More than 180 people packed the club including the mineral resources minister Kerry Hickey as well as well-known mining identities and members of the wider mining community.

The night was a celebration of the LRMA's achievements over the years and a chance to share in the stories and memories from some of the old-timers of the opal industry.

Mr Hickey said he was honoured to be part of the celebrations and he was ready to stand up and fight for the rights of miners.

"You are a very unique group of people, and I'm taken by your uniqueness and taken by your honesty."

"I think the Ridge has been overlooked for quite a long period of time, I think just by my presence I show I am serious about the issues in the Ridge, and I will be trying to address many of those issues," he said.

"During the past 30 years the association has represented the interests of opal miners and prospectors, and it has played an amazing role in the vitality and the future of a multi-million dollar industry, not just for NSW but for Australia."

Mayor Peter Waterford spoke about memories of his father dealing with miners on his land and the benefits the miners brought to the town.

"During the years Lightning Ridge has boomed, and it is what it is today because of the uniqueness of the elusive black opal and the miners who look for it," he said.

"A hearty congratulations and very well done especially to those miners who have stuck with the association."

LRMA president Jerry Lomax spoke about the uniqueness of the Ridge and its people.

"People realised you could fulfil your dreams in this place. You could work the way you wanted to work, when you wanted to work, and how you wanted to work. That's why people came here."

He spoke about the history of the LRMA and what it stands for in the opal industry of today.

"We've evolved, the legislation has changed, but we're still fighting for the same thing.

"Everything to do with this industry is access to mining ground, and that's been the main purpose of the mining association, to provide infrastructure and to manage change as the town develops," he said.

"This town enjoys the best mining legislation in my view of anywhere in the world, it gives us the greatest freedom within the concepts of being responsible."

Anthony Malonas spoke on behalf of all the 'designer' miners of the opal industry, who are younger generation opal miners.