Rush in for find

By Tania Martin
A STORY of how the lure of gold led to the birth of a community will take centre stage next week.
The play, titled, Set in Gold, takes a compelling look at how the Emerald gold rush started.
It all began in 1858 when a police inspector and a government geologist stirred up some Ballarat miners to start looking for gold in the Dandenongs.
To help celebrate the 150th anniversary of the gold rush, local writers Ken Purdham and Marjorie Speck have collaborated with Gemco Players to produce a dramatic re-enactment of the events that led to the first discovery.
The pair has spent hours pouring over research to get a true depiction of the gold rush era.
The drama has recreated the real life events which saw Ballarat miners hacking their way through the bush and how they carved out a community in their search for gold.
This compelling play shows the toils of a gold rush that lasted only a short time.
As the curtain is raised on Set in Gold, audiences will view through the actors’ eyes a trek to the hills in search of that illusive and powerful resource.
This drama is a story of the hardships told with humour and sorrow.
According to Ms Speck, the play was built on the foundations of fact and folklore and that it would not only entertain but also educate hills audiences.
“We created characters and built a story on the foundations of facts,” she said.
“We aimed for it to be true to the spirit of the community of Emerald and reflect the times and hardships faced by the early pioneers of this district.”
Set in Gold will be performed on 16 and 17 May and 23 and 24 May at the Gemco Community Theatre, Kilvington Drive, Emerald, from 7.30pm.
A matinee performance will also be performed on 17 May at 2.30pm.
Tickets are now on sale and cost $15 for adults or $12 for concession cardholders, which includes a light supper.
Hills people can also take away a memento of the 150th anniversary of the gold rush after Gemco Players also decided to produce a book to mark the occasion.
The book titled, A Jewel Set in Gold, documents the gold discovery of 1858 and how the writers sifted through the nuggets of history and from there created an exciting new drama. To make a booking call 5968 2844 or 0411 723 530.