The Electrical Trades Union of Victoria are opposed to the continual restrictions placed on their member’s recreational activities in Victoria and have instigated a political lobby group, the ” Outdoor Recreation Advocacy Group”. As part of this launch over 900 electricians walked off building sites in Victoria  on the 31st March 2023.
The PMAV have contacted the ETU and been welcomed into this lobby group to work together in ensuring ALL Victorians have access to their rights to responsible recreational activities free of over governance and restrictions.
Media Release HERE

   

Always in our hearts and minds, Rita Bentley (OAM) who passed away 15th July 2020. 
Her amazing lifetime devotion to fight for our rights to maintain access to our public forests on behalf of all bush users as well as the members of PMAV.
The PMAV committee going forward will not lose sight of her efforts as a legacy for her marvellous contribution and dedication into the future.

Minelab, with the nationwide assistance of state organisations representing prospectors, compiled the first of its kind, economic report into prospecting within Australia.
With almost $1Billion in GDP and over 5500 full time jobs, governments would do well to remember our contribution to not only the economy, but to the social and mental health benefits many Australian families get from prospecting.

Report Economic Contribution of Recreational Prospecting – Update July 2021

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1 day ago

PMAV

Deadline for advertising will close on 2nd April for the next Eureka Echo magazine (due 20th April 2024
Reach over 3000 in the gold community in our high quality, glossy magazine. Email/hardcopy at every goldfield event!
If you are a PMAV sponsor you should have been contacted to get your advert or article in now! LIMITED SPACE
CONTACT David Bentley 0459618 338
email david.bentley22@bigpond.com

Sharon’s Gold Boxes RawGold Goldfields Guide Dunolly Gold Rush Festival Coiltek Gold Centre Eddys Garage Bendigo Gem Club The Prospectors Pick Tryhard Prospecting Porcupine Village The Gold Centre Maryborough Miners Den Australia (expo?) Visit Ballarat Regent Cinemas Ballarat Lucky Strike Gold ELECTRIC PICTURES Laanecoorie Lakeside Park Detect A Den Hobbies & Prospecting Railway hotel Dunolly Newbridge Hotel Hobosgold adventures Peter W Beck - Precious Metals Detect A Den Hobbies & Prospecting Detectronics Australia Gold Rat Engineering Trev's Sluices Mining Queensland WA GOLD Geologist Gold Ballarat Walhalla Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine Central Deborah Gold Mine
Coiltek Coils - Optimising Discovery Coiltek Manufacturing Grappy$ Gold Buyers Goldfields World Heritage Bid
...

Deadline for advertising will close on 2nd April for the next Eureka Echo magazine (due 20th April 2024
Reach over 3000 in the gold community in our high quality, glossy magazine. Email/hardcopy at every goldfield event! 
If you are a PMAV sponsor you should have been contacted to get your advert or article in now! LIMITED SPACE 
CONTACT David Bentley 0459618 338 
email david.bentley22@bigpond.com

Sharon’s Gold Boxes RawGold Goldfields Guide Dunolly Gold Rush Festival Coiltek Gold Centre Eddys Garage Bendigo Gem Club The Prospectors Pick Tryhard Prospecting Porcupine Village The Gold Centre Maryborough  Miners Den Australia (expo?) Visit Ballarat Regent Cinemas Ballarat Lucky Strike Gold ELECTRIC PICTURES Laanecoorie Lakeside Park Detect A Den Hobbies & Prospecting Railway hotel Dunolly Newbridge Hotel Hobosgold adventures Peter W Beck - Precious Metals Detect A Den Hobbies & Prospecting Detectronics Australia Gold Rat Engineering Trevs Sluices Mining Queensland WA GOLD Geologist Gold Ballarat Walhalla Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine Central Deborah Gold Mine  
Coiltek Coils - Optimising Discovery Coiltek Manufacturing Grappy$ Gold Buyers  Goldfields World Heritage Bid

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David Bentley

I will send David a memory stick tomorrow.

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2 days ago

PMAV

Great result for everyone.
Well done Luke and legal mate!The start of this year 2024 has been life changing for myself and my family, but not in a bad way. Overcoming personal hurdles, unwanted hurdles and even unforeseen hurdles…

It first started with a letter from Heritage Victoria. Next my first ever medical surgery to go through and recover from. Then a few days later I was to learn my work of 3 years was closing down and my job to be made redundant. Meaning that after my surgery recovery, I would have no work to return to and would be financially worse off even more so than prior.

So I won't lie, yes the first two months of this year have been pretty tough!!

Throughout all of these sudden unexpected challenges though I have tried to keep up the best smile and best positive attitude that I could. However that has only been made possible because of the incredible overwhelming support that has been holding me up though it all.
Receiving multiple emails, weekly phone calls, text messages, even visits at home with cake and coffee for a chat. Plus engaging with the most amazing legal representation anyone could ask for🙏

I really can't begin to tell you just how truly thankful I am for all of this❤️

Just recently though it looks like all of these negatives mentioned are now turning around into positives. Tuesday 27-2-2024 I was happy to receive a very positive response from Heritage Victoria.
Heritage Victoria has recognised the passion that I and all of you have for our historical heritage and I am working with Heritage Victoria and my lawyer in coming up with a positive way forward that will ensure that: a) there is good guidance for detectorists, b) we can continue our passion in a responsible way, and c) heritage is protected, as it should be.

You will see more information on our page over time, so keep watching the Dig It Detecting Facebook page. Initially you will see a message on the top of the Dig It Detecting page that helps provide information for thousands of us out there and was also outlined within my original proposal correspondence email to Heritage Victoria.
I honestly feel that creating the best collaborative approach between Heritage Victoria and our Metal Detecting Community for present plus future generations to come is the best outcome for all of us and what I will be continuing pursuing and working towards to achieve.

Steps For Me To Take Now.
As mentioned above. I will now be updating the Dig It Detecting Facebook Group with a general post. This post will also be pinned to the top of the group for any new members to view and read in future.
I will also continue to engage with Heritage Victoria in clarifying what my/our obligations are as metal detectorists and hopefully educating our community at the same time. Just as I have done with so many other aspects surrounding my metal detecting activities in past years.

(Update On Metal Detecting Petition & Survey. With Following Steps For Me Take In Future)

Metal Detecting Petition.
On the 21-1-2024 I set up and started running “Preserve The Past” Metal Detecting Petition Online at Change.Org.
Running this Petition I feel has been a huge success and has had a lot of impact, quickly gaining over 4277 signatures to date.
That is also 88 sheets of supporting signatures alone, plus 97 pages of supportive comments all printed off if ever needed for reference. Some comments that were quite hard to read too I must say. Really hitting home! Because as I was reading through the supportive comments, I really got a grasp of just how much this situation touched and affected every individual out there. Also showing me just how important it was to work harder every day for our best outcome.
We even had signatures coming in from all across the world. China, Japan, Malaysia, Germany, United States...just to name a few.
www.change.org/PreserveThePastEmpoweringMetalDetectingForRealHeritageConservation

The Petition I feel though has now served its intended purpose and will be finalised by me in coming weeks then removed. If you did not get the chance to add your details to this petition and you would like to, then please be sure to check out and fill in our Metal Detecting Survey. (More explained below)

Metal Detecting Survey Australia.
On the 15-2-2024 I set up and started running the Metal Detecting Survey Australia. This survey once again has been a huge success so far since starting and with over 500 entries now, I am starting to collect enough data to build some very interesting graphs. Showing some very interesting statistics throughout our metal detecting community. Statistics and graphs that I will keep putting together and share at a later date when possible.
If you have not yet filled in our survey, please be sure to do so. Every bit helps.
forms.office.com/r/T8C4T7s3jG

Meeting With Local MP Member Update.
As many will know I had set up and attended a meeting with my Local MP to explain the situation regarding Heritage Victoria. This meeting was very successful, with a two-hour interview explaining everything involved.

Conclusion To Date. 24-3-2024
I would once again like to say a huge thankyou to everyone who has supported myself and this most important cause for the past month…it's been a ride so far!
I would never have been able to push through to this point without all your support though...but just remember it's not over yet!!

I would also like to add. One of the hardest things for me was to come forward and make this situation public knowledge about Dig It Detecting. Because of course I never wanted to upset anyone, nor damage the reputation that I have worked so hard to achieve over the past 7 years within this amazing community.

There has been little, to no doubt, ever shown towards me as we proceeded over the past month with all of this though. Instead just overwhelming support from everyone. Which I really can't begin to tell you just how much that meant and will always mean to me.

One of the hardest times of my life, but it's because of you that got me through so far❤️ Standing together is what keeps us strong! Thank you so much again everyone🙏🤝⛏️😊👍
@followers @topfans
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Great result for everyone.
Well done Luke and legal mate!

3 days ago

PMAV

Today at Celebration of Neville Perry.
A day full of love and admiration for Neville and his family, Denise, Nick, Shalee, Jayden xx
Well done Brent Shannon and crew, Westy Ethan, Bruce and all for setting up and paying for all amenities.
Andrew at Coiltek Gold Centre Liz Pickthall Minelab Metal Detectors Tryhard Prospecting Sharon’s Gold Boxesfor sponsorship and support.
Thank you to Kay and Maryanne who stayed at the PMAV stall and helped getting 57+1 new members to celebrate each of Neville's years. With the Stake the Claim we raised $1300 for children with cancer charity! Special mention to Darren for helping on the day - everywhere!
With the auctions and donations the day raised over $6500 for kids with cancer.
Proud to be part of such a loving community as Neville was.
...

Comment on Facebook

The day was a great tribute to Neville's life. Well done to his family, work mates, film crew and friends that put it together! 🙏 💕

Fantastic day in honour of a wonderful man

It was a great day honour a legend of a man

Wish I could of been there but I had to work I'm glad everyone looks like they are having a great day so many smiles

"Nev" you are an inspiration to us all, will meet you again someday in that paddock of nuggets. Love ya mate.

Thanks Kay for all you do at PMAV

So far away here in Scotland, but would have loved to been a part of this celebrating a lovely man's life....

Much love and respect, well done Shane and all. We miss him here in London too. But I am sure all of you will be being watched by him somewhere, and he will help you in your endeavours to find gold. True legend is our Neville, loved and missed.

Well done Brent

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3 days ago

PMAV

At Neville’s celebration ...

Comment on Facebook

❤️Share With Family and Friend❤️ Stream Link:👉 cutt.ly/lw9joLN3 We are showing today's program on TV channel. Register for free. And participate live. Stay away from scammers.Thanks❤️

Fantastic day, great turnout. Well done to everyone involved with organising and setting up. A fitting tribute to Nev.

Was such a magical day ⛏️🇦🇺⛏️🇦🇺

It was a fantastic day

What a great day, Wonderful turn out, met some great people, The perry family and Brent couldn't have organised it any better. But the biggest sensation I got, was during the AUTIONS when Andrew from coiltec brought the T-SHIRT that was signed by Neville perry and I donated. Thanks Andrew . That feeling is as good as me finding a nugget, R.I.P Neville

Was a Great day. was awesome to see n meet so many great people. Thanks to all 😁👍⚒️🍻

Fantastic Day For Neville Perry Day. A lovely man loved by his family and community. Fantastic by all the organisers ⛏️🙂⛏️🙂🎥

Was amazing.. a really lovely tribute.

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4 days ago

PMAV

@followers
Tomorrow at Neville's Celebration of Life we will mark each of Neville's 58 legendary years with a $30 membership (renew or join) and get entry into a chance to win gold nuggets.⚒
Over $400 worth!
First draw will be at 12pm, second draw at 1pm and last draw at 2pm.
ONLY 58 will be available.
Get in early and join and get greater chance of winning as the odds will change! Anyone can renew or join including me, renewing for next 2024 - so I'm now in for a chance👍
Neville believed in the PMAV to make a difference and we are doing that with your help.
East Gippsland branch- P.M.A.V. Ballarat P.M.A.V. PMAV - West Gippsland Branch PMAV Bendigo Branch PMAV Geelong PMAV Melbourne PMAV Central Goldfields GROUP
...

@followers
Tomorrow at Nevilles Celebration of Life we will mark each of Nevilles 58 legendary years with a $30 membership (renew or join) and get entry into a chance to win gold nuggets.⚒
Over $400 worth!
First draw will be at 12pm, second draw at 1pm and last draw at 2pm.
ONLY 58 will be available. 
Get in early and join and get greater chance of winning as the odds will change! Anyone can renew or join including me, renewing for next 2024 - so Im now in for a chance👍
Neville believed in the PMAV to make a difference and we are doing that with your help.
East Gippsland branch- P.M.A.V. Ballarat P.M.A.V. PMAV - West Gippsland Branch PMAV Bendigo Branch PMAV Geelong PMAV Melbourne PMAV Central Goldfields GROUPImage attachment

Comment on Facebook

Adam Humphrey

Will be there in spirit. Just couldn't get down from Port Stephens. Wishing you a wonderful celebration of a wonderful man.

Amanda Downing

Wishing all a great day celebrating the life of an amazing man I will be there in spirit

Wishing everyone a great day

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