Columbia Gem House (CGH) has announced the return of its annual “Opals for Outback Heroes” online raffle, now in its fifth year.
The initiative supports the Lightning Ridge Rural Fire Brigade in New South Wales, Australia, and coincides with the 2025 MJSA Responsibly Sourced Design Challenge.
Supporting the Lightning Ridge Community
Designers participating in the MJSA Responsibly Sourced Design Challenge have donated jewelry pieces featuring Lightning Ridge opals supplied by Columbia Gem House. The pieces will be raffled online, with proceeds supporting the volunteer fire brigade serving the local mining community and surrounding areas.
The Lightning Ridge Rural Fire Brigade is a volunteer-run organisation that responds to bushfires, structure fires, land searches, hazard-reduction burns and motor vehicle accidents. Funds raised will go towards essential upgrades including new furniture, computers, lighting and office supplies for the brigade’s training facilities. Additional funding will support the purchase of a thermal imaging camera for use in fire response operations. If resources allow, improvements will also include repainting training areas, acquiring a pressure cleaner for equipment maintenance and installing lockers for gear storage.
CGH, in partnership with Cheal Opal, selected the Lightning Ridge Rural Fire Brigade as this year’s beneficiary to support the community associated with the mining of its opals.
Partnership with the MJSA Responsibly Sourced Design Challenge
The raffle is held in conjunction with the MJSA Responsibly Sourced Design Challenge, an annual competition that encourages jewellers to explore responsible sourcing through creative design.
Each of the nine pieces in the “Opals for Outback Heroes” raffle has been designed by a participating jeweller in the Challenge and incorporates Lightning Ridge opals donated by CGH. Tickets are priced at $25, with 100 tickets available per piece. The raffle is open until 31 October through CGH’s website.
