The function was held at the Lightning Ridge Bowling Club and Peter said he couldn’t have been happier with the service.

“They made a tremendous effort.”

He was also quick to praise his wife, Val, for the fantastic cake she made for the occasion.

Peter’s arrival in the opal scene is similar to those of many who come to this strange and fantastic place and cannot leave.

Peter had been working in Sydney and decided to go for a drive into the country.

He got as far as Walgett, stopped and had a few beers, but it was only when a patron of the pub told him to go have a look at the new opal field that just opened up, called Glengarry, that he set foot in opal territory.

It took only one look, and in a flash he was there living and mining to his heart content. For 25 years he also owned and operated the Glengarry Hilton.

“He was a lucky miner and a hard worker,” said Mrs Vanemmerik.

“He would mine throughout the day and then run the pub in the night”.

All the family and friends who gathered for the event spoke highly of Peter wishing him a ‘Happy Birthday’ on this momentous occasion.