Our Story
Hi, I'm Penny (Nee: Penelope) a proud daughter, Sister and its my delight to tell my family's story and showcase their exquisite opal collection.
L-R: Karin Jackson, Mark Jackson, Liam Jackson (3 yrs) , Michael Jackson, Karlyn Jackson, Penny Jackson, Anita Jackson, Donald Andrews, Miles Jackson (7 yrs), Nicole Jackson, Prof Stuart Jackson, Stuart Jackson
Penny Jackson and Frida Saul- "the Breakaways" Coober Pedy, South Australia
My father, Stuart Jackson has been a master opal cutter for 60 years. He moved to Coober Pedy, South Australia in 1989 after accepting at role at Coober Pedy TAFE. Commissioned to produce a national curriculum for opal cutting, he went on to teach students from all over the globe to cut and polish opal to the highest quality. Soon after his son, Mark Jackson, started his successful opal mining career, joining our father in 1990.
Mark was also lucky enough meet his Swiss wife Karin in 1995 while she was visiting the outback as a tourist and they have never looked back.
Mark Jackson at Umoona Opal Mine and Museum where some of his specimens are on display
Both Stuart and Mark were invited to participate in the "OPALS" exhibition put on by the South Australian Museum in Adelaide. With around 20 contributions by the Jackson family, this all helped to bring about the most successful exhibition ever staged by the South Australian Museum.
Picture: South Australian Museum, North Tce, Adelaide
Mark continues to supply many international museums with opalised fossil specimens.
To this day, Stuart remains a prominent figure in the Opal industry, including his role as a valuer of rough and cut opals for the Federal Government Cultural Gifts program.
Want to learn a little more about Coober Pedy and our family? Head over and watch ABC’s 4 part television series "Opal Fever". Get to know Mark and Stuart in this award winning Piper Films documentary. (Link Below)
AWARDS
- AFI Nomination for Cinematography
- ACS Golden Tripod - Documentaries Cinema & TV
- 4 Gold ACS - Documentaries Cinema & TV
- National Geographic - Best People and Places
- ATOM Awards -Best Documentary
- Melbourne DV Festival - Best Documentary
https://vimeopro.com/piperfilms/opal-fever
Media Appearances:
- Opal Fever- ABC- Stuart & Mark Jackson
- Outback Opal Hunters- S1-Discovery-Stuart Jackson
- Opal- South Australian Museum- Stuart & Mark Jackson
- ABC News- Colourful Characters of Coober Pedy- Mark Jackson - https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2017-04-21/colourful-characters-coober-pedy/8447750
- The Hearld, Scotland-https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12611178.fake-gem-trade-threatens-coober-pedy-australias-subterranean-opal-city/