take it real slow on that corner, Angel.

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Yeah, and I'll go wide, too.

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So, my back tyre doesn't have a lot of weight on it.

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At German Gully, Angel and Issy

190
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are using their 3-tonne skid steer loader

191
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to transport untreated Andamooka matrix opal up a steep mine ramp.

192
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It could tip on its side. It could even tip backwards

193
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and roll down that hill. Take it easy.

194
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So, I'm gonna turn around and take this bucket out now.

195
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Probably a little more weight is on my back wheels.

196
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Feels like it's gonna tumble over backwards.

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Slow and steady.

198
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120 kilos on my front wheels at the moment.

199
00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:45,479
This is certainly putting my skills to the test.

200
00:10:45,560 --> 00:10:49,439
You know this, like, claim was built for an excavator.

201
00:10:49,520 --> 00:10:51,759
Got a bit of a bump coming up.

202
00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:53,799
Oop!

203
00:10:53,880 --> 00:10:56,839
This doesn't feel like a Bobcat any more. It feels like a boat.

204
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You've got my heart in my mouth at the moment.

205
00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:03,439
That's a long way down!

206
00:11:03,520 --> 00:11:05,599
That looks so dodgy.

207
00:11:05,680 --> 00:11:07,719
Yeah, she's rocking and rolling a bit.

208
00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:10,439
If I fall over backwards, there's nothing stopping that.

209
00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:21,079
Got a phone call, one of the claims up there has collapsed.

210
00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:23,799
Not one of our claims, but it is pretty close.

211
00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:25,999
Collapse sounds a bit serious, mate.

212
00:11:26,080 --> 00:11:28,879
Have to go check it out.Yeah. See what happened.

213
00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:31,399
Yeah, coming in now, mate. RORY: Bloody hell.

214
00:11:33,720 --> 00:11:36,439
I've never seen anything like that before. Far out.

215
00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:39,719
There's a lot of ground there. That's insane.

216
00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:44,319
These guys had earth pillars in.

217
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Those pillars have been taken out, unlawfully.

218
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And that's the result.

219
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When you see a cave-in like that, obviously, it just brings it home

220
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that it is a dangerous environment.

221
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It's good for Rory to see too because it's a good way to show him

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why you need to keep your support up.

223
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And it's just unfortunate really.

224
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All right, are you boys gonna be right over here?Yeah, mate.

225
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If I need a hand down the agi, I'll just sing out.

226
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Yeah, just let us know. That's a massive priority,

227
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try and get that up and running as soon as possible.

228
00:12:15,680 --> 00:12:20,079
Chris Cheal, eldest son, Rory, and mine partner, Mark Bressan,

229
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have run out of water for their opal processing agitator plant,

230
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at Ned's Dam.

231
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As you can see, there's not one, one agitator spinning.

232
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Everyone's at a standstill as far as their washing goes.

233
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Chris needs to find a new water source,

234
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as Mark excavates for opal at their open-cut mine

235
00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:42,359
with help from Rory, back for the first time this season.

236
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I've been away for the last few months, over in America.

237
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Ran 80 marathons in 80 days.

238
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We were raising money for cancer,

239
00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:55,359
and we raised nearly $220,000. So absolutely amazing.

240
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Even with Rory's return, the team are stretched thin,

241
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with his siblings Oscar and Luca

242
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forced to step away from opal mining.

243
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Oscar's idea was to ramp the business up

244
00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:08,759
and he's certainly done that. So, time for him now to step away.

245
00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:11,999
Luca announced that she had some important stuff for uni.

246
00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:14,439
That put us back to a bit of a skeleton crew.

247
00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:16,719
MARK: Both of us, we've got the same goal

248
00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:20,239
that we wanna get to with the mining operation.

249
00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:25,119
Making it bigger, um, you know, making it financially viable,

250
00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:27,999
supporting our families. And something, hopefully, that

251
00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:31,879
our children or even grandchildren will hopefully, you know, step into.

252
00:13:33,680 --> 00:13:37,279
I've never done this job before, I've never spotted in an open-cut.

253
00:13:37,360 --> 00:13:38,959
Normally, when we're underground,

254
00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:41,279
we can stop and look right up to the face.

255
00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:43,919
Just got to try and stay far enough out of the way of

256
00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:45,599
the big machine here,

257
00:13:45,680 --> 00:13:48,759
but close enough that I can, hopefully, still spot some stuff,

258
00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:51,679
because the last thing I wanna do is miss opal for the team.

259
00:13:54,720 --> 00:13:57,839
It would be good to spot something to get...Yeah...excited about.

260
00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:05,639
Come on.

261
00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:20,679
Ohhh! It's everywhere.

262
00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:23,879
Have a look, look at that!

263
00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:29,599
Come across some good trace here. It's just full of potch.

264
00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:32,439
Potch is opal with no play of colour.

265
00:14:32,520 --> 00:14:36,839
Of little value, it can indicate that precious opal is nearby.

266
00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:38,919
It's a good sign. It's better than nothing.

267
00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:43,199
Hopefully it'll come onto a bit of colour in a bit further, maybe.

268
00:14:43,280 --> 00:14:46,079
I'll give it another hit up there, Rors.Yeah, let's do it.

269
00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:56,599
There's no colour, man!

270
00:14:57,640 --> 00:14:59,919
You can see why we need these agis going, eh?

271
00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:02,559
Yeah. It's looking for a needle in a haystack.

272
00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:05,999
Far out!Getting teased today.

273
00:15:06,080 --> 00:15:08,439
Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

274
00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:19,279
Not even halfway up yet and I've had a thousand heart attacks!

275
00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:23,599
At German Gully, Angel is struggling to get her

276
00:15:23,680 --> 00:15:26,159
3-tonne skid steer over the hill

277
00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:29,439
hauling a bucket full of opal-bearing rocks.

278
00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:32,119
It's quite tricky, you know? Trying to get this done

279
00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:35,559
as fast as possible. But no point in rushing

280
00:15:35,640 --> 00:15:38,519
if you're going to roll it. Whoa!

281
00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:40,319
Flip it over, you'll feel it!

282
00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:45,599
All right. Passed the hard bit.

283
00:15:45,680 --> 00:15:47,759
I'll just skid up the top and dump this.

284
00:15:47,840 --> 00:15:51,519
No worries. I'll be waiting for you. Woo-hoo!

285
00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:53,399
Got to spread it out pretty evenly,

286
00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:56,759
so me and Issy can go through it to get all the matrix.

287
00:15:59,640 --> 00:16:01,559
Not a bad amount of dirt.

288
00:16:02,840 --> 00:16:05,959
I reckon we'll take this batch straight into Cody.

289
00:16:06,040 --> 00:16:08,599
Bucketful of dirt to a bucketful of matrix!

290
00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:15,439
Back at camp, Cody has been treating

291
00:16:15,520 --> 00:16:20,759
Angel and Issy's matrix opal with just two small slow-cookers.

292
00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:22,559
Time is my constraint and, ah,

293
00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:24,519
I'm not getting through it quick enough.

294
00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:26,519
I have to come up with a better solution,

295
00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:29,559
otherwise we're not gonna make Lightning Ridge.

296
00:16:29,640 --> 00:16:32,039
Bloody hell!

297
00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:35,999
We're back!Got another tub for ya. Bring it over!

298
00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:38,559
Just a little bit more for you, Cody!Oof!

299
00:16:40,520 --> 00:16:43,199
While youse have been out, I actually saw

300
00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:46,119
this big commercial-sized oven

301
00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:49,439
come up on Marketplace for a few hundred bucks.

302
00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:52,639
I've just sent Mel into town. It might get us out of the shit, so...

303
00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:55,479
Cody, that's awesome. Like - ..our luck might have turned.

304
00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:57,559
Good thinking!

305
00:16:57,640 --> 00:17:02,119
Here you go. Here she is! Holy dooley!

306
00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:06,319
Massive, wow!Whoa! That should do it.

307
00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:08,519
It did not look that big in the pictures.

308
00:17:10,160 --> 00:17:12,719
Hey, darl!That's so cool, Mel. That's huge.

309
00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:16,879
Wow!If Cody doesn't put in the hard yards

310
00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:20,199
of treating this matrix, we'll all go hungry.

311
00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:23,359
Us losing it, it's him also. He's got kids, he's got a wife.

312
00:17:23,440 --> 00:17:25,399
There's no choice.

313
00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:28,879
How's it looking, Iss?Yeah, pretty good.Drop it there.

314
00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:30,799
Set it down!

315
00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:33,719
Yeah.Hey, at least it's on wheels.

316
00:17:35,640 --> 00:17:37,439
Let's check it out, eh?

317
00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:40,919
That's...Wow!..huge! That is massive!

318
00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:42,719
We've got a lot of cooking to do.

319
00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:44,919
I don't care how you do it or what you do,

320
00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:46,719
I don't want to see you without,

321
00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:49,119
you know, anything less than 150 kilos.Yes.

322
00:17:49,200 --> 00:17:51,919
I'm going to Lightning Ridge. I have to get there early

323
00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:54,039
to secure a spot at the festival.

324
00:17:54,120 --> 00:17:56,319
Everything has to work. Fingers and toes crossed

325
00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:58,799
that it all comes together. It's make or break.

326
00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:05,039
Just give it another tap, right on the top.

327
00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:09,599
No.That's  heavy. I've got too much weight on that.

328
00:18:09,680 --> 00:18:11,279
The roof is sagging on it.

329
00:18:11,360 --> 00:18:13,519
If we take that out, the roof is coming down.

330
00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:16,519
To have any chance of saving their season,

331
00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:20,919
the Bushmen must manoeuvre their unwieldy 2-tonne super-digger

332
00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:23,199
through a maze of timber props.

333
00:18:25,120 --> 00:18:26,919
Here. Touch this one.

334
00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:29,919
See how much weight is on that post. I'm gonna look at the crack.

335
00:18:32,360 --> 00:18:35,039
That's got less weight, hasn't it? Yeah.

336
00:18:35,120 --> 00:18:37,399
That's come off, hasn't it? Righto. Hang on.

337
00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:41,079
The crack didn't open up too much, so righto.

338
00:18:43,040 --> 00:18:46,159
Hey, Rod, Les! How's it going?

339
00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:48,839
We're OK. We've just got a really bad spot here. Hang on.

340
00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:50,599
I'll get back to you in a sec.

341
00:18:50,680 --> 00:18:52,919
Tell you what, I'm so worried this is going to tip

342
00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:55,679
and hit one of them props, and then we're -I know.

343
00:18:55,760 --> 00:18:59,519
..we're under here for good. We've got to try and get it up into there,

344
00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:01,559
so that's where we're heading, that way.

345
00:19:03,560 --> 00:19:05,439
Look out! Jesus!

346
00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:08,999
If I get this arm under that hole,

347
00:19:09,080 --> 00:19:13,199
we'd be nearly close to where we need to be, wouldn't we?Yeah.

348
00:19:13,280 --> 00:19:15,639
Just watch.

349
00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:18,119
We've nearly got it, mate. Nearly, nearly.

350
00:19:22,480 --> 00:19:24,519
Righto, we've got it in position.

351
00:19:24,600 --> 00:19:27,479
Well, that was as bloody nerve-racking as it gets, Les!

352
00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:31,599
We made it, Sam!It's so good to see you back up here!

353
00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:34,359
Mate, it's bloody good to be up here, I tell you.

354
00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:36,759
We'll ah start pulling that digger to pieces.

355
00:19:36,840 --> 00:19:39,199
Lift it up in two or three pieces,

356
00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:41,359
load it on the, on the truck,

357
00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:43,199
ready to drop it down over there.

358
00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:47,319
Jacques does all our, sort of, crane work now.

359
00:19:47,400 --> 00:19:49,479
Any of this sort of work that we need doing,

360
00:19:49,560 --> 00:19:51,959
Jacques is the man that does it for us.

361
00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:53,679
Just a little bit that way.

362
00:19:55,320 --> 00:19:57,839
Righto. Down you go.

363
00:19:57,920 --> 00:20:00,799
I might go and help Ben for a bit and help him out.Good idea.

364
00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:02,919
There's not much you can do here. Yeah, OK.

365
00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:05,839
I'm keen. I'll see you soon. You bet.

366
00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:08,799
Sam's got to go into the Opal Queen Ball,

367
00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:11,039
so we've only got her for a little time.

368
00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:15,759
Mining partner, Ben Moses, is working in one of

369
00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:19,439
the 18-metre-deep holes Rod recently had drilled

370
00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:21,239
on the edge of their claim,

371
00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:24,799
widening the shaft in a process known as belling out.

372
00:20:26,120 --> 00:20:29,159
We've got the main area belled out for the digger here.

373
00:20:29,240 --> 00:20:32,479
We're just starting to put a drive in now to the second hole.

374
00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:36,479
As far as the roof goes, a really nice, solid, safe roof.

375
00:20:36,560 --> 00:20:39,319
I can't see any major faults that are going to open up on it

376
00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:41,039
or anything as yet.

377
00:20:41,120 --> 00:20:44,959
Which is another relief, after what we've had happen over there.

378
00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:46,799
That last ladder is a bit dodgy, Ben.

379
00:20:46,880 --> 00:20:49,119
It's a wild climb, isn't it? I reckon, Sam.

380
00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:51,879
Yeah?You should jump up there with that little cordless.

381
00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:53,559
I like this little corner here.

382
00:20:53,640 --> 00:20:55,519
Just in there? There's black potch there.

383
00:20:55,600 --> 00:20:59,559
OK.We've undercut that enough. Let's have a little look.

384
00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:01,839
Get up here.

385
00:21:03,160 --> 00:21:07,359
I really wanna find opal for myself, also for Les, being his last year.

386
00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:09,999
I really wanna help send him out to a good retirement.

387
00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:13,319
Are you all right, Les? Need a hand?Yeah, I'm all right.

388
00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:16,079
Obviously worried about Les being down there on his own.

389
00:21:16,160 --> 00:21:19,639
But it's better for me to be here telling Jacques what to do.

390
00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:22,239
Les definitely has to retire this year.

391
00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:25,999
I can't keep telling him to front up year after year after year.

392
00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:30,999
We have to start making some money so that we can get him those things

393
00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:33,959
that he needs to be able to retire a bit more comfortable.

394
00:21:34,040 --> 00:21:36,399
Take the weight.Up a little.

395
00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:40,239
Away you go!

396
00:21:41,920 --> 00:21:43,639
Take it up a touch.

397
00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:49,279
Hang on!Hold it!

398
00:21:49,360 --> 00:21:52,399
The problem is this hole is only just big enough,

399
00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:54,719
you've got to have that arm hooked the right way,

400
00:21:54,800 --> 00:21:57,039
or both sides hit on the shaft wall.

401
00:21:57,120 --> 00:21:58,919
Hold here.Yeah. Up.

402
00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:01,919
Hang on!Whoa, whoa!

403
00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:03,679
Hold it!Hold it!

404
00:22:11,640 --> 00:22:13,919
We're out of water. The dam's completely empty.

405
00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:17,039
The bottleneck is the washing and we've had no agitators.

406
00:22:17,120 --> 00:22:19,439
It's really important to be able to wash your dirt

407
00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:22,039
because you miss too much back at the mine.

408
00:22:22,120 --> 00:22:24,919
So it's been really frustrating for us.

409
00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:28,199
There was a bit of a gamechanger phone call last night.

410
00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:31,079
We've been allocated some water for this dam.

411
00:22:31,160 --> 00:22:33,719
We got some earthworks to do. He wondered whether I had

412
00:22:33,800 --> 00:22:36,839
a Posi-Track out here and I did, so with the bank the way it is,

413
00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:39,719
using this Posi-Track is a little bit precarious

414
00:22:39,800 --> 00:22:42,039
because you don't wanna slip off.

415
00:22:42,120 --> 00:22:45,079
To get this agitator going, there's a bank across.

416
00:22:45,160 --> 00:22:47,879
Rory's dug a trench on one edge of the dam.

417
00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:51,359
So once I fill that bank in, they can turn the water on

418
00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:55,239
from the bore and, basically, we can all pump out of that trench.

419
00:22:55,320 --> 00:22:57,239
Now that trench will fill up pretty quick,

420
00:22:57,320 --> 00:23:00,919
rather than fill the whole dam, which would take weeks.

421
00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:02,839
Chris Cheal's new embankment

422
00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:05,519
will hold water pumped from deep underground

423
00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:08,319
and supply the team's agitator wash plant.

424
00:23:08,400 --> 00:23:11,919
Rory and Mark are back there digging and obviously the more they dig,

425
00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:13,959
the more chance they got of finding opal.

426
00:23:14,040 --> 00:23:15,639
But there's stuff there you miss.

427
00:23:15,720 --> 00:23:17,719
This is the highest priority we've got now

428
00:23:17,800 --> 00:23:20,799
is getting this bank fixed and then getting the water hooked up.

429
00:23:24,760 --> 00:23:26,679
Just guide me onto it, mate. Yeah.

430
00:23:32,480 --> 00:23:34,319
We've got some big future plans.

431
00:23:34,400 --> 00:23:36,479
But you know, that all costs money.

432
00:23:36,560 --> 00:23:38,479
Potch is flying out everywhere.

433
00:23:38,560 --> 00:23:40,599
We wanna get to that season target.

434
00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:44,039
There's a stone in here somewhere. Where is anyone's guess,

435
00:23:44,120 --> 00:23:46,439
but this is why it's so important for us to wash.

436
00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:49,599
I can't believe how thick this potch is.

437
00:23:49,680 --> 00:23:52,439
Look at it. Look at the colour in that.Bloody hell.Look.

438
00:23:53,840 --> 00:23:58,039
There's got to be something in that. Oh, there's green in there as well.

439
00:23:58,120 --> 00:24:01,319
Yeah?That's got to be the fuel for the day covered, surely.

440
00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:03,039
You'd think so.

441
00:24:05,040 --> 00:24:09,239
Oh, look in the wall.Holy Holy . Look at that!

442
00:24:09,320 --> 00:24:13,279
That's huge, one big chunk. That is a lot.Oh, oh!

443
00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:18,039
It's massive! I'll tell you that much.

444
00:24:18,120 --> 00:24:19,999
It's trying colour too.It is.

445
00:24:20,080 --> 00:24:22,079
You don't know what's in the middle of that.

446
00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:25,079
It's touched with colour. Needs to set in and we're laughing.

447
00:24:25,160 --> 00:24:27,839
Maybe try and dig that out as one piece.Give it a crack.

448
00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:49,239
There's a bit of colour in there. A bit muggy, but maybe a little bit.

449
00:24:49,320 --> 00:24:52,439
You don't know what's truly in here until you wash it.Exactly.

450
00:24:52,520 --> 00:24:56,719
That's why we do it.No, it'd be nice to see a nice big gem

451
00:24:56,800 --> 00:24:59,999
in one of these big pieces. But it's just potch.

452
00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:03,519
A lot, a lot of potch.

453
00:25:04,800 --> 00:25:07,959
Clean all this stuff out and, then, I just wanna get this dirt washed

454
00:25:08,040 --> 00:25:10,759
because it's costing us money, costing us a lot of money.

455
00:25:10,840 --> 00:25:12,479
Pressure's on.

456
00:25:12,560 --> 00:25:14,359
We really need these agis up and going

457
00:25:14,440 --> 00:25:17,119
because we're losing money hand over fist at the moment.

458
00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:25,439
CODY: All right. Rounded up four lids.

459
00:25:25,520 --> 00:25:27,559
As I fill 'em, if you wanna put the lids on.

460
00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:30,999
We'll just start from the top rack and we'll work our way down.

461
00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:35,239
Cody and Issy are preparing the last batch

462
00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:39,199
of the 150 kilograms of Andamooka matrix opal

463
00:25:39,280 --> 00:25:42,559
needed to sell at the Lightning Ridge Opal Festival.

464
00:25:42,640 --> 00:25:44,679
We'll get back to cleaning a few other rocks,

465
00:25:44,760 --> 00:25:47,839
and, um, get 'em ready for the next process.Yeah.

466
00:25:47,920 --> 00:25:50,759
Their new high-capacity industrial oven

467
00:25:50,840 --> 00:25:55,479
cooks the opal in the sugar solution at 70 degrees for 12 hours,

468
00:25:55,560 --> 00:25:57,399
freeing up both of the slow-cookers

469
00:25:57,480 --> 00:26:00,519
for the final six-hour sulphuric-acid treatment

470
00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:02,719
which reveals the hidden colour.

471
00:26:04,640 --> 00:26:07,399
Let's check it out, eh? Fingers crossed.Fingers crossed.

472
00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:09,199
Oh, yeah, that's looking good.

473
00:26:09,280 --> 00:26:12,599
A nice, clear colour in the sugar and the rocks

474
00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:14,759
are blinging now, ready to go.

475
00:26:14,840 --> 00:26:16,599
This is everything we've done so far.

476
00:26:16,680 --> 00:26:19,559
We need to know what weight we're up to in this 150 kilos,

477
00:26:19,640 --> 00:26:22,719
so I know exactly...Yeah. ..how much I've got left to do.

478
00:26:22,800 --> 00:26:24,639
Let's do some weighing.

479
00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:30,879
20.3, 11.4, 21.4, 13.9.

480
00:26:32,120 --> 00:26:35,079
All right, I'll do a bit of a quick calculation here.

481
00:26:35,160 --> 00:26:37,119
Feels like I picked up 100 kilos.

482
00:26:39,600 --> 00:26:43,159
Hundred and forty-six point nine kilograms!

483
00:26:43,240 --> 00:26:45,199
We only need 3.1 kilos!

484
00:26:45,280 --> 00:26:47,519
You know what? We've got more than that, surely.

485
00:26:47,600 --> 00:26:49,639
And we've got some in the acid already.

486
00:26:49,720 --> 00:26:53,279
So yes!Yes!We are done! Well done, mate!

487
00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:58,119
Surely Joe's got to be happy. We've got 150 kilos.

488
00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:00,399
Ah, it's all gonna come down to the evaluation,

489
00:27:00,480 --> 00:27:02,639
what he thinks it's worth, but we're ready.

490
00:27:02,720 --> 00:27:04,999
Hopefully, we get a result out of it.

491
00:27:05,080 --> 00:27:06,919
Morning, Joe.How are you?

492
00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:10,919
G'day. I heard you got the oven. Yes!Yes.

493
00:27:11,000 --> 00:27:13,479
Our number's up. Got the 150 kilos.

494
00:27:13,560 --> 00:27:15,879
Didn't think we were gonna do it for a while there.

495
00:27:15,960 --> 00:27:18,039
I tell you, it hasn't been all smooth sailing!

496
00:27:18,120 --> 00:27:20,079
Yeah. Cool bananas. I think it's awesome.

497
00:27:20,160 --> 00:27:23,039
Some of this stuff is probably worth 20, 30 dollars a gram.

498
00:27:23,120 --> 00:27:25,359
Like, something like that, I mean, look at that.

499
00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:28,319
That's $50 a gram right, on its own, right?

500
00:27:28,400 --> 00:27:30,759
We don't wanna sell it on its own.No, you wanna...

501
00:27:30,840 --> 00:27:32,559
The idea is to wholesale it.

502
00:27:32,640 --> 00:27:34,719
Everybody's got to make money. Of course.

503
00:27:34,800 --> 00:27:39,319
The Misfits' 150-kilogram haul of rainbow-matrix opal

504
00:27:39,400 --> 00:27:41,519
features the full spectrum of colours

505
00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:43,919
and is sugar and acid treated.

506
00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:47,599
How will you go about working out your overall price

507
00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:50,479
if someone's gonna take 150 kilograms out of that?

508
00:27:50,560 --> 00:27:54,319
If somebody takes the whole 150 kilograms in one hit?Yeah.

509
00:27:56,400 --> 00:27:58,199
Five dollars a gram for the lot.

510
00:27:59,960 --> 00:28:02,919
That's gonna do a lot for our season, I tell you.

511
00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:05,439
Technically, your worst case scenario here,

512
00:28:05,520 --> 00:28:08,199
you should be up around the $500,000 mark overall.

513
00:28:09,920 --> 00:28:12,279
Safe journey to Lightning Ridge. Thanks, mate.

514
00:28:12,360 --> 00:28:14,879
Right. Hopefully, you come back with a stack of money.

515
00:28:14,960 --> 00:28:16,999
Cheers, Joe. Thank you very much, mate.

516
00:28:17,080 --> 00:28:19,759
To get a value like that, yeah, it puts a pep in your step,

517
00:28:19,840 --> 00:28:22,119
and I can't wait to get there and meet some buyers.

518
00:28:23,440 --> 00:28:28,279
While Cody drives over 1,500 km to Lightning Ridge,

519
00:28:28,360 --> 00:28:30,199
Angel is setting up a stall

520
00:28:30,280 --> 00:28:33,839
to display their opal to prospective buyers.

521
00:28:33,920 --> 00:28:36,119
It's a little different to Andamooka, I tell you!

522
00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:38,159
This is the Big Smoke, where we're from!

523
00:28:38,240 --> 00:28:40,439
A lot of action. So, yeah, it's exciting!

524
00:28:40,520 --> 00:28:43,399
In my hand, I've got our stash of rainbow matrix.

525
00:28:43,480 --> 00:28:46,519
I'm hoping the colours I've got here is gonna find us some clients

526
00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:48,759
and, hopefully, a wholesale supplier too.

527
00:28:52,400 --> 00:28:54,799
This here, this is also Andamooka material,

528
00:28:54,880 --> 00:28:56,519
unique to Andamooka.

529
00:28:56,600 --> 00:28:59,079
Many beautiful types of matrix in Andamooka.

530
00:29:00,600 --> 00:29:04,319
I think it's definitely creating a bit of attention, isn't it?

531
00:29:08,640 --> 00:29:10,239
Thank you. It does, eh?

532
00:29:13,840 --> 00:29:16,079
We'd love to discuss a wholesale price, yeah.

533
00:29:18,760 --> 00:29:21,239
You have a market for this kind of material?Yes.OK.

534
00:29:23,680 --> 00:29:25,999
Of course, yes.

535
00:29:26,080 --> 00:29:28,719
Yeah, perfect. Once youse have finished up this afternoon,

536
00:29:28,800 --> 00:29:30,479
we can meet up. This is massive.

537
00:29:30,560 --> 00:29:33,239
They've expressed interest in 140 kilos.

538
00:29:33,320 --> 00:29:36,439
Hey, we might have secured something pretty solid for the future.

539
00:29:38,440 --> 00:29:41,719
As the first night of the festival draws to a close,

540
00:29:41,800 --> 00:29:46,119
Angel and Cody meet with buyers, Natassa and Salma Patel

541
00:29:46,200 --> 00:29:49,719
and their opal cutter, Prashant Tulsyan.

542
00:29:49,800 --> 00:29:51,759
Cody, he seems pretty on-track with it,

543
00:29:51,840 --> 00:29:56,079
so I'm gonna be relying on him, you know, to help with the sale.

544
00:29:56,160 --> 00:30:00,319
The mother and daughter dealers have offices in Queensland and Arizona,

545
00:30:00,400 --> 00:30:04,879
and sell rough, cut stones and jewellery to clients worldwide.

546
00:30:04,960 --> 00:30:09,879
As far as treated, we did want $5 a gram overall.

547
00:30:09,960 --> 00:30:14,039
We will take $4 a gram on bulk supply.

548
00:30:16,880 --> 00:30:18,719
Of course you can. Yeah. By all means.

549
00:30:40,800 --> 00:30:42,919
ROD: It just takes a little bit of adjustment

550
00:30:43,000 --> 00:30:45,839
to get it to come up the right way. It's bloody tight.

551
00:30:48,920 --> 00:30:50,519
It's all yours.

552
00:30:51,760 --> 00:30:55,399
Midway through the worst mining season they've ever had,

553
00:30:55,480 --> 00:30:57,879
the Bushmen have been forced to move their digger

554
00:30:57,960 --> 00:31:02,839
from dangerously unstable drives to a new shaft on the claim.

555
00:31:02,920 --> 00:31:06,519
It's a $45,000 piece of machinery.

556
00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:11,679
Without this digger, we don't work.

557
00:31:11,760 --> 00:31:14,399
That's one piece out, that's the hardest piece actually.

558
00:31:14,480 --> 00:31:16,839
At least three-quarters of a tonne, I would think.

559
00:31:16,920 --> 00:31:18,719
I wouldn't like to be picking it up.

560
00:31:20,480 --> 00:31:25,079
Meanwhile, the team's new shaft is being widened by Ben and Sam,

561
00:31:25,160 --> 00:31:28,239
ready for the digger to be lowered into.

562
00:31:28,320 --> 00:31:31,959
Check that out.Oh, wow, that's a bright trace, isn't it?Yeah.

563
00:31:32,040 --> 00:31:35,319
Let's just drop that little bit of green trace, see what's behind it.

564
00:31:42,600 --> 00:31:44,719
Oh, check this out!

565
00:31:44,800 --> 00:31:48,039
That's a bit thick for potch. There's a bit of green in there too.

566
00:31:48,120 --> 00:31:52,079
There is. Look at that, a little bit of green running through that black.

567
00:31:52,160 --> 00:31:56,319
Well, it's not a massive stone, Sam, but very promising. It's a start.

568
00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:02,479
Hey, guys!

569
00:32:02,560 --> 00:32:04,719
I need to go to town. But we've been finding

570
00:32:04,800 --> 00:32:07,039
a bit of colour, um, over...Yeah?

571
00:32:07,120 --> 00:32:10,359
..while we were belling out. But yeah, I totally need to go to town.

572
00:32:10,440 --> 00:32:12,639
If you're finding colour, that's a good excuse!

573
00:32:12,720 --> 00:32:16,119
Exactly. I'll catch you later! Good luck tonight, OK? Good luck!

574
00:32:16,200 --> 00:32:17,799
Thank you.You'll kill it!

575
00:32:17,880 --> 00:32:20,839
Sam's gotta go in to the Opal Queen Ball,

576
00:32:20,920 --> 00:32:22,959
so she's gotta get ready for that.

577
00:32:24,280 --> 00:32:27,199
The Opal Queen Ball, basically it's been going on for years

578
00:32:27,280 --> 00:32:31,439
and it's just an opportunity for some of the women in Lightning Ridge

579
00:32:31,520 --> 00:32:34,759
to get up and have a good night. Someone comes out as the Opal Queen

580
00:32:34,840 --> 00:32:37,319
and they represent Lightning Ridge for the next year.

581
00:32:37,400 --> 00:32:39,879
The Opal Queen Ball is a local tradition

582
00:32:39,960 --> 00:32:42,159
dating back to 1972

583
00:32:42,240 --> 00:32:45,199
and is part of the annual Lightning Ridge Festival,

584
00:32:45,280 --> 00:32:47,839
the final event on the four-day calendar.

585
00:32:47,920 --> 00:32:51,279
I think I bring a bit of a different perspective to the Opal Queen Ball.

586
00:32:51,360 --> 00:32:53,199
I'm a third-generation opal miner.

587
00:32:53,280 --> 00:32:55,559
I hardly ever get dressed up.

588
00:32:55,640 --> 00:32:57,959
And also, 30 years ago, my mum went in it,

589
00:32:58,040 --> 00:33:00,839
so I thought it'd be pretty cool to do it as well.

590
00:33:00,920 --> 00:33:02,599
I'm keen and hoping for the best.

591
00:33:02,680 --> 00:33:06,159
I'm not too nervous until it actually happens.

592
00:33:06,240 --> 00:33:09,319
But for now, yeah, I'm, I'm just really excited.

593
00:33:20,040 --> 00:33:24,759
Oh, Mark, hold up. Turn him off, Dad's here.

594
00:33:24,840 --> 00:33:27,919
He's either got good news or bad news.Yeah.

595
00:33:28,000 --> 00:33:29,599
Fingers crossed.

596
00:33:29,680 --> 00:33:32,159
How are you going, boys? Hey, Dad. All right yourself?

597
00:33:32,240 --> 00:33:34,319
Good. Guess what?

598
00:33:34,400 --> 00:33:37,159
Hooked up to the bore and been allocated some water, so we -

599
00:33:37,240 --> 00:33:39,439
Bloody oath!Gonna be able to start washing at

600
00:33:39,520 --> 00:33:42,959
Ned's Dam soon. That takes the pressure off us a bit.Yeah.

601
00:33:43,040 --> 00:33:47,679
We've got some, some mixed news. Look how close we got today.

602
00:33:47,760 --> 00:33:50,159
Yeah, imagine that, if there was a gem in that.

603
00:33:50,240 --> 00:33:52,839
Just touched with colour, man. So close.

604
00:33:52,920 --> 00:33:55,599
You're kidding me?No.

605
00:33:56,920 --> 00:34:00,039
Look how thick that colour bar is. That's an inch thick.Yeah.

606
00:34:00,120 --> 00:34:03,079
Nearly millionaires today, mate. Look at the red in there.

607
00:34:03,160 --> 00:34:05,439
It's got all the colours, they're just not strong.

608
00:34:05,520 --> 00:34:08,999
Ohh! Bet that got your heart racing! Oh, we thought we were on!

609
00:34:11,280 --> 00:34:13,079
It can be so cruel sometimes, eh?

610
00:34:13,160 --> 00:34:16,039
Do you have any idea what something like that would be worth?

611
00:34:16,120 --> 00:34:17,759
If the colour was a bit better,

612
00:34:17,840 --> 00:34:20,199
you'd have well over a million dollars, but...Yeah.

613
00:34:20,280 --> 00:34:22,679
..not today. But yeah, I mean it's worth something.

614
00:34:22,760 --> 00:34:24,959
As specimens, you'd make money out of it.

615
00:34:25,040 --> 00:34:27,119
That's gonna cut a big sun-flash stone.

616
00:34:27,200 --> 00:34:30,119
The Cheals have a parcel of grey-based opal.

617
00:34:30,200 --> 00:34:32,679
Predominantly potch, some of the stones

618
00:34:32,760 --> 00:34:36,879
display faint colour bars of blue-green and valuable red.

619
00:34:36,960 --> 00:34:40,399
It's in the rough and weighs an estimated two kilograms.

620
00:34:42,160 --> 00:34:44,199
You'd have to have

621
00:34:44,280 --> 00:34:46,239
five grand there.

622
00:34:46,320 --> 00:34:49,039
It pays for some fuel or whatever, you know?Yeah.

623
00:34:49,120 --> 00:34:50,839
It's better than nothing, I guess.

624
00:34:50,920 --> 00:34:52,919
If colour is making on something like that,

625
00:34:53,000 --> 00:34:55,279
you'd hope that it's making on the smaller stuff.

626
00:34:55,360 --> 00:34:59,239
That's right.Yeah. If we can get the washplant going,

627
00:34:59,320 --> 00:35:01,439
then start getting some dirt down through it.

628
00:35:01,520 --> 00:35:04,519
We'll know if we've missed it. They're gonna turn the water on soon.

629
00:35:04,600 --> 00:35:07,239
Sweet.If we pull up now and go and render that.

630
00:35:07,320 --> 00:35:09,319
Awesome. Let's go and see it.

631
00:35:09,400 --> 00:35:11,639
This is Ned's Dam. They're gonna hook the bore up.

632
00:35:11,720 --> 00:35:14,959
Hopefully, fingers crossed, we'll be washing here again in a few days.

633
00:35:15,040 --> 00:35:17,519
Sounds like it's working.

634
00:35:17,600 --> 00:35:19,759
Come on.We can hear it.

635
00:35:19,840 --> 00:35:23,639
Oh, here we go! There! We've got water, boys!

636
00:35:25,840 --> 00:35:29,759
Oh, yeah, mate.Yes!That's better. It's picking up now?Yeah.

637
00:35:29,840 --> 00:35:31,919
Look at that!

638
00:35:32,000 --> 00:35:36,079
This is artesian water. Comes from the Great Artesian Basin.

639
00:35:36,160 --> 00:35:39,439
I think it's the largest underground body of water on earth.

640
00:35:39,520 --> 00:35:41,999
It covers probably nearly a quarter of Australia.

641
00:35:42,080 --> 00:35:43,799
It's massive, but very deep.

642
00:35:43,880 --> 00:35:46,799
I think from around 500 metres to 2,000 metres,

643
00:35:46,880 --> 00:35:49,759
and this bore is 1,500 metres, they tell me.

644
00:35:49,840 --> 00:35:52,719
Looks like liquid gold to me. Sure is, mate.

645
00:35:52,800 --> 00:35:54,919
It's not just us that need the water.

646
00:35:55,000 --> 00:35:57,239
All these other miners need the water as well.

647
00:35:57,320 --> 00:35:59,319
It looks like we're back in business, boys.

648
00:35:59,400 --> 00:36:01,879
Bloody oath!Unreal!

649
00:36:01,960 --> 00:36:04,879
I'll give it a few days.We'll be back washing in no time, eh?

650
00:36:04,960 --> 00:36:06,599
That's it, mate.Yeah.

651
00:36:13,720 --> 00:36:17,599
Normally, if we're not close to what you're asking, we don't say at all.

652
00:36:17,680 --> 00:36:19,879
That's fair enough and we respect that.

653
00:36:19,960 --> 00:36:23,439
You know, having the quality of the material,

654
00:36:23,520 --> 00:36:26,359
it sort of makes it hard to swing much further.

655
00:36:26,440 --> 00:36:29,519
Yeah. Nice to meet you. Thank you, mate.

656
00:36:29,600 --> 00:36:31,279
Thanks.Thank you.

657
00:36:31,360 --> 00:36:33,679
I think we're willing to come a little bit higher,

658
00:36:33,760 --> 00:36:37,079
but, ah, at this stage, we're far apart.

659
00:36:37,160 --> 00:36:39,879
From what I've learnt, not all negotiations and deals

660
00:36:39,960 --> 00:36:41,919
are done in one sitting. We've just got to

661
00:36:42,000 --> 00:36:44,599
make that final deal. But that's a positive movement

662
00:36:44,680 --> 00:36:46,519
in the right direction.

663
00:36:50,280 --> 00:36:54,319
Got some water.Yeah. Fill 'em up. Make the colours bling!

664
00:36:54,400 --> 00:36:56,999
Now it's just a waiting game for the customers to come.

665
00:36:57,080 --> 00:36:59,119
I've got pretty high hopes that, you know,

666
00:36:59,200 --> 00:37:01,799
with the sparkling rocks, it's all gonna sell itself.

667
00:37:03,400 --> 00:37:06,639
It's Angel and Cody's last day in Lightning Ridge

668
00:37:06,720 --> 00:37:10,399
and they still haven't sold any of their rainbow-matrix opal.

669
00:37:11,640 --> 00:37:13,559
CODY: Good morning. Hey, good morning.

670
00:37:13,640 --> 00:37:15,559
This is all Andamooka material.

671
00:37:15,640 --> 00:37:18,879
With all of this, these customers, it'll be that one person, you know?

672
00:37:18,960 --> 00:37:21,999
We're not gonna know who that one person is gonna be.

673
00:37:22,080 --> 00:37:25,239
Exactly, got to treat everyone as if they're the future buyer.Yep.

674
00:37:27,400 --> 00:37:30,759
Guys.Hey, mate, how are ya? I'm looking for some stones.

675
00:37:30,840 --> 00:37:32,759
What are you utilising the material for?

676
00:37:32,840 --> 00:37:36,639
I'm looking to make some rings. Righto, you're after the one piece?

677
00:37:36,720 --> 00:37:40,799
I'm looking for sort of between five to ten kilos.OK, OK. Yeah.

678
00:37:40,880 --> 00:37:42,679
Definitely, we can do that.

679
00:37:42,760 --> 00:37:45,279
Looking for different stones to add to our collection.

680
00:37:45,360 --> 00:37:48,479
We've got the Lightning Ridge opal, but this opal is beautiful.

681
00:37:49,640 --> 00:37:53,159
For ten kilos, 38 grand for ten kilos.

682
00:37:53,240 --> 00:37:56,239
Do you reckon that's fair?That's a good price. If you're happy?

683
00:37:56,320 --> 00:37:58,799
Yeah, I am.If you can make a deposit on that?

684
00:37:58,880 --> 00:38:00,559
Yeah, definitely.To secure it.

685
00:38:02,600 --> 00:38:04,759
Thank you!Awesome. Beauty. Thanks so much.

686
00:38:04,840 --> 00:38:07,239
I'll talk to you.Appreciate it, speak to you later.

687
00:38:07,320 --> 00:38:11,039
See you soon.Thank you. See you. Nailed it!Yes!

688
00:38:19,600 --> 00:38:21,679
Hello. I got Cody here. Hi, Joe, how are you?

689
00:38:23,440 --> 00:38:25,079
Yeah, good. Good, thanks, mate.

690
00:38:25,160 --> 00:38:27,839
We've pulled over. On our way back from Lightning Ridge.

691
00:38:27,920 --> 00:38:30,279
Bit of an update. I think we did pretty well.

692
00:38:30,360 --> 00:38:32,119
We made, you know, some sales.

693
00:38:32,200 --> 00:38:33,999
We didn't get rid of all the material.

694
00:38:36,760 --> 00:38:38,759
We made a lot of contacts, but we didn't -

695
00:38:48,680 --> 00:38:50,839
We made a fair bit in future sales, I believe,

696
00:38:50,920 --> 00:38:52,559
with the contacts we made.

697
00:38:56,680 --> 00:38:59,599
We definitely had interest within the overseas market.

698
00:38:59,680 --> 00:39:01,999
I feel like we had the necessary conversations.

699
00:39:04,440 --> 00:39:06,959
All right. Catch you, Joe. All right.

700
00:39:07,040 --> 00:39:08,959
We managed to close one sale.

701
00:39:09,040 --> 00:39:10,959
Joe was expecting a hell of a lot more.

702
00:39:11,040 --> 00:39:13,599
But we'll live and learn and next time, we'll do better.

703
00:39:13,680 --> 00:39:16,799
If anything, it was more of a humbling experience to learn

704
00:39:16,880 --> 00:39:18,999
you can have the material and do the hard work,

705
00:39:19,080 --> 00:39:21,599
but there's a little more to it. We're gonna figure out

706
00:39:21,680 --> 00:39:24,119
what that little more is, to try and secure a deal.

707
00:39:33,400 --> 00:39:35,959
The Opal Queen, um, event, they have a...

708
00:39:36,040 --> 00:39:37,719
We have an opal festival here.

709
00:39:37,800 --> 00:39:39,599
It's a really good night, you know?

710
00:39:39,680 --> 00:39:42,359
Elisabeth is keen to represent the town and the industry,

711
00:39:42,440 --> 00:39:44,839
if she was to be crowned the Opal Queen.

712
00:39:44,920 --> 00:39:48,039
And look, you know, I think whoever they pick will do a good job.

713
00:39:49,200 --> 00:39:51,719
Chris Cheal is taking a break from mining

714
00:39:51,800 --> 00:39:54,119
to help his fiancee Elisabeth Gale

715
00:39:54,200 --> 00:39:57,439
compete in the Lightning Ridge Opal Queen Ball.

716
00:39:57,520 --> 00:39:59,839
Not often we get to dress up in Lightning Ridge.

717
00:39:59,920 --> 00:40:04,119
That in itself is a fun experience and a fun time.

718
00:40:04,200 --> 00:40:08,879
It's good to celebrate the women and the girls in the community.

719
00:40:10,080 --> 00:40:13,359
I'm not used to these flash clothes.

720
00:40:13,440 --> 00:40:15,519
I don't, um, wear a suit much.

721
00:40:15,600 --> 00:40:21,999
My ring. It's a beautiful crystal opal that Rory dug out.

722
00:40:22,080 --> 00:40:24,439
Hey, babe, are you all right to go? Yeah, I'm ready.

723
00:40:26,680 --> 00:40:30,319
Oh, wow, babe! You look incredible.

724
00:40:30,400 --> 00:40:32,999
Thank you.Let's go.OK.

725
00:40:35,280 --> 00:40:37,879
The Bushmen's mine partner, Sam Mehan

726
00:40:37,960 --> 00:40:40,519
has also arrived for the competition.

727
00:40:40,600 --> 00:40:42,799
This is the start for tonight really.

728
00:40:42,880 --> 00:40:45,359
We've gotta go in with the judges, have a talk to them,

729
00:40:45,440 --> 00:40:47,959
and, then, that's where the judging process comes in.

730
00:40:48,040 --> 00:40:51,799
All I want to do is share how special opal is with all the world.

731
00:40:51,880 --> 00:40:55,599
And then I've got to strut my way down a catwalk.

732
00:40:55,680 --> 00:40:58,079
I don't usually get to dress up like this,

733
00:40:58,160 --> 00:41:01,239
it's really different to what I usually do. I was, like, why not?

734
00:41:01,320 --> 00:41:04,639
HOST: Ladies and gentlemen, we are going to get started very shortly.

735
00:41:08,600 --> 00:41:13,039
I'm a wee bit nervous now. I wasn't before!

736
00:41:13,120 --> 00:41:16,479
Ladies and gentlemen, our entrant No.1, Elisabeth Gale.

737
00:41:21,680 --> 00:41:23,679
I think Elisabeth is in with a good chance.

738
00:41:23,760 --> 00:41:25,479
But we'll just, just see how we go.

739
00:41:28,120 --> 00:41:32,559
Moving along now, please welcome Samantha Mehan, our entrant No.5.

740
00:41:39,000 --> 00:41:40,919
Sam Mehan, thank you so much.

741
00:41:45,240 --> 00:41:47,199
Ladies and gentlemen, without further ado,

742
00:41:47,280 --> 00:41:49,839
the moment we've all been waiting for.

743
00:41:49,920 --> 00:41:52,679
It is my pleasure to announce to you now

744
00:41:52,760 --> 00:41:56,279
that your 2023 Opal Queen is...

745
00:42:01,120 --> 00:42:04,159
..No.1.

746
00:42:11,280 --> 00:42:13,479
You never know what the judges are gonna think,

747
00:42:13,560 --> 00:42:16,919
and all the girls could equally have won tonight.

748
00:42:17,000 --> 00:42:20,959
So, I'm just very honoured that I was chosen as the winner tonight.

749
00:42:23,280 --> 00:42:26,279
It's awesome. I don't know. I worked myself up so much for this.

750
00:42:26,360 --> 00:42:29,279
But realistically, it was just a really fun experience.

751
00:42:29,360 --> 00:42:32,239
Now you're the Opal Queen, does that make me -

752
00:42:32,320 --> 00:42:35,879
You have to be my Opal King!

753
00:42:39,000 --> 00:42:41,519
Sam should be here soon. She said she was on the way.

754
00:42:41,600 --> 00:42:43,399
Yeah, she shouldn't be that far away.

755
00:42:43,480 --> 00:42:45,559
Wonder where she's come. If she's won it.

756
00:42:45,640 --> 00:42:48,039
That's a story, isn't it?

757
00:42:48,120 --> 00:42:50,119
Here she is! Oh, yeah.

758
00:42:50,200 --> 00:42:52,799
Hoo! Whoo-hoo!

759
00:42:52,880 --> 00:42:56,119
Second place, eh?Yes! Congratulations.Thank you.

760
00:42:56,200 --> 00:43:00,119
That's bloody brilliant. Good girl. Good on you, mate.Thanks, Les.

761
00:43:00,200 --> 00:43:02,919
We're supporting you too, mate! There we go!

762
00:43:03,000 --> 00:43:05,359
I love it! That's so good! That was a good night.

763
00:43:05,440 --> 00:43:09,079
I had lots of fun, and it was a lot different me wearing a ball gown.

764
00:43:09,160 --> 00:43:13,399
I bet it was! We were hoping you'd done pretty well.

765
00:43:13,480 --> 00:43:16,559
We've even got some plonk! Oh, how good is that?

766
00:43:18,000 --> 00:43:19,639
Whoa!There you go!

767
00:43:19,720 --> 00:43:23,359
Hey, that's all right! Oh, ! You have this one, Les!

768
00:43:23,440 --> 00:43:25,839
Thanks. Mind how you go.

769
00:43:25,920 --> 00:43:28,959
Cheers, Les.All cheers. Good on ya, mate.

770
00:43:29,040 --> 00:43:30,839
Thank you. Now to get back digging!

771
00:43:31,880 --> 00:43:33,879
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771
00:43:34,305 --> 00:44:34,917
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