Awards 2019
The exhibition of all of the entries was one of the true highlights of the Lightning Ridge Opal Festival and there were thousands of visitors, all lovers of opal, that came to see the jewellery, carvings and hand sketches. The Gala night held on Friday to announce the winners to industry members, sponsors, locals and international guests was as spectacular as the entries we received. If you didn’t make it to the Gala dinner this year we hope to see you at the next awards in 2023.
Here are the winners and finalists of each category.
Prestige Professional Jewellery
Winner:
Paloma Sanchez “Medusa’s Sting”
Highly Commended:
John McCallum “Flight of Fancy”
Warren Brown (Whitneys Jewellers) “Red Admiral Butterfly”
Finalists:
John McCallum “Flight of Fancy”
Paloma Sanchez “Medusa’s Sting”
Warren Brown (Whitneys Jewellers) “Red Admiral Butterfly”
Christine Roussel Incentive Award
Winner:
The Gemstone Trading Company “Marine Magic”
People’s Choice
Winner:
Justine Buckley “Imperial Chaos”
Fantasy
Winner:
Mac Art Jewellery “My Steam Punk Fantasy 2”
Highly Commended:
Peter Sherman “Siren Sea Goddess”
Finalists:
Dean Walker “It Came from Outer Space”
Mac Art Jewellery “My Steam Punk Fantasy 2”
Sherman Opals “Siren Sea Goddess”
Designer Wear for Men
Winner:
Justine Buckley “Enchanted Oasis”
Highly Commended:
Carmen Kai Man Hui “Prince Rock”
Finalists:
Justine Buckley “Enchanted Oasis”
Carmen Kai Man Hui “Prince Rock”
Professional Abstract Carving
Winner:
Daniela L’Abbate “Balancing Rocks”
Highly Commended:
Daniela L’Abbate “Yoda”
Finalists:
Cheryl Kasper “Hypnotic”
Daniela L’Abbate “Balancing Rocks”
Daniela L’Abbate “Yoda”
Justine Buckley “Helicoid”
Professional Figurative Carving
Winner:
The Gemstone Trading Company “Marine Magic”
Highly Commended:
Katharina Zimmer “Octopus
Finalists:
Cheryl Kasper “Drago Verdi”
Daniela L’Abbate “Indigo Iris”
The Gemstone Trading Company “Marine Magic”
Katharina Zimmer “Octopus”
Non-Professional Categories
Alf White Memorial Day Wear
Winner:
Miroslav Schulc “Effeminancy”
Finalists:
Miroslav Schulc “Starry Starry Night”
Miroslav Schulc “Effeminancy”
Alf White Memorial Evening Wear
Winner:
Miroslav Schulc “Starry Starry Night”
Highly Commended:
Caz Peters “Sephany”
Finalists:
Miroslav Schulc “Starry Starry Night”
Miroslav Schulc “Effeminancy”
Non-Professional Abstract Carving
Winner:
Christine Loewe “Green Vein”
Highly Commended:
Brett Kemeny “Cuttlefish”
Finalists:
Christina Loewe “Green Vein”
Penny-ann Clark “Fan”
Penny-ann Clark “Honey Rainbow”
Penny-ann Clark “Mullock Heaps”
Brett Kemeny “Cuttlefish”
Helen Ward “Blue Cascade”
Non Professional Figurative Carving
Winner:
Christine Loewe “Hippi Crocodile”
Highly Commended:
Sara Smith “Feather”
Finalists:
Christine Loewe “Hippi Crocodile”
Sara Smith “Feather”
Jewellery Hand Sketches
Winner:
Jennifer Rowlands “Seahorse”
Highly Commended:
Si-Ying Chen “Spring”
Finalists:
Lin Hao-Pei “It brings you good luck”
Jennifer Rowlands “Seahorse”
Yun-Chen Hsieh “The Magic Lamp”
Si-Ying Chen “Spring”
Meghna Singh “Fierce Elegance”
