Kympatti Bears

“A TEDDY CALLED SAPPHIRE”

A while ago, we were invited to attend a small Doll and Teddy Show in Rockhampton. The Folk up there had been trying to generate local interest in establishing an Annual event and they thought perhaps our “Bears For Allll” road show might help kick start things. At least on the Teddy Bear side of things anyway!

We were not overly optimistic about our ability to help, because generally only extensive (and costly) advertising can bring people to such shows, but nevertheless we went … after all someone has to bring enlightenment to the northern tribes!

As we all know, the humble Teddy is without peer as an emissary of good will!

With the “Road Show”, van loaded with Teddies, kits, patterns, fabrics and all the accessories that any well-dressed Teddy could possibly want, we left at sunrise for the 700 klm trek north. We would give it our best shot at Rocky, then return via the inland route through the Gem Fields around Emerald … maybe a bit of fossiking on the Sapphire Fields would prove to be a welcome break from the Studio Routine.

The Show at Rocky turned out to be a very low key affair with few Trading tables and few Show Visitors. However, we made the best of things by conducting a couple of mini-workshops and demonstrations. For us the bottom line was quite reasonable and the folk that we met up there made our journey well worthwhile. Equally important, the Teddies that we left in Rocky found very loving homes indeed.

Once the Show was over we headed off to the Gem fields on our return journey home. The major Sapphire fields are around the township of Anakie, about one hundred klms west of Emerald. We settled for a caravan park on a field known as “The Willows”. This is one of the few ‘hand mining only’ areas and it is still possible for the average fossiker to unearth some great Sapphires … or so we were told!

As you would expect on the Gem fields, stories about fabulous finds abound. In the public bar at the Anakie pub, you will hear them all; and leave with no doubt whatever, that “King Solomon’s mine” is just waiting for that lucky fossiker. Some tales are no doubt true, but I suspect that over the years and over the beers many have grown in the telling. However the tale that I have for you is true, though not in the category of “truly fabulous”.

We settled in at the caravan park and automatically slipped into totally relaxed mode. I wandered off to the local mining warden’s office where I purchased a hand mining permit plus the hire of a pick, a shovel and a bucket.

Meanwhile Patti was relaxing, enjoying the abundant wild life and a well earned break. Being a bit of a skeptic, she was less inclined to believe the rumors about great treasures unearthed with a mining pick.

After the first few hours of digging and shoveling like a demented Wombat, I was definitely leaning toward her point of view. But tired muscles mean nothing when the lure is that sparkle of fire flashing from a perfect Sapphire. I therefore toiled on.

Meanwhile, the bear-making spouse had established a Workshop in the recreation hall. She had discovered half a dozen ladies who were slightly bored with total relaxation, but who shared her aversion about digging holes among the rocks and scrub.

And so it was that I played at being a wombat whilst Patti introduced her new friends to the pleasures of Teddy-making. By weeks’ end, I had tunneled at least half way to Shanghai. We had unearthed just a few flawed Sapphires – hardly a “Fabulous Treasure”! Patti and the ladies had produced some great Bears. Then one night it rained, which is not a common occurrence out West, though it opens up a rare opportunity on the Gem fields. The opportunity is called “Specking”. The idea is that after rain, any Sapphires on the surface will be washed clean, and consequently will reflect sunlight brilliantly. One can, with luck, literally pick up Gemstones as they glitter in the morning sunshine.

And so it happened that after days of toil where I had lucked out, Patti, but on the morning after rain, picked up a perfect blue Sapphire while walking to the recreation room. As I said at the time “It would make a man spit”! (The injustice of it is mind boggling).

Naturally, Patti called the Teddy that she had finished that day “Sapphire”, and this critter was the Bear that started our new series called “Bling or Jewel Teddies”.

Whether, as some folk believe, the Bears really orchestrated the outcome of our sojourn on the Gem fields, is open to conjecture. Here at “Kympatti”, we have been around the furry critters for so long that it’s easy to believe that they have definitely worked their magic yet again.

May the Bears be with you?