Jeweller - June, Edition II 2020

News
Buying groups confirmed for Sydney Jewellery Fair as planning gathers pace
Jewellers, said, “The IJWF is the main industry
event each year, so we all need to do our best
to support the industry, particularly in these
difficult conditions.”
Carson Webb, general manager Showcase
Jewellers, added, “The importance of getting
together and planning for the Christmas period
should never be underestimated. It’s been one heck
of a ride so far in 2020 so this would be fabulous as
a positive get-together.
Three of the four buying groups have committed to this year’s International Jewellery & Watch Fair (IJWF).
This year’s International Jewellery & Watch Fair
(IJWF) will be supported by Nationwide Jewellers,
Showcase Jewellers, and the country’s newest
buying group Independent Jewellers Collective,
organiser Expertise Events has confirmed.
Gary Fitz-Roy, managing director Expertise
Events, said the fair was an opportunity for the
Australian jewellery industry to reconnect and heal
following a devastating year of bushfires and the
COVID-19 pandemic.
The IJWF is scheduled to take place from 12–14
September at the International Convention Centre
(ICC) in Sydney, with Fitz-Roy expressing confidence
in governments rolling back COVID-19 restrictions
and border controls in the coming weeks.
“As each week goes by we are increasingly confident
that both Federal and State government restrictions
are being relaxed. We have had indications the
Queensland borders will open by 10 July and we
believe exhibition centres will have staggered
openings from July in Queensland and NSW,”
Fitz-Roy said.
“[Expertise Events is] ready to go for a successful
fair and we are equally waiting to take advice from
the [NSW] State Medical Officer as the rules are
changing weekly, and by the time the IJWF comes
around the rules will be different from today.”
Fitz-Roy emphasised that the participation of
three of the four buying groups – which together
represent more than 550 jewellery stores and
more than 460 members – was critical to
achieving the goal of reconnecting and reuniting
the jewellery industry.
“I would very much like to acknowledge the
support and encouragement from Nationwide
and Showcase over many years for showing
their commitment to help jewellers thrive and
prosper,” Fitz-Roy said.
Colin Pocklington, managing director Nationwide
“Networking, preparing product and range
offerings for Christmas, communicating with
our partners and retailers, and specifically sharing
our challenges and wins over this difficult period,
will be essential,” he added.
Independent Jewellers Collective (IJC), which was
established in January 2020, will make its debut
appearance at the fair, with CEO Joshua Zarb telling
Jeweller, “This is an exciting year for IJC as it will
be our chance to tell our story and cement our
place in the jewellery industry. We always set out to
be a smaller, bespoke group of proactive retailers
and suppliers and although we hadn’t factored a
pandemic into our opening timeline, we hit our
starting numbers and couldn’t be more excited to
get to the fair.”
Notably, at the time of publication, Leading Edge
Group Jewellers (LEGJ) was yet to confirm its
participation at this year’s event.
Simon Lane, CEO Leading Edge Group, said,
“We are looking at attending again this year but
are looking for assurances around social distancing
measures to protect our staff and members. We
are in discussions with the event manager as to
how we might participate and how they intend
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Bail hearings held
for defendants in
Melbourne Gold
Company robbery
Melbourne Magistrates’ Court has heard bail
applications for Karl Kachami, 48, and Daniel
Ede, 37, who are defendants in the $3.9 million
armed robbery of gold dealer Melbourne Gold
Company (MGC).
Kachami was arrested shortly after the robbery,
which took place at 9.40am on 27 April at MGC’s
offices on Collins Street. CCTV footage showed him
apparently threatening Ede – an employee of MGC
– with a firearm before opening a safe and loading
gold bullion, jewellery and cash onto a trolley before
fleeing the scene in a vehicle.
The Age reported that he later led police to his
family’s property at Dollar, in the Gippsland
region, where they recovered a portion of the
stolen goods and cash, as well as a handgun
and stolen number plates.
Ede was subsequently arrested on 12 May and
charged with aggravated burglary, theft, perjury
and firearms offences, with police alleging he
and Kachami were friends and had planned the
robbery together.
At the bail hearing, Detective Senior Constable Sarah
Inglese, Victoria Police, said that inspection of the
CCTV footage indicated the gun wielded by Kachami
was not loaded.
Police allege that a suspicious white vehicle spotted
in Dollar in the days following the robbery belonged
to Ede’s father-in-law. Additionally, the court heard
that Ede had previously loaned Kachami $88,000.
Acting for Kachami at the hearing, barrister Philip
Dunn QC characterised the robbery as a “comedy of
errors” and said his client “went along with what he
thought was a no-risk plan”.
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12 | June 2020