Ruth looks for something sparkly!
After taking early retirement in 2015, Dave and Ruth Manning couldn’t wait to hitch up their caravan and go seek their fortune on the open road.
“We both love gold and gem fossicking,” said Ruth. “So, our gold detectors and our panning equipment were the first ‘toys’ to go into our 27-year-old Toyota Troopie.”
The couple started their endless treasure hunt in New South Wales where they struck out at Stuart Town but then struck gold near Ophir with a couple of nice little nuggets.
“They were possibly worth enough to buy a couple of new wiper blades for the Troopie but it was great fun,” said Ruth. “It’s the thrill of the chase that gets you hooked and, although we’ve dug enough lead shot to fill a coffee mug, we still dig every ‘signal’ … just in case!”
In Victoria, the pair found another nugget at Tarnagulla, and while at Whroo, near Rushworth, they came across a few terrific relics from the gold rush days, including some old metal buttons.
“We did quite a lot of panning at Eldorado in Victoria where we found a few nice sapphires, smokey quartz, some alluvial gold and a couple of small nuggets,” Ruth said. “That was a buzz … not worth a lot of money, but a heck of a lot of fun to see them in the bottom of the pan.”
The couple enjoy panning in the creeks, often wearing long waders if the water is cold, but they say digging holes looking for gold in the blazing heat requires dedication and concentration.
“While detecting, one has to be prepared to put up with flies, mozzies, prickly bushes, ants and sometimes snakes, but it is great fun to be out in the bush, very therapeutic,” said Ruth. “We’ve met some great characters along the way, including a lot of grey nomads and part-time fossickers who are sometimes so keen they leave at daylight and get back to camp at sundown.”
While in Tassie last summer, the Mannings found some nice little Sapphires, Smokey Quartz and Chalcedony and Zircons while panning near Derby in the north-east.
“It was so peaceful just sitting on a tripod stool on the edge of the water, shaking the sieves and seeing what was there,” said Ruth. “Our stones are just stored away in our ‘precious’ jar but if we ever settle down again, we would love to cut and polish our little beauties.”
And would they recommend treasure hunting to other grey nomads?
“Definitely,” said Ruth. “Sometime you’re lucky and sometimes you’re not, but the thrill of maybe finding that elusive big gold nugget makes it all worthwhile.”
