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TABLELANDER - Tuesday January 12th 2010

"Ancient croc skulls snap up attention"

An unusual window display featuring fossilised crocodile skulls as old as dinosaurs and 300 million year old sea creatures has been stopping foot traffic in Atherton's main street.

The rare objects have made their way from the Sahara desert of Africa to The Crystal Caves where their display is attracting much attention.

Owner and global collector Rene Boissevain has just released his latest find to the public, and says the genuinely rare fossils are snapped up by collectors worldwide.

"These Gavial crocodile skulls are between 65 and 144 million years old, and are very scarce nowadays," Mr Boissevain said.

"The species were the ancestors of the Nile crocodiles, and most disappeared at the time of the dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous period.

"unlike modern crocodiles, their diet was exclusively small fish, so their slender snouts were built for speed and manoeuvrability."

Avid collectors of these extremely rare fossilised crocodile skulls like to display their objects of art mounted and carefully backlit in a trophy case created by an interior designer.

"Our croc skulls are from Southern Morocco, where we've uncovered a new, exciting supplier who is a well qualified geologist.

"We purchased four, all that were available, and two of the most outstanding of these are on display at The Crystal Caves," Mr Boissevain said.

"Direct importing means we avoid the middlemen, giving us a super competitive pricing structure."

As well as the croc skulls, Mr Boissevain's latest shipment contained some unique tables and bathroom sinks hand carved from slabs of Sahara seabed fossil rock featuring sea creatures and shells over 300 million years old which are also featured in the striking window display.

CAIRNS AND THE REEF - ATTRACTIONS & TOURS DESTINATIONS
December / January 2009 / 2010 Edition

"More than just a rock shop"

What - The Crystal Cave, Ph: 4091 2365
Where - 69 Main St. Atherton www.crystalcaves.com.au
Cost - $20 Adults, $10 Children under 14, Children under four free, $15 Pensioners

"Not just a rock shop" is the catchphrase of a little gem of a tourist attraction on the Atherton Tablelands. The Crystal Caves, at 69 Main St. Atherton, offers a fascinating - and educational - experience for the whole family. Created by Rene Boissevain, the underground adventure museum takes visitors on an interactive self guided tour through nine unique man made caves. Before setting off into the caves, we are each given a miner's helmet complete with LED headlamp, and it's wise to leave it on as the cave system can get narrow with low ceilings. At first we notice only the obvious crystal specimens right in front of us, but then we take a good look around into the nooks and crannies of the caves and discover hundreds more. Visitors are encouraged to touch and feel the crystals, giant fossils, volcanic sculptures and dinosaur eggs, and cameras are welcome. Each crystal is numbered so you can refer to your guide book to find out what it is and where it comes from. The specimens collected in this museum come from all around the world, making it a very unique collection. Halfway through the tunnels we come to a wide open chamber housing the Empress of Uruguay. This magnificent amethyst geode has to be seen to be believed. More than three metres tall and weighing two and a half tonnes, this is the biggest amethyst geode in the world featuring tens of thousands of perfect deep purple crystals. And it's not behind a big sheet of glass either - you can touch and photograph the Empress too. At the end of the journey you can take part in a mini quiz which is purely for fun - not to test your knowledge. Crystal Caves is a lot of fun, and great for children who are also given a sample bag of interesting stones and stickers.

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TABLELANDER - Tuesday November 17th 2009

"Fascinating Adventure"

The Crystal Caves and Fascinating Facets are celebrating the safe return of their founder and owner, Rene Boissevain, from the wilds of South America.

Fresh from six weeks in Uruguay, Brazil, Peru and Mexico, Rene took the trip to explore and document the wonderful, but often quite wild places that he has been buying amethyst, citrine and many other semi precious gemstones from over the past 20 years. Although he is on a first name basis with many of these suppliers, up until now he has not actually seen some of the mines that the gemstones actually come from.

"Many people are amazed to learn that semi precious gemstones usually come from actual gem mines, rather than being found accidentally or as a by product of other mining," Rene explains.

"in South America, where many of the highest quality gems come from, there are mines where they seek only amethyst for instance."

Many of the mines that Rene visited are in some rather wild areas. Fin the Andes Mountains of Peru, Rene visited one mine at the incredible altitude of 5000m!

"The air was so short of oxygen at that altitude that just walking was a huge effort," Rene said. "Even the locals who are used to these conditions need to take it easy."

The highlight of Rene's trip was definitely the familiarly named "Crystal Cave" in Mexico. Here the caves have the largest quartz crystals ever found, longer than a bus. This amazing place is not open to the general public an so Rene was fortunate to gain an initiation to visit through colleagues in the industry. Here, deep under the ground the temperatures is a staggering 60C, so it's not possible to stay very long to see the sights. But according to Rene the experience was worth all of the discomfort.

"This place is totally unique, and the size and the beauty fo the crystals is simply breathtaking."

As he usually does on his trips overseas, Rene was always on the look out for new, different and exciting things to buy for display at The Crystal Caves, and again as usual, he didn't hold back. "I bought some very special lapis lazuli pieces, amethyst crystal "flowers", some truly spectacular new crystal geodes and lots more as well, and it's all on its way here now!" he said.

THE CAIRNS POST - 21st October 2009

"Polar Jade reaches tropics"

Pieces of the world's rarest jade have migrated all the way from British Columbia to the Atherton Tableland, west of Cairns.

The lucrative nephrite is trademarked as "Polar Jade" and prized as the hardest, greenest and most translucent of all the jades.

Polar Jade is mined in only two places on earth, both located in the rugged mountains of Northern British Columbia, just east of Alaska.

Now, a limited number of pieces have been incorporated into the semi precious jewellery range at Fascinating Facets & The Crystal Caves in Atherton.

"People associate nephrite jade with the Far East, where jade has a special significance comparable to that of diamonds and gold in the West, but the native American tribes of British Columbia and the Alaska Natives both prized Polar Jade to fashion their tools and artefacts." Crystal Caves owner Rene Boissevain said.

Until steel was invented, nephrite jade was the strongest available material for tools and weapons, being less brittle and better able to keep a sharp edge than any other stone, or than copper, bronze or iron.

"Jade's superior strength comes from the interlocking "felted" nature of the tiny fibrous crystals within the matrix. Polar jade was highly valued as it could be used for tough spears, hammers and axes, yet could be carved in exquisitely delicate bowls, figurines, masks and jewellery items," said Mr Boissevain.

Among the range of Polar Jade items at Fascinating Faces are earrings, necklaces, pendants, carvings and polished stones.

Samples of the jade are available for purchase from $5.50 for polished stones. Jewellery and carvings are priced from about $45.

MEDIA INFORMATION - 19 May 2009

"Half Tonne Treasure Chest Direct From Tucson Now On Display"

Rene Boissevain, creator and founder of The Crystal Caves in Atherton, together with his manager Jim Russell recently embarked on a two week buying trip to the Tucson Gem Show in Arizona, US; returning home with a half tonne treasure chest of rare gemstones, crystals, fossils and jewellery.

According to Mr Russell, their Tucson treasure is now on display which he says is a magnificent collection not yet seen in North Queensland.

"While some of the extra special pieces have been created into the Crystal Caves themselves, the remaining gems are now on display in the gift shop," he said.

The Tucson Gem show is the biggest and most comprehensive show of its kind in the world, with miners, wholesalers and collectors from every continent showing off their very best gems each day for the two week duration of the event.

The show effectively takes over the whole city of Tucson, Arizona, with every conference centre and accommodation house playing host to the exhibitors and buyers.

Mr Russell said they were amazed at the very competitive prices being offered at the show this year.

"With increased international competition among vendors this year in Tucson, we were able to purchase many items - from beautiful Malachite carvings, rare stibnite crystals and even Australia Opals - at the lowest prices we have ever seen. And as a result, have been able to pass the savings on in our gift shop," he said.

The new stock and exhibits are expected to continue following The Crystal Caves recent success with visitor numbers this year which recorded much higher traffic than any previous records and still growing.

Mr Boissevain said he believes this success is partly down to the fame of Crystal Caves' prime attraction, the biggest Amethyst geode in the world, known to visitors as The Empress of Uruguay.

"Since being introduced into our collection last year, the Empress of Uruguy, word is rapidly spreading, with people from far and wide becoming aware of what a truly breathtaking sight she is.

To find out more about Tucson Gem Show visit:
www.visittucson.org/visotr/events/gemshow/faq/
www.visittucson.org/visitor/events/gemshow/

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COAST & COUNTRY - 29th September, 2008

"A Glittering Occasion"

The sparkle and colour of crystals and minerals makes a visit to a remarkable museum in northern Queensland a more than out-of-the-ordinary occasion, writes Clea Stapleton.

Queensland is renowned for its awe-inspiring natural attractions. From the Great Barrier Reef to its lush tropical rainforests, the "Sunshine State" has much to offer the lover of natural wonders. But for an entirely different perspective, the Crystal Caves in Atherton in northern Queensland offer an experience without parallel in Australia.

This underground museum, displaying a breathtaking collection of minerals and fossils, was created by Dutch husband and wife team Rene and Nelleke Boissevain. Rene boasts a life full of travel and adventure having served with the Dutch Special Forces in Irian Jaya, pursued crocodile hunting in the Barkly Tablelands, and worked on a tobacco farm in Atherton. His passion for crystals was "unearthed" when a friend took him prospecting for agates near Georgetown in Queensland's Gulf Country.

Renes love for mineralogical specimens flourished in the hot and harsh conditions of the agate fields, and when the Boissevain family returned to Holland in 1968 they took with them over two tonnes of select agate to sell on the prosperous European market. In 1969, Rene and Nelleke established a mineral museum in the village of Giethoorn based on an "Australian tropical jungle" theme and which still operates today. As Rene interest in crystals and minerals grew, he made frequent trips to countries such as Bolivia, Peru, Uruguay and of course Chile - a long - time source of the highly sought-after azure coloured lapis lazuli.

After eight years in Holland a desire to live once more in a tropical environment saw the Boissevain family return to Australia 1977 as permanent residents. With an ever-growing fascination with minerals - and collection to accommodate- Rene embarked in 1987 on a lifelong ambition: to construct a cave underground to house and display his treasures so that other people could see and admire them. Hence, the Crystal Caves, the visible - and visitable - culmination of Rene's travels and collecting.

The Crystal Caves offer visitors a fascinating experience, the key to which is the "interactive" principle on which the museum was conceived. This means that visitors can enjoy the rare opportunity to get "close and personal" with most of the exhibits, something virtually unheard of in conventional museums. Touching and feeling the mineral and fossil specimen is encouraged, as is photography. You can even have yourself photographed witting on the largest piece of rose quartz in Australia. You can touch the biggest amethyst geode in the world (geodes are hollow nodules of rock the cavities of which are lined with crystals). This one is called the "Empress of Uruguay" and it is perhaps the most impressive exhibit at the Crystal Caves. The front half of the "Empress" has been removed so that visitors can gaze into the glittering crystalline heart of the geode with its lining of tens of thousands of amethysts the colour of regal purple. It is a beautiful sight, a magnificent natural work of art.

Smaller geodes at the Crystal Caves offer a more personalised interactive experience. It's call "Crack-a-Geode" and it works like this. Visitors go to "Fascinating Facets", the Crystal Caves gift shop, and select a geode for purchase, which they are then assisted to crack into two neat halves to reveal the crystal formation inside. Each geode is unique and no one , until you crack it, has ever seen inside it before. Identification and information sheets, with advice on care and display, are available for the new owner of these 44 million year of treasures.

"Fascinating Facets" is worth a visit in its own right. Spread over an area of 400 square metres, the shop stocks a very comprehensive range of jewellery to suit all budgets, lots of cut gemstones, fossils and of course spectacular crystals, at near-wholesale prices.

The Crystal Caves complex has been expanded three times since it was opened and visitors find that on average they need to spend at least an hour to see it all. Is there perhaps something a little ironic in the fact that one of the most unusual attractions in the "Sunshine State" is to be found underground?

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THE CAIRNS POST - Friday, April 19th, 2002

"Open sesame for cave of treasure"

There's an underground movement going on in Atherton which promises earth-shattering consequences, reports Narelle Muller.

The Crystal Caves, a man-made labyrinth set among the shops of businesses in Atherton's Main St, may seem an odd attraction at first.
But, if you consider the geographic formation of the Tableland, the volatile volcanic history of the region and its mineral riches,, a museum dedicated to underground treasures isn't so out of place.
"Billed as a "mysterious underground crystal and fossil museum". The Crystal Caves cover more than 250sq m over two levels.
Combining natural history with fantasy, the experience is an exciting for children as it is educational, with its colourful crystals, delicate minerals and ancient fossils.
On entry, visitors are equipped with a miner's helmet, complete with torch (more for authenticity than practicality) and encouraged to enjoy an interactive adventure - you are invited to touch whatever is within reach - discovering more than 600 crystals and fossils.
Entering the Calcite Cavern, crystals form a glittering star-like galaxy overhead.
Guided through the darkness by hundreds of tiny spotlights, visitors troll through the caves, peering at unique formations such as an 80 million year old water agate with water gliding about inside.
A 525kg rose quartz boulder provides a makeshift seat as well as popular photo opportunity and the spectacular Magic Temple, a walk-through grotto, houses the largest collection of fluorescent minerals in Australia.
Set amid the fairytale chamber are the largest selenite crystals in the world from Mexico's Cave of Swords.
Some specimens in the museum are worth tens of thousands of dollars.
Built by Dutchman Rene Boissevain in 1987, The Crystal Caves ahs become on of the town's biggest attractions, drawing more than 250,000 visitors annually.
Rene admits on first hearing his idea, many locals concluded he "had rocks in his head", and they weren't wrong, really.
His collection reflects a lifetime's passion, travelling the world "looking for treasure".
Having owned a mineralogical museum in Holland, Rene has collected gemstones, crystals and fossils from remote parts of the US, Brazil, Uruguay and Mexico.
Arriving in Australia in 1963 with his wife Nelleke and young family in "search of adventure", he fossicked for agates at Agate Creek and fell in love with the country.
"I realised I couldn't go back to a land as small as Holland which fits into Australia 365 times," he laughs.
The Atherton Tableland offered all of the diversity the Boissevains had discovered in foreign parts, in one small area and in 1977 they emigrated, Needless to say, the mineral collection came too.
While the caves are not real, Rene says it seems fitting to build a museum replicating a natural environment to display his specimens.
And of course, wearing a helmet is all part of the caving experience.
The torch does come in handy though, as some specimens are purposely kept in the dark, awaiting revelation by curious visitors.
The Tableland is endowed with some magnificent natural caves. West of Atherton are the limestone and crystal Chillagoe Caves and the volcanic lava tubes of Undara continue to enthral, but what the Boissevains have created makes mineralogy accessible to people of all ages.
"To create a museum with only Australia specimens would have meant a substantially smaller collection," says Rene. "We have the best quality of each crystal formation or a complete fossil sort. Australia is known world wide in mineralogical circles for Tasmanian crocoite, Palmer River gold and opals from Cooper Pedy and Lightening Ridge, Uruguay has the best quality amethyst, Argentina is famous for rhodochrosite and the Congo for malachite.
"And while Australia does have many of the minerals we display, Australian companies tend to mine for ore, not crystals," says Rene.
All over the world there are mining operations large and small. In poorer countries, where the ore is not plentiful enough to attract larger mining corporations, smaller companies and families find it worthwhile to mine the crystallised specimens, especially as by products from lead, zinc and silver. In some cases entire families work in small mines, removing only the crystals because they can't afford extractors and crushers to mine the ore. Larger mining companies with modern equipment can go deeper into the earth's crust for ore and sometimes they break into cavities which are filled with the most spectacular, colourful crystallised minerals the eye has ever seen."
Rene and Nelleke have salvaged many of these precious specimens over the years.
"The biggest frustration of mineral collections across the world is the awful thought that the big multinationals going as deep as 4km, throw everything into big crushers, including rare, valuable crystal formations."
Describing the crystallisation of minerals as "one of Mother Nature's incredible creations". Rene makes a geology lesson sound simpler than it ever did at school.
"Millions of years ago, the earth was trembling, volcanoes erupting and hot glowing molten rock flowed over the surface," he says. As the lava cooled, gas bubbles, cavities and other large open spaces were trapped beneath the earth's crust, which forms the surface.
"Inside these cavities crystals formed. Small crystals formed when it cooled off quickly and large ones when it cooled slowly.:
But the only way to really appreciate The Crystal Caves is to see it for yourself.

o The Crystal Caves, 69 Main St. Atherton, open seven days from 8.30am until 5pm weekdays, 8.30am - 4pm Saturdays and 10am - 4pm Sundays. Allow at least 45 minutes for visit. Phone 4091 2365.

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THE CAIRNS POST - Saturday, May 15th, 1999

"Rene's Last Crusade"

It took a lifetime of hunting gems, chasing dreams and uprooting family, but the passion appears to be paying off. Roz Pulley reports on a pair of adventurers who've cast off their wanderlust to share a fairytale collection of crystal clusters with the rest of the world.

When gem collector Rene Boissevain set eyes on three super-sized amethyst crystal formations in Brazil three years ago, he just knew he had to have them.

It didn't matter that they cost $20,000 each or that he was about to blow the entire year's budget of the business he and wife Nelleke ran in Atherton's main street.

"I'm a hopeless person with money," says the irrepressible Rene, whose candour is matched by generous laughter. "that was all so stupid. Honestly and truly, it's the first time my wife and I had real trouble staying together. She thought 'you've got to be crazy'. That was our budget to buy things all over the world. I blew it in one hit - phhooom."

The three rare amethyst "geodes" Rene bought - giant grey boulders on the outside, encrusted with brilliant purple gems on their hollow insides - are the biggest of their kind in Australia.

But they very nearly proved to be the undoing of everything Rene and Nelleke had worked for during the previous 30 years.

"it was like 'I don't want anyone else to have them', "recalls Rene. "Instead of buying one, no, I want the three biggest. That's me. I was stupid. It was so dumb, I realise now."

Nelleke stuck with Rene. Rene, meanwhile, it stuck with the giant geodes. "You want one?" he asks optimistically, "Fifteen thousand dollars, take it away, I'll deliver it."

Rene might be having trouble finding takers for the largest and prettiest rocks in his collection, but he and Nelleke have had no trouble selling tourists on the idea of coming to visit them - or the hundreds of other semi precious gems and prehistoric fossils they've accumulated since the mid '60's and deposited in Crystal Caves, their mineralogical museum at Atherton.

Seen by 125,000 people in the past seven years, it's also just received tourism's official seal of approval. Crystal Caves won the significant Regional Attraction Award at 1999 North Queensland Tourism Awards.

It's the pay off for the long and often lean years when Rene and Nelleke struggled to turn pipe dreams into a visible and visual reality. Rene a self confessed eccentric who's part Indiana Jones, part Nutty Professor - had wanted to build a series of man made "caves" beneath the couples rock shop in Atherton. It was to be a mystical and eerie fantasy land, where visitors could see and touch Mother Nature's most colourful creations in a world of pure make believe.

He started small at first. A single chamber that took about 10 minutes to wander through. It was enough to whet a visitor's appetite - and Rene's. Within five years, he was digging deeper. More chambers, secret passages, revolving rock doors (a la Harrison Ford's Temple of Doom). Stalactites and stalagmites.

By the time it was officially opened in July 1992, Atherton's underground cave system - not quite on the scale of Undara or Chillagoe, but certainly impressive - had soaked up 4500 soundproofing egg cartons, enough chicken wire for hundreds of chook pens, truckloads of spray-on polystyrene foam, 450 assets of Rene and Nelleke Boissevain - including their house.

"I would have preferred to keep the house, of course," says Nelleke, "but we were getting so far mortgaged, that was getting too expensive, so we sold it. We rented for nine years."

While they were out of a home, their agates and amethysts, dolomites and fluorites, garnets and geodines were well taken care of. Each had its place in the scheme of things. Their limestone cave look-alikes made the perfect setting for 385 million year old marine fossils and jawbone of an Ice Age woolly mammoth, petrified legs from Arizona, a pair of dinosaur eggs from China and a agate that's had the same water sloshing around in it for 80 million years.

It's a museum with a difference. Built fro the serious collector (adult visitors outnumber children for four to one), it still offers theme park fun for children, minus the ride. Miner's torch hats are a must - not for protection from foam rocks, more for peering at things in dark, eerie places. Then it's case of look and learn, touch and discovery. A chance to run fingers across prehistoric logs that have turned from wood to shiny stone over millions of years. A chance to look into a mouth of a mammoth. Get up close to a meteorite. Plot the evolution of the nautilus.

Even the most hardened of rock rubbishers can't help but be dazzled by Rene and Nelleke's weird wonderful collection.

Okenite puffballs which look like fluffy cotton wool, but whose find fibrous crystals can penetrate skin painfully. Charcoal coloured creepy crawlies freeze framed on stones from which they haven't moved in 350 million years. Brilliant green malachite from Zaire. Ancient sea fossils from Australia's dry as dust interior. Grey rocks which reveal their true colours only under fluorescent light, formed as perfect interconnecting cubes. And golden pyrite crystals - fool's gold - which people were robbed, shot at and killed for over the centuries.

The crystallisation of these minerals took place millions of years before man was around to prize them. Planet Earth was a trembling mass of erupting volcanoes, glowing molten rock and unbelievable high temperatures. Eventually, everything cooled off. Small crystals were formed when the temperature dropped quickly; large crystals when it cooled slowly.

Rene and Nelleke's crystal gazing, rock chasing and gem collecting days began in the mid '60's after the pair moved here from Holland. Rene was born into a dairy farming family and joined the Dutch Marines at age 17, getting a taste for travel and tropical living in Irian Jaya, then known as the Dut5ch East Indies.

Back in Holland, he threw himself into a variety of ventures - from mink farming to breeding guinea fowls. "We had 30,000 guinea fowls walking around," says Rene, "and we had to wear ear muffs because they make a terrible screaming sound. But when the economy in Holland went down, so went we, because all the good restaurants closed doors and that was a luxury article. So we emigrated to Australia".

Australia was a land that suited Rene's free spirit. He tried his hand at crocodile hunting, tobacco grading and, finally, digging for agates.

"Once we were, we said 'that's it," recalls Nelleke, adding that it wasn't just a case of her traipsing along after Rene. "We were both in it. When we started off digging for agates in Agate Creek, that's wheat we did for about two and a half years. It started off just digging for agates for something to do."

It ended up with a pile of agates weighting 2,500kg and their return to Holland, where they hoped to sell their wares - intending only to stay long enough to stitch up some sales and visit family.

"In the meantime, I went overboard again," says Rene, "and did all these crazy things by building a museum in Holland, which is still going and very successful. I created an Australian jungle inside the museum and we got 150 different tropical birds and they flew through the museum, which was dark and had a huge aviary at the end."

When he wasn't running the museum, he was off hunting for 8000 year old fossilised elephant ostrich eggs in Madagascar or visiting gem mines in Mexico.

It took nine years to establish their business to a point where they could ditch and freezing Dutch winters and escape once more to the tropical Tableland of Atherton.

"We returned in 1977 and we were retired," says Rene. "I was then 42. And we lived off what we created in Holland, which was very good. And I thought this was never ending. Never saved anything. Just blew it away. Four wheel drives and whatever. Anyway, there came the day that the cheques didn't come through anymore and the whole thing nearly collapsed in Holland. So we packed up with the three kids and went back, lived a year and a half, sorting out a few things, sold out for a little money because the business was run down. We returned to Australia half broke and we have to start all over again."

First they opened their gem and rock shop, Fascinating Facets. Then came the caves. "from one thing, came another," says Rene.

Lately, they have been joined in the business by their daughter, 30 years old Ghislaine, who has taken up the role of marketing manager. While claiming to have "no qualifications whatsoever - just lots of experience and a pretty big mouth", she came with a background in Dutch film and television, followed by work at a Noosa advertising agency.

It was enough to give her the media savvy and business nous to create new marketing strategies for Crystal Caves, tighten the reins on her free spending father and put together the sort of presentation that could gain them credibility on the tourism awards circuit.

Crystal Caves was a finalist in the Significant Regional Attrition Award of the Ansett Australia Tropical North Queensland Tourism Awards in Cairns in March, before winning the same category at the North Queensland Tourism Awards in Townsville last month. Ghislaine was delighted. "We can never win a major awards because we'll never be a major tourism attraction," she says. "We just haven't got the funds, we haven't got the staff, we haven't got the money. So for our area, that is the biggest award that we could possible ever win."

If anyone knows the business, it is Ghislaine. Growing up in a thoroughly unconventional family, she remembers a childhood of trips back and forth to Holland on the gem trail - with the occasional adventure in Africa thrown.

"As a kid, I probably complained a lot that Mum and Dad weren't there for me, Mum and Dad didn't come to swimming training with me, Mum and Dad didn't take me to the Girl Guides - that sort of thing. But they did take me on safari. So at the time I gelt I was getting the raw end of the deal, but in hindsight I've learnt so much more about life from travelling than you could ever learn at school.

"Other kids always thought my parents were great - particularly Dad. I mean, with the big moustache and all that sort of thing. He doesn't do normal things. Put it this way, most kids, for their birthday parties, they'd have smarties in a bowl and cake, Dad would organise an entire treasure hunt with teams and four wheel drives and canoeing across Tinaroo and digging up chests of treasure. I went to my school reunion last year and they're still talking about that treasure hunt I had on my 10th Birthday.

"Or they bought me a donkey on my birthday. Instead of just a little bicycle, no, a donkey, which threw me off and I ended up in hospital and had concussion. They've never done normal and traditional things, which as a kid is always really embarrassing, but once you get older…. I think they're pretty good parents. They taught me a lot. Now I'm teaching them."

Then, with the disarming honesty of her father, Ghislaine states: "I'm not that much into rocks. They don't fascinate me as much as they fascinate him. But I love the tourism industry. I think it's absolutely incredible that one person was so obsessed with rocks, he went and built this place - and that's the angle I market."

Financial management improved soon after Ghislaine began work, says Rene. "Because I just kept building and making and spending, she said 'Dad, you can't keep going like that', She gives me the figures and I say 'oh, it is that bad?"'

Rene's head had been spinning with ideas. With the right financial backing, he was convinced he could come up with a great finale in his cavernous creation that "would give us world exposure".

"I was a bit sad," he says of having to curtail his fanciful fantasies. "I'd love to work with millions of dollars. That's what it boils down to. I could build this bigger, better. It's endless what I come up with.

"But I'm not complaining. I can't have it all. I'm very easy living. I'm always happy. I say tomorrow's another day and one of my mottos is there is a solution for every thing. I believe that strongly and if you keep saying that - if there's difficulties, in any line- suddenly the door opens again, you know?"

The visitors book at Crystal Caves shows 14 different nationalities among a group of 20 visitors - and that's just half a page. One door may have closed for ht present, but people from around the world are making sure the doors into Rene and Nelleke's amazing mineralogical museum stay wide open.

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AUSSIE POST - March 21st, 1998

"Crystal Gazing Caveman"

Some say he's mad but Rene has dedicated his life to an amazing underground museum.

Rene Boissevain's wife reckons her husband is a little crazy, but his obsession for crystals and fossils has grown into one of Queensland's major tourist attractions - the Crystal Caves.

Rene has travelled the world for more than 30 years collecting perfect crystals, fossils and mineral specimens for his underground museum in Atherton.

His passion for crystals began in 1965, when Rene and wife Nelleke gathered two tonnes of agate from Agate Creek in Queensland and returned to their native Holland, where they started their first museum in 1069. Rene then travelled the world collecting spectacular crystals to display.

"We couldn't stay in Holland and were back on our beloved Atherton Tableland by 1977. I had been thinking about the ultimate museum, the Crystal Caves."

"He is a little crazy, "says Nelleke, "but I wouldn't have him any other way".

The Crystal Caves, the only attraction of its kind in Australia and one of the most spectacular mineral museums in the world, was built deep below the main street of Atherton "to create an air of mystery". "There's a whole series of caves with tunnels and chambers and a rotating rock wall like in the Indiana Jones movies," is Rene's description of his master work.

Tiny spotlights guide the way on his underground adventure. You can touch giant crystals, walk through caves and run your hands over a two million year old mammoth jaw, complete with teeth, before standing beneath a giant agate done.

:People come here to see the Barrier Reef and rainforests, but they forget there's another world below the ground that is just as spectacular," says Rene.

"You can touch any crystals except the ones smaller than your fist. I was told by experts not to let people touch them because they will break them off, but I knew people would respect hem, and they do."

To build a cave where he could finally display his extraordinary collection - now worth hundreds of thousands of dollars - had been Rene's dream since childhood. "While all the other children were building tree houses, I was digging out old rabbit burrows and reinforcing my hollow with branches to try and make a cave," Rene recalls.

When work on the caves began in 1986, there was no need for architects or draftsmen; it had already been mapped out many years ago in Rene's imagination.

Rene's latest addition to the museum is a 63kg water agate, from Brazil. The agate still holds almost two litres of water, trapped when the crystal was formed 80 million years ago after streams of volcanic lava began to cool.

"The water agate is very unusual and the only other place you can get them is Brazil,: he says. "the smaller ones are not so rare, but one this size is very rare and stunning. You can see the air and water moving inside it."

Tests run by the Queensland Health Department found that, even after all this time, the water is exceptionally pure.

The 61 year old says, "There is so much more I want to do. I want to build another cave and fill it with balls of fluorescent rock. These will be magical, with fabulous colours unknown to the human eye".

"No Ordinary Museum"

" There are more than 480 crystals and mineral specimens to see in the museum, including three of the largest amethyst geodes in the world, a 525kg boulder of rose quartz from Brazil, and a 330kg pyrite crystals (fools gold), from Peru.
" Most of the crystals on display are from South America, especially Brazil.
" The museum is looking for good Australia specimens, including gold nuggets, blue topaz, opal and sapphire.
" The museum has a permanent display replicas of world's four largest gold nuggets. The nuggets are the Welcome Stranger, the biggest nugget ever found in Victoria (uncovered in 1869 and weighing 2284 ounces); the hand of Faith, found in Victoria 1980; the 330 ounce Little Hero, found in the 1890's in WA; and the 1235 ounce Golden Eagle, also found in WA, in 1931.

TABLELANDER - Tuesday, July 21st, 1998

"Tableland tourist map launched"

A new Tableland map has been produced to assist the Far North tourist industry.
Tourism livewire Ghislaine Boissevain, of the Atherton firm Fascinating Facets, produced the map.
It is designed to be a practical driving map with up to date information on the area including Undara west, Innisfail south and Kuranda north.
The map/brochure, which is the size of a standard road map, was launched at a function in Cairns last Thursday at the Pacific International Hotel, attended by tourism and media personalities.
Ms Boissevain said the map created tremendous interest and was well received by the tourist industry.
The Atherton Tablelands relies heavily upon Cairns to promote our region so, basically, we need the Cairns operators to like us and to recognise what the Tableland has to offer.
"Cairns operators can influence tourists to go that little bit further to experience the Tableland and gain the total tropical Tableland experience."
She said the Crystal Caves in Atherton has been operating for more than 11 years, and six years ago stage 2 of the museum was officially opened.
"Since then, there has been a stead increase in the number of visitors.
"Most of the visitors to Atherton these days have heard of the Crystal Caves," Ms Boisssevain said.
More than 23,000 visitors had been through the museum and, according to surveys, 60 per cent of these heard of their attraction through reading a brochure they had picked up somewhere, either in their hotel room, information centres or a car rental company.
:The response has been tremendous, even thought it was only launched on Thursday. People from as far away as Townsville have heard about it and are ringing me up asking for copies for tourists who are intending to visit the Tableland.
"The map is such a complete package with a great variety of products in it, that every business on the Tableland will benefit from this publication."
The publication will be delivered between Townsville and Port Douglas this week, Ms Boissevain said.

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THE CAIRNS POST - Saturday, July 1st, 1995

"Fascinating facets of an adventurer"

Smuggling a fossilised elephant ostrich egg out of Madagascar using an aphrodisiac as a ploy is only one of the adventures former crocodile hunter Rene Boissevain has had in his life.

The tale of how Atherton gem collector Rene Boissevain smuggled an 8000 year old fossilised elephant ostrich egg out of Madagascar might be an unlikely one but anyone who knows the former crocodile hunter would have no trouble believing the story.

How he found such an egg in the first place was nothing short of amazing but to think he managed to leave the country with it using a local aphrodisiac powder to grab the attention of customs officials is something else.

But that's Rene for you. When the owner of the tourist attraction Fascinating Facets and Crystal Caves says he doesn't want to be like anyone else, he certainly sticks to his guns.

"I think I'm just a bit of an adventurer," he said with a wry smile. "I just jump from one adventure to another. I love a new challenge."

The 58 year old certainly had a challenge ahead when he saw an article in the National Geographic magazine about the discovery of a fossilised elephant ostrich egg (aepyornis) and decided he wanted to find one too.

Convincing a friend to join him, he set off for Madagascar with a friend and they dug in the dunes for five weeks.

Surprise, surprise, they not only found a complete egg but also quite a lot of fragments of broken ones from what Rene assumed was the same nest.

"That was the easy part, " the greying, somewhat acentric but very likeable adventurer said.

"Then we had to smuggle it out of Madagascar and that's another story…

With a bit of encouragement, a somewhat embarrassed René reveals the smuggling act involved a local aphrodisiac called fanafu, a special bark that when made into a tea was rumoured to give men "that loving feeling" for around two hours.

"My friend had a suitcase full of it and when he opened it for inspection he made a big song and dance about it saying "fanafu, fanafu and making all the men laugh," He said.

"While they were getting right into it I just walked through with the egg in an old handbag, wrapped up in old dirty clothing - and we got away with it.

"We probably risked jail and I'll never forget how much my legs were shaking. Later, I went back to Madagascar with my wife and three children and we camped for half a year. It was the best experience of my life."

And Rene has certainly had a lot of experiences to judge by.

Born and raised on a diary farm in Holland, he served in the Dutch Marines in Irian Jaya (part of the Dutch East Indies in those days) as a young man and says he couldn't settle down afterwards.

There was the mink farm he set up in Norway, his guinea fowl venture which made money until the recession saw the restaurants which bought his fowls close down, his marriage to Nelleke….

And then there was his plan to go to Africa and run safaris which didn't come off because of Mau Mau unrest there.

So Rene and Nelleke decided latitude 17 was their preferred climate, sat down with a globe and targeted Cooktown in Far North Queensland as their new home. But when he arrived, he found he could only get work on the Tableland in the tobacco industry and they settled in Atherton. Around the same time, Rene became involved in crocodile shooting, in the days when It was legal, and digging for agates to sell.

It wasn't until one fateful day in 1968 that Rene discovered his as yet untapped passion for semi precious gemstones.

"We got lost on the Barkly Tableland in the Northern Territory for seven weeks," he said with a grimace.

"We knew where we had to go but we couldn't get out. We were at a point of no return, petrol wise, and we came very close to death. We survived mainly by shooting galahs and eating them."

The experience was enough to turn Rene right off crocodile hunting and he decided to return to Holland to sell the two tonnes of agate he had gathered.

Although the couple, who, by this time, had two daughters - Lefje and Cecilia -had only intended to go for one year, it was eight years before they returned to Australia.

In their home country they set up their first museum and imported semi precious stones from all over the world making quite a name for themselves.

Their third daughter, Ghislane, was born in Holland ("this is when I gave up on sons") and the family had a number of what Rene calls "adventures".

One of the more memorable was the time he wrapped an entire house in aluminium foil "because I had to do something".

Back in Atherton, in 1977, Rene decided it was time to realise his greatest dream, to build a museum for the hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of stones, crystals, minerals and fossils he had collected over the years - a museum with a difference.

"People are like little monkeys, they like to touch things," he said. "In the Crystal Caves we try to make people find things for themselves. There are lots of mysteries here, even finding their way out of the cave is a challenge. I wanted to build a cave system."

But first, Rene ventured into the restaurant business with a café with a name so long he had trouble registering it.

Shortened to Where People Can Meet, the cafe, along with everything else the family had, was sold to fund the construction for the Crystal Caves.

It was to be an expensive dream, building the surrealistic caves that take a person about 45 minutes to explore cost $800,000, but Rene says it was all worth it when the then Minister for Tourism, Bob Gibbs, came to the Far North on July 4, 1992 to officially open the enterprise.

Of course, there had to be an adventure or two involved and one of the most publicised was when the over exuberant Rene, delighted at seeing his cave dream become reality, sprayed his wife's brand new four wheel drive all over with the same fire proof polyurethane used in the construction.

Resembling something off The Flintstones, the foam and follow up paint job, however, have remained and Rene now has a most interesting promotional vehicle.

"when we had finished, I called Nelleke to show her my good idea but I can't tell you what she said, " Rene said.

Still, his artistic nature and passion for natural things shines through in the cave network, which takes people through a number of domes and passageways, past a huge variety of fascinating natural elements.

"It's my passion, close to an obsession, for crystals and minerals," he admitted.

"I travel all over the world - to US, Mexico, Bolivia, Brazil, South America and Argentina - to collect the things from mines and shows.

"My latest find is group of fossilised dinosaur eggs that are 65 million years old, from Henan Province in Central China.

"they were smuggled out of China and I bought them in America."

Rene has a giant crystal formation from brazil valued at around $25,000.

With the caves now operating smoothly, anyone who didn't know Rene might think he would be starting to slow down, but not so.

He has decided it is time to build a house having rented since selling the first house to finance the caves.

There's only one problem, Nelleke won't let him build the house of polyurethane - but that won't stop him from trying!

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TOWNSVILLE BULLETIN - Saturday, March 19th, 1994

"In a World of his own"

Beneath the busy main street of Atherton, bustling heart of the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland, seems an unlikely place for a Dutch crocodile hunter to realise his dream, but that is where Rene Boissevain has built his bizarre Crystal Caves.

"It's a fantasy world, built around crystals and fossils which appear in all colours, shapes and sizes - as you find your way through the underground caves new surprises pop up around every corner to delight the eye and the soul," said Rene, creator of this remarkable experience.

"I think I am an artist - just as a painter uses his canvas to create a work of art, I build a cave and create a work of art for everyone to see, to marvel at, to touch and to get a little closer to the beginning of time and the creation of the Earth."

Born on a diary farm in the Netherlands, René did his army service in Irian Jaya (then part of the Dutch East Indies) and when he returned he had the spirit of adventure in his veins.

"I was looking around for something different to do and I set up a mink farm in Norway with a partner.

"It was going well when my partner decamped with all the money and that was the end of that.

"I tried guinea fowls and made a good business out of that for a while until we had a recession and all the expensive restaurants which bought my fowls closed down.

"By the time I was married to Nelleke and we decided to go to Africa and run safaris. Our plans were well advanced when Nelleke read a book about the Mau Mau and that immediately meant Africa was out."

They sat down with a globe and, having decided latitude 17 was their preferred climate they chose Cooktown, in Far North Queensland as their destination.

"We landed in Cairns but it was far too hot and humid, so I got a job on a tobacco farm up on the Tableland. Then a Yugoslav friend took me prospecting for agates up north and I got more and more interested and began to study them."

At the same time, Rene began going on crocodile shooting expeditions - they were legal then, in 1966, and a good way of making some extra money and pitting himself against the elements.

"After I'd been doing it for a while, I went shooting on the Barkly Tableland and we got lost. We were lost for seven weeks and we came very close to death.

"we survived mainly by shooting galahs and eating them and eventually found our way out. That finished me off with crocodile shooting."

In 1968, now with two daughters in tow, Rene and Nelleke went back to Holland, along with two tonnes of selected agate nodules and they opened their first museum.

"It was called The Old Earth and is still very successful today.

"We couldn't stay in Holland, though, and by 1977 we were back on the Tableland, and I was thinking about my ultimate museum - the Crystal Caves."

Over the years he had been building his unique collection of rocks, crystals and fossils Rene had designed most of it in his imagination - he planned an adventure which would not only be exciting and beautiful, but accessible to people in wheelchairs, and interesting on all levels for all ages.

The first stage 'was the rock shop, Fascinating Facets opened in 1977, which they started up to finance Rene's dream of the caves.

"It was a new idea when we began, but of course now there are crystal shops all over the country.

"we also began selling precious stones and crystals wholesale, and soon we were getting along famously."

It was to take some considerable time, however, before work would begin on the caves.

"it needed a lot of money, more than we could lay our hands on, even with all our savings," he said.

"We sold our house and everything else, and finally the bank came to our aid.

"The first thing we had to think about was the noise of the traffic - you could hardly imagine you were deep underground if you could hear the cars whizzing by overhead."

The experimented with 2500 egg trays. They glued two layers of them on to boards and nailed the boards to the wall sand ceiling, stood back and listened - silence!

The construction of the timber framework, chicken wire and Hessian kept them busy for the next six months.

At the same time they had people making frames for hundreds of stalactites and stalagmites which were then stapled to the frame work.

Each spectacular stone, crystal and gem had to be placed in special framework to simulate naturally occurring outcroppings, and smaller caves.

Once these were built in and carefully masked, the actual "construction" of the caves was undertaken by spraying polystyrene foam over the painstakingly constructed framework.

It was a long hard job, and when they were finished Rene sat down out the back of the shop with he sprayer and took a breather.

"We had both been working hard and we sat down with a few beers to relax. Halfway through the second carton, I had a brilliant idea - it was to spray the car, Nelleke's new Suzuki Sierra as it happened, with polystyrene foam as well, to make a promotional vehicle.

"so we did, straight over the spar tyre, the bull bar, everything. When we had finished I called Nelleke to show her my good idea, but I can't tell you what she said."

Nelleke won't repeat her words either, but she did say that she had drawn the line when Rene wanted to build a house using the same construction methods as in the caves.

"A shop and a car is enough - I didn't want to live in a polystyrene house as well."

Aside from the stories and anecdotes, nothing can quite prepare you for the experience of walking down the winding ramp into the caves - logically you know you're in a giant Esky, but so spectacular are the crystals and rocks in all the nooks and crannies, so cunningly lit that you really feel that you are underground.

The narrow passageways lead you through all sorts of experience s- yo can reach out and touch most of the displays - into the fluorescent dark room, "The Temple of Gloom" which demonstrates the fluorescence of rocks and shows what they look like in normal light, and down into the "Agate Dome".

The dome is best viewed by lying on your back and looking up into a hemisphere dotted with paper thin slices of brilliantly coloured agate, illuminated from behind.

Tripping over a softly pink rose quartz boulder the size of a small car, you advance into the fossil chamber where one of the most remarkable exhibits is housed.

It's a "water rock" and is mounted on spring base, so you can agitate it and see, trapped inside the stone, liquid thousands of years old which has never solidified.

It's impossible to describe the hundreds of fascinating exhibits - some of the fossils have to be seen to be believed - but when you finally emerge, blinking, into the light again, it's hard to realise that it was all illusion … Rene Boissevain's dream.

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THE TABLELANDER - February 4th, 1992

"Courtesy Rewarded"

The Atherton Rotary Club has initiated a courtesy award for Atherton businesses who showed courtesy and friendliness in serving customers.

The club's vocational service director, Mr Kevan Goodworth, said the perpetual award - a polished wooden clock from Tolga Woodworks - would be awarded to a new business every three months.

The first award has been awarded t the staff and management of Fascinating Faces and Crystal Caves in Main St. Each business will also receive a certificate.

The next award will be presented around Easter and in the meantime Rotary members and their friends will frequent Atherton businesses of all types to witness the courtesy displayed to locals and tourists.

Mr Goodworth said the public was more than welcome to nominate businesses which had excelled in courtesy and could contact him at the Atherton State High School on 91 2688.

ADVERTISER - May 6th, 1992

"New areas to explore at Crystal Caves"

Soon, you can go on your own adventure of discovery through a recreated cave full of impressive mineral and rock specimens.

The success of the Crystal Caves at Atherton's Fascinating Facets has seen these caves become one of the top attractions on the Atherton Tablelands.

Owner of Fascinating Facets Rene Boissevain said his plans to enlarge the Crystal Caves will make the display of rocks and minerals one of the largest and most fascinating to be found in the north.

Armed with a miner's helmet, visitors will wander along a path through several sections, each designed to enhance the individual quality of specimens.

A "fairytale" section aims to bring the fantasy of life to the fore so that visitors can leave the hectic pace of life behind for a while.

In another section, fluorescent minerals, collected over 15 years will be lit by a special black light.

Rene is sure this will be an extremely popular display as fluorescent minerals are not normally displayed.

The extended Crystal Caves will be a course of self exploration and will also cater for people in wheelchairs or those with prams.

Rene hopes to ope the new caves on June 1.

To celebrate, he will offer free after hours tours of the intriguing caves during the first 10 days for people who have booked, by phone.

Further details of this offer will be available closer to the opening date but Rene urged people to keep this exciting special offer in mind.

The very special effects that are recreated in the Crystal Caves at Atherton
S Fascinating Facets are being extended. Pictured is owner of Fascinating Facets Rene Boissevain as he checks with David Ali of Granite Engineering as he sprays the polyurethane foam that will form the mass of stalactites and cave formations.

THE TABLELANDER - June 23rd, 1992

"Caves set for opening"

The creator of Fascinating Facets and Crystal Caves in Atherton, Rene Boissevain, recently had the opportunity of showing off the completed stage two project of the attractions underground caves to the senior advertiser for the Federal Tourism Office, Mr John Brumby.

Mr Brumby was on the Tablelands as part of a Far Northern tour of tourist attractions.

The expanded caves will be officially opened by State Tourism Minister Bob Gibbs on July 16.

Mr Brumby and Mr Boissevain are pictured.

THE TABLELANDER - Tuesday, July 7th, 1992

"Caves we can be proud of"

Something unique …. Something for Atherton to be proud of … that is how Rene and Nelleke Boissevain see their expanding crystal caves.

Rene and his family are in the final stages of completing a vast man made cave complex.

It expands the original Crystal Cave to about 200 sq m of meandering walkways which pass a glittering array of crystals and exotic minerals, highlighted by hidden lighting as well as the light from the miner's helmet worn during the tour.

An official opening of the expanded caves will be conducted in the presence of invited guests by the Queensland Tourism Minister Bob Gibbs on July 16.

But the Boissevains are keen to show their project to Atherton residents.

Promotions manager Ghislaine Boissevain said Atherton residents who make a prior booking will be able to see the new caves free of charge on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday this week in tow sessions at 5.30 pm and 6.30pm.

Describing the experience, Miss Boissevain said the cave had been designed to allow one way traffic for viewers and the walk is expected to take up to one hour to complete.

And the caves are fully accessible to disabled people in wheelchairs.

The expansion was prompted by the success of the original cave which now becomes, part of the overall project.

Miss Boissevain said the cave had probed popular with tourists and locals alike during the five years I has been operating.

The new section, which runs for an entire street block, took about six months to create.

Visitors enter the cave through Fascinating Facets in Atherton.

They are equipped with a miner's helmet and set off through the Calcite Cave where crystals glitter to form a star like galaxy.

The tour continues down a winding walkway through a stalactite gallery to a lower level.

Here the highlights include the Magic Temple, where a sequence of ultra violet and conventional lighting turns dull rock specimens into glowing crystals with an amazing range of colours.

The adjacent Agate Dome forms an igloo so big visitors can actually walk inside the dome.

The illusion of being underground continues as visitors stroll around the Cathedral and pass through Split Rock into The Fairytale chamber where the earth's history unfolds.

Fascinating Facets and the Crystal Caves are the results of Rene Boissevain's dedication to and fascination of the earth's liner minerals and crystals.

He said the collection was built up over a period of 27 years and comprises major pieces from around the world.

"These are not just rocks," he said, gesturing to the glittering display in the caves.

"Crystals are very different. They are part of the earth's history."

The family came to Australia in the 60's from Holland and quickly made a home in Atherton.

Mr Boissevain said the public's safety and comfort was taken into consideration during the design and construction of the caves.

"our motto is "Caving in Comfort"," she said.

The project is fully air conditioned to create a cave like atmosphere.

He stresses the "secret" materials used to create the illusion of the caves rock walls and ceilings are extremely fire resistant.

Tour parties will be restricted to about 40 to prevent overcrowding in some of the confined galleries.

Miss Boissevain said an exciting experience was planned for the invited guests at the official opening on Thursday week.

She declined to reveal details but said the guarantee guests would be blasted into a new experience.

THE CAIRNS POST - July 18th, 1992

"Tourism goes underground"

A new tourist attraction, described as having a great impact nationally and internationally, was officially opened by State Tourism Minister Bob Gibbs in Atherton on Thursday night.

Mr Gibbs opened the extended Crystal Caves, a caving complex housed beneath the mineral and crystal shop Fascinating Facets, owned by Rene and Nelleke Boissevain.

The original "caves" were opened in 1987 and have proved a popular attraction.

The enlarged caves now cover 200 sq. m and have been hollowed out at basement level beneath the shop. The complex consists of two levels, with slopes, small caves, grottos and passages, all with appropriate names such as the Magic Temple and the Cathedral.

Describing it as an incredible complex Mr Gibbs said the tourist industry in 'Queensland was a lot more than just beaches, island resorts and tropical rainforests.

"Eco tourism is becoming important, that is something which reflects the natural environment," he said.

Mr Gibbs said tourism would be the State's biggest industry by the year 2000.

TABLELANDER - Tuesday, July 21st, 1992

"Rock on Mr Gibbs"

State Tourism Minister Bob Gibbs is shown a crystal sample by Crystal Caves promotions manager Ghislaine Boissevain during the official opening of the complex in Atherton last week.
Before a gathering of invited guests, Mr Gibbs "blasted" the entrance to the caves open with a simulated explosion, only to be confronted by a "caveman" bearing gifts.
Mr Gibbs then led the gathering, supplied with caving helmets, on a caving expedition and all received a memento of the official opening to the Crystal Caves.

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COURIER MAIL - December 26th, 1991

"Rene in search of gems for his Aladdin's cave"

When visitors to the bustling town of Atherton catch sight of Rene Boissevain's multi coloured jeep and his gaudy trousers made of curtain material, they can't help themselves.

Eventually curiosity gets the better of them and they ask a local: "Who is that guy?:

The answer, always given with a laugh, is: "Oh, that's Rene."

And is usually followed by the comment: "Wait till you see his cave."

Rene Boissevain is internationally recognised for his collection of crystals - many of which decorate the display window of his crystal and jewel shop in the main street of the far north Queensland town.

Inside the shop, at the back, is a discreet sign saying "The Crystal Cave".

Descend the darkened stairs, while the taped sounds of dripping water add to the feeling of being underground, and you enter a world the locals proudly call their "Aladdin's Cave".

Rene, a self confessed eccentric, has created a wonderland below his shop - from Hessian, chicken wire and polyurethane - to sho off some of the best examples of crystal formations and configurations in the world.

In every corner, and on every pillar and wall of the cave, crystals and precious stones glitter and shines.

Rene, who began collecting crystals 25 years ago while working as a tobacco picker in the Gulf country, near Georgetown, today travels the world looking for more samples for his collection.

This week, he was again overseas seeking out more crystals and precious stones for his shop and the cave.

"South America, Africa, he goes everywhere seeking the best and the most amazing examples he can find," shop assistant Fay Pink said.

"when he gets back, Rene plans to expand the cave."

He will have to if his past trips are any indications.

"Visitors say people can see crystals and other things here that they will not see anywhere else in the world - and they are right," Fay said.

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THE TABLELANDER - July 31st, 1990

"Rene is a man of many colours"

Rene Boissevain is a man of many colours - from his crystal, gem and jewellery business, Fascinating Facets, in Atherton, to the specially tailored trousers he wears.

It is easy to pick Rene out from a crowded street on most days, as the pinks, oranges, greens and blacks of his pants catch the eye.

In fact, Rene often takes a liking to a swatch of fabric, and wills end the material to a tailor to have the pants made up. It's something he has been doing for some years, and the pants have become a trademark of Rene's zany way of marketing himself and his business.

Another example has been the tiny four wheel drive which ahs been dressed up in polystyrene foam and painted to depict the crystals which are on display in the Crystal Caves below Fascinating Facets.

The vehicle is a real eye catcher, and has been featured in national magazine for its originality.

And going back even further when Rene and his wife, Nelleke, lived in Denmark - Rene wrapped an entire building in aluminium foil as a special treat and to promote his business.

But according to Rene, marketing and promotion do not depend only on the outlandish. Quality is an essential ingredient, along with making sure that the local market is properly serviced.

"We are here for the local people as much as any ting else," Rene says.

"and while we do attract a lot of tourists, we intend to continue looking after the people who live here and support us."

Rene and Nelleke make frequent trips overseas to restock on their supplies of crystals and unusual rock formations, a task which is becoming increasingly more difficult.

"Modern mining techniques destroy almost all these formations. You can't find them walking on the ground, they are underneath and modern mining just blows them apart," Rene says.

"It means we have to go to the underdeveloped countries where the mining techniques are not so advances to get much of our stock".

CAIRNS POST - October 5th, 1990

"Crystal facets go on display"

While much is made these days of the beauty of the environment, emphasis is generally placed on natural beauties as typified in the rainforest and mountains.

Often overlooked is another aspect of nature's incredible diversity of colour, shape and form - the much less known mineral world.

Mineral in this sense does not mean iron, zinc or tin, but the magnificent world of crystals.

In every shape, colour and size, crystals over the centuries have attracted legends and stories, beliefs and superstitions.

From the minute to the height of a tall man, crystals have the power to fascinate, impress and soothe the beholder.

One of Australia's foremost collectors of crystals, Rene Boissevain, has just received a specially commissioned consignment of these crystals from South America.

The consignment includes an amethyst geode as tall as Rene, which he believes to be probably the tallest and largest of its type known to exist at present.

In Australia, these geodes are known colloquially as thunder eggs, and are generally thought of as being around the size of a large emu egg.

Anyone with that impression will quickly find how wrong he is on a visit to Fascinating Facets in Main St, Atherton, where the consignment is on display.

These geodes, referred to more correctly as "blisters", are mined in Brazil and Peru by workers skilled in this particular task.

The consignment also contains magnificent e3xamples of fool's gold or iron pyrites, and quartz crystals.

For those unable to travel to Atherton, the Cairns Crystal Ball in the Orchid Plaza in Abbott Street also has a selection on display.

Fascinating Facets is open seven days a week. Weekend trading is from 8.30am to 5pm on Saturdays and 10am to 5pm on Sundays.

TRAVEL & TOURISM SHOW - October 21st, 1990

"Holiday Show"

It was great to have a Holiday and Travel Show - something for the locals and transient tourists to see.

It was pleasing to see a lot of effort had gone into all of the presentations, with videos, static displays and a few samples of their cuisine. Congratulations to Fascinating Facets who won a show display award. However, I was disappointed at the lack of motivation from a majority of representatives from the companies who could not see their way clear to come forward with a brochure and a "Have you heard of us before?" or "did you know…?"

Come on, Cairns. You are just starting to get over your last tourism depression. You need to sell yourselves a lot harder and a lot better than others to make it to the top again.

CAIRNS POST - October 21st, 1990

"Facets firm win award"

Atherton - The Atherton gem and crystal firm of Fascinating Facets has won this year's Northern Building Society / Tablelands Promotion Bureau Award of Excellence. The award is presented annually to an individual or firm which makes some outstanding contribution in its chosen field. The Parks and Gardens crew of Mareeba Shire Council was highly commended.

THE TABLELANDER - October 30th, 1990

"Excellence award to gemstone shop"

The family gemstone business, Fascinating Facets, run by Rene, Nelleke and Ghislaine Boissevain, has won the 1990 Northern Building Society Award for Excellence and $1,000 in prize money.

The award was presented on Friday night at a small reception at Dunlops Hotel in Mareeba, by the regional manager of the society, Mr Kev Maher.

"an absolute flair for presentation" was how the entry by the Boissevains was described.

Mr Maher said Fascinating Facets had made an outstanding contribution to the Tablelands tourism industry.

"About eight years ago, Fascinating Facets was just a small shop with displays of gemstones and crystals, but Rene's absolute flair for presentation has seen the shop constantly change." Mr Maher said.

"In the past two years, the Boissevains have built a large cave in the shop in which is displayed many gemstones an crystals. The shop's 'cave' is now a tourist attraction in its own right."

ADVERTISER - Date unknown

"A win for Fascinating Facets"

Now in its fifth year, the Northern Building Society / Tableland Promotion Bureau Award for Excellence was announced at a function in Mareeba on Friday night. Atherton's premiere attraction, Fascinating Facets, operated by Rene Boissevain and his wife Nelleke, picked up the prestigious award, while the Mareeba's Parks and Gardens Department, headed by Ken Mayo was given a credible mention, Pictured - from left - with the trophies and a cheque for $1,000, Northern Building Society FNQ Regional Manager Kevin Maher, Suzanne Bailey of Fascinating Facets and Tableland Promotion Bureau Chairman Brian Robinson.

ADVERTISER - November 14th, 1990

"Best small business award for Rene"

Rene Boissevain of Atherton's Fascinating Facets may be considered outlandish by some people but his novel ideas certainly do help to promote his business. Judges at this years QTV Tourism and Travel Show must have thought so, too, as Fascinating Facets won an award for the Best Display for a Small Business. With the help of Charlie Andersen, Rene's display recreated the entrance to the "Crystal Caves" in Atherton where he has a unique display of gems and crystals. Rene said the cave was created to stimulate people's interest in visiting Fascinating Facets and the Crystal Caves.

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THE TABLELANDER - October 31st, 1989

"Crystal Caves award winner"

Atherton's Fascinating Facets is more than just a rockshop - it's a wonderland that glitters and shines just like any of its crystals.

One section of Fascinating Facets, the Crystal Caves, recently won a high commendation in the Northern Building Society's Award for Excellence.

This underground museum is a fascinating way to see crystal formations which are spotlighted to show their brilliance.

So beautiful are some, that it is impossible to believe they come from the inner parts of Earth.

Another "facet" of Fascinating Facets is the street level Gallery where a wide selection of hand crafted jewellery, gemstones and crystals are displayed.

By dealing with highly skilled local craftsmen and dealing directly with miners and manufacturers, high quality items can be offered at very competitive prices.

With 20 years experience to back up the friendly service, a rich mineral department also operates.

From a beginner to an advanced collector, there are many crystallised mineral specimens on sale.

Rockhound and tourist alike will lose any sense of time once they have entered Fascinating Facets.

Gembead necklaces, healing stone pendants, watches and rings are all so individual that you will certainly be buying something that is a little different from the norm.

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AUSTRALIAN GOLD GEM AND TREASURE MAGAZINE
- February 1988

"The Secret Power of Gems"

Are you the owner of a healing stone? You may have one in your possession without realising its potential: your own gem collection may well include the means to a happier, healthier, even wealthier you!

Since time began gems have been prized not only for their enchanting beauty but for their hidden powers. The crystal has long been regarded as a sacred stone by American Indians and an invaluable aid both in healing and in communicating with the spirits.

In medieval Europe powdered crystal was mixed with wine to relieve stomach disorders. Scottish highlanders used crystal charms to cure poisonous infections in both humans and animals.

An ancient legend states that rock crystal was originally holy water which froze into ice on its way down from Heaven and that angels miraculously purified the substance in its present form, endowing it with secret powers to benefit mankind.

Today there's increasing interest worldwide in the healing properties and cosmetic value of quartz crystals, especially transparent rock crystal. Some overseas celebrities are said to keep huge chunks worth up to $10,000 in their homes or offices.

According to one American scientist each crystal has its own energy pattern an unique as fingerprints and he advocates care when choosing a personal crystal, to ensure that its energies are harmonious with your own.

At Fascinating Facets Gem and Mineral Centre at Atherton in North Queensland, a world class collection of quartz crystals can be viewed. The centre is a treasure house laden with glowing gems, with jewellery and gifts for sale; handcrafted silver and turquoise necklets, natural quartz crystal balls, marble goblets and tiny perter figures set in sparkling geodes.

The most unusual feature of the centre however is the 'Aladdin's Cave'. Proprietors of "Fascinating Facets; and creators of the cave are Rene and Nelleke Boissevain, who ingeniously converted their shop basement and opened this wondrous cave to the public in September 1987.

I can vouch that a visit to this wonderland is an unforgettable experience. It's like another world where tiny ceiling lights twinkle like glow-worms, where stalactites and stalagmites have illuminated cavities filled with precious stones and gems, and the sound of dripping water promotes an authentic underground atmosphere.

In this magical setting treasure from all over the world are cleverly spotlighted - giant amethyst geodes from Brazil, mottled green malachite from Africa, crystallized pyrites from Peru and 120 million years old ammonites from Walsh River near Chillagoe in North Queensland. There's even a ;swan Lake' ballet display of clear white crystals.

Cavern walls and columns are amazingly realistic, and foundations sprayed with lightweight polyurethane foam give an incredibly true to life effect.

Following the cave theme, Rene's Suzuki vehicle has been similarly treated with foam, and the 'cave mobile' is always the centre of interest wherever it goes.

The Boissevains can recount endless stories of customers whose ailments have been cured by crystals. Nelleke herself has several times experienced their healing effects and the couple's daughter Cecilia recalls that on many occasions she's experienced strong energizing sensations in her hand and arm when handling various crystals.

Some time ago when Cecilia was suffering from back complaint she had a friend lightly pass a crystal up and down over the painful area. After just a few of these treatments, Cecilia says her back troubles were over.

The strongest and most renowned healing stone appears to be the amethyst. It's claimed to be not only effective in relieving headaches but also insomnia when gently rubbed against the temples.

One long time migraine sufferer mentioned to the Boissevains that he'd tried all the patent medicines without relief. On their advice she wore an amethyst crystal for several hours each day, and reported that after a short time her headaches disappeared completely.

The stone of romance, rose quartz, is said to enhance artistic ability and increase creative urges; while aquamarine promotes a feeling of youth and courage and is attributed with the power to help martial happiness.

Tourmaline gives inspiration and promotes general contentment, carnelian can control a violent temper and tiger eye is used to treat eye diseases.

Each of these healing stones is a marvellous asset to own but for the budding treasure hunter a garnet can't be beaten. Not only does it create unbounded energy but it's said that the wine red gem has power to reveal to its possessor, secret hordes of hidden treasure!

NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER MAGAZINE - February 24th, 1988

"A Crystal cave ….. in the centre of town!"

Limestone pillars, twinkling crystals and the sound of dripping water conjure up thoughts of Jenolan or Chillagoe, but there's another limestone cave gaining popularity in the centre of Atherton.

The cave is the brainchild of Atherton businessman and crystal expert Rene Boissevain who operates the crystal and mineral shop, Fascinating Facets.

Rene felt that his vast crystal collection which included magnificent specimens from all over the world could be displayed to best advantage in a cave setting, so he decided that he would build one.

After months of work and after spending $75,000 Rene's crystal cave is fully stocked and is attracting increasing numbers of tourists to the town.

Rene said the superstructure of the cavern was designed with wood and copious quantities of Hessian, which was then sprayed with enormous volumes of a polystyrene foam, similar to that used in the building industry for insulation.

The foam was shaped into stalactites, pillars and grottos and then painted brown and green, the texture and colour greatly resembling that of damp cave walls.

Even the shop's four wheel drive receive3d the treatment and was totally covered in foam. Cuts had to be made in the covering to allow access to the doors and bonnet, and the 'cavemobile' has become a familiar sight around the streets of Atherton.
The crystal cave is air conditioned, which adds to the subterranean atmosphere as does the taped sound of constantly dripping water.

Set in the walls of the cave and around the pillars are the prize exhibits of Rene's renowned collection of exquisite crystals.

Price of place is occupied by two recent additions from Brail, a huge amethyst geode and thousands of individual crystals, each of faceting quality.

Crystals have long been believed to hold mystical powers and the perfect quartz crystals for sale in the shop attract many people who believe in the healing and supernatural powers of crystals. Some believe that crystals possess an energy that can cure a range of illnesses and promotes well being (a crystal 'hit') and some visitors to fascinating facets buy them for their supposed powers.

Whether they really do possess these qualities or not, no on can deny the rare and timeless beauty of a perfect crystal, be it quartz, aquamarine, topaz or amethyst.

A Crystal cave under Atherton's main street may seem a strange and ambitious project, but not to those who know Rene's penchant for the unusual.

ADVERTISER - February 17th, 1988

"Fascinating specimens from Brazil"

Some of the largest and most spectacular mineral specimens ever to come to Australia have arrived in North Queensland.

They include a quartz crystal cluster in excellent condition weighting almost 100 kg, believed to be the largest such specimen in Australia.

Rene Boissevain, of Fascinating Facets, who arranged for the specimens to be brought to Australia, says that even the best of the museums in our capital cities cannot boast a mineral exhibit of this calibre.

He says that as well as the crystal cluster, there is an amethyst geode weighting almost a quarter of a tonne.

This, he said, was not as rare as the crystal cluster but very bit as spectacular.

Rene plans to use these specimens as the focal point of shopping centre displays throughout Australia.

When not involved in such displays, they will be exhibited at Fascinating Facets underground crystal museum in Atherton.

Rene says it requires months of protracted negotiations with contracts in the remote part of Brazil to acquire these magnificent specimens.

There are only a few parts of the world left where primitive hand mining techniques are in operation and it is only from these places that undamaged mineral specimens can be obtained.

"Machine mining destroys or badly damages specimens making them almost worthless," Mr Boissevain concludes.

TRAVEL & TORUISM - THE CAIRNS POST- March 1988

"Magic cave under Main St."

Hidden in the heart of Far North Queensland's rainforest country is a jewelled cave with treasures which sparkle like Aladdin's treasure.

Hobgoblins could well be lurking behind the stalagmite columns.

But the jungle containing this piece of fairyland is the 'concrete jungle' of Main St, Atherton - the major farming and tourism centre of the beautiful Atherton Tableland.

The jewels are a spectacular collection of crystallised mineral specimens including quartz, amethyst, topaz and many others with names less familiar but equally stunning.

The most valuable piece is a single crystal of erythrite, a type of cobalt.

The rarest is a minute crystal called kottigite, and the most spectacular the medallic grey stibnite.

There is crystallised pyrites (fools gold) from Peru, rose quartz from Madagascar, barite from Germany and desert rose gypsum from Tunisia.

Beneath Fascinating Facets, a shop specialising in precious stones, healing stones, fossils and imaginative jewellery, the display is housed in an ingenious man made cave resembling the places kilometres under the earth from where these beautiful and rare specimens were mined by hand.

It was devised by adventurer Rene Boissevain who built up most of the collection over the eight years he spent travelling the globe as a buyer and seller of mineral specimens.

Many of the specimens were displayed in his museum in Holland, but following the museum's sale four years ago it was carefully packed for shipping to Australia - only to be 'lost' in a cargo transfer shed between Sydney and Brisbane for 3½ years.

Since opening his Crystal Cave a few months ago, Rene has proudly shown the pick of his 23 years of mineral collecting to fascinating tourists and locals.

"Quite a few people just don't believe the crystals are natural formations," Rene said.

"they ask how they are cut and polished and whether dyes have been used to obtain the brilliant colours.

"Of course all the specimens are completely natural."

The journey into the cave, through a darkened tunnel, is punctuated with the sharp sound of dripping water, simulating the natural forces at work which create the stalactites and stalagmites.

Like Merlin, in his own crystal cave, the visitor to this other world of disclosed beauty must first push through the darkened barrier - in this case just a black curtain but the atmospheric effect is a good one.

The journey back to the real world and the Main St pavement is softened by the many interesting or rather fascinating items in Rene and his wife Nelleke's shop.

There are rare agate bowl sets - a whole solid agate scooped out into six or eight or even fifteen perfect bowls which stack to form the agate nodule again.

There is beautiful cleverly designed jewellery, huge chunks of amethyst and other beautiful specimens, 120 million year old fossils and crystal healing stones.

These range from amazonite, which is claimed to have aphrodisiac properties to citrine, reputed to relieve tiredness, bring happiness and strengthen the nerves, emerald, which is supposed to strengthen memory and eyes and help epilepsy, jasper, which is claimed to help morning sickness, relieve stomach, liver and kidney diseases, help stroke, epilepsy and loss of smell. Magnesite is claimed to be good for slimming.

Hil latest purchase includes two perfect quartz crystal formations from South America which together weighs 146kg.

Rene says they are probably the biggest perfect specimen ever found.

One will be put up for sale while its partner goes on display in the museum.

Collectors Australia wide with a passion for crystallised minerals also use Rene and Nelleke Boissevain's mail order service.

The healing stones may require the addition of a bit of good luck to work their magic.

But the cave in which their mightier examples are displayed has magic enough of its own to provide some relief from the workaday world outside.

AUSTRALIAN POST - August 6th, 1988

"There's a cave at the back of my shop!"

Crystals have supernatural powers, say some devotees. This fan displays them in an extraordinary way…

Atherton (Q) businessman Rene Boissevain is not a man to shy away from a challenge.
When he decided his world renewed crystal specimens could be shown to best advantage in a cave, he built one - complete with "limestone" pillars, stalactites, ledges and grottos.
After $75,000 and 3 ½ months work, Rene had constructed the cave in the basement of his mineral shop, called Fascinating Facets.
You enter through a winding, dimly-lit tunnel from the back of the shop. Sounds of dripping water add to the atmosphere.
The cave superstructure was formed from timber, chicken wire and Hessian sprayed with pressurised polyurethane foam, similar to that used in insulation. This was painted green, with tinges of brown giving a damp effect.
Event he shop Suzuki four wheel drive didn't escape the "treatment". It was covered to give the impression of a rolling stone.
The Impulsive Rene has a passion for the unusual.
His outlandish streak was revealed during the Atherton Maize Festival. The mineral shop won the prize for the best decorated premises, with the crowd-stopping spectacle of Rene, dressed as a cat, pursuing 63 real white rats around the shop window, supposedly protecting the farmers maize.
In the cave, 40 spotlights play on glittering Brazilian amethyst, blue celestite from Malagasy, Moroccan vandanite and hand shaped Congolese malachite.
The more familiar Australian specimen include Tasmanian crocoite and boulder opal from Winton (Q) as well as ammonite fossils from the Walsh River (Q).
Much of the collection originates from mining areas in less developed countries where operations are still carried out without mechanisation. The crystal deposits are often found in volcanic blisters, sometimes 4 km below the earth's surface.
Many devotees of the New Age, who believe in extra-ordinary powers of crystals, visit Fascinating Facets. They buy quartz crystals for $5 to $1,500.
Believers in "crystal consciousness" say crystals radiate vibrations through water and that drinking the water produces a "crystal hit" with increased energy and well-being.
Others claim that crystals can alleviate bodily ailments or even that a crystal attached to a carburettor can improve fuel economy.
What is certain is that crystals do emit precise oscillations in response to electrical current, a property employed widely in the electronics field.
The collection includes "healing stones" which are said to emit a wide range of stimulating rays to aid anthi9ng from varicose veins to impotence.
Apart form any claims of paranormal qualities, the sheet natural timeless beauty of geometric perfection of crystals has a great attraction for Rene.
"You can turn a crystal over and over in your hand and see that it is so beautiful," he says, holding an impressive steely grey Rumanian antimonite cluster. "Every piece is so different and is exclusively Nature's creation."

TRAVEL & TOURISM, THE CAIRNS POST - October, 1988

"A man-made cave full of nature's crystal creations"

Atherton businessman Rene Boissevain is not a man to shy away from a challenge.

When he decided his world renowned crystal specimens could be shown to best advantage in a cave, he built one - complete with 'limestone' pillars, stalactites, ledges and grottos.

After $75,000 and 3½ months work, Rene had constructed the cave in the basement of his mineral shop, called Fascinating Facets.

You enter through a winding, dimly lit tunnel from the back of the shop. Sounds of dripping water add to the atmosphere.

Rene has a passion for the unusual.

His outlandish streak was revealed during the Atherton Maize Festival. The mineral shop won the prize for the best decorated premises, with the crowd stopping spectacle of Rene, dressed as a cat, pursuing 63 real white rats around the shop window, supposedly protecting the farmers maize.

In the cave, 40 spotlights play on glittering Brazilian amethyst, blue celestite from Malagasy, Moroccan vandanite and handshaped Congolese malachite.

The more familiar Australian specimens include Tasmanian crocoite and boulder opal from Winton as well as ammonite fossils from the Walsh River, both in Queensland.

Much of the collection originates from mining areas in less developed countries where operations are still carried out without mechanisation. The crystal deposits are often found in volcanic blisters, sometimes 4 km below the earth's surface.

Apart from nay claims of paranormal qualities, the sheer natural timeless beauty and geometric perfection of crystals has a great attraction for Rene.

"You can turn a crystal over and over in your hand and see that it is so beautiful," he says.

"Every piece is so different and is exclusively Natures creation.

Below: a foam spray job ahs turned Rene's car into a rolling stone.

AUSTRALASIAN POST - December 24th, 1988

"Lets face it - he's…… CRAZY!"

Once he even tried to drive his wife's brand new jeep across a river … she's never forgiven him.

To say Rene Boissevain is a bit of an eccentric is an understatement. The 51 year old Dutchman wraps buildings in tin foil, cages himself in display windows with hundreds of rats, tears around town in a chariot looking for jousting partners and tries to float his wife's new car across a raging torrent on tractor tyres.

And most of it has taken place in the small country town of Atherton (Q), about tow hours drive from Cairns.

So how do the townspeople relate to his antics? "Most of them probably think I'm crazy."

About 12 years ago Rene decided to sell his crystal rock business in Holland and open a shop in Atherton Called Fascinating Facets.

"I had been travelling all over the world buying and selling gems but my family was getting older and I decided it was time to settle down," he said.

The year before last, Rene took part in the Atherton Maize Festival by painting himself as a cat and caging himself in his shop window with hundreds of rats for more than eight hours (something about protecting the maize from the rats). Last year he attracted attention by building a morbid street float over flowing with mutilated mannequins.

"I was on the float, poised like one of the dummies, watching as everyone was freaking out at what they was," Rene said. "I don't mind if people think I'm eccentric as long as they don't think I'm a total bloody idiot."

Rene also dressed as Sir Lancelot and drives a chariot around town looking for jousting partners.

Last year he also tried to float his wife's brand new jeep (it had been drive only 500 km) across the Normanby River on tractor tyres.

"I was confident it would work, although my wife was a little anxious when we discovered the river was in flood," he said.

"anyway, we tied a rope to a tree on the other side and hitched it to the car, then drove it on to the tyres and set out across the river. I guess I must have miscalculated. The rope broke and next thing we know my daughter and I are in the middle of a raging torrent being swept down river in a car. It was not one of my greatest success stories."

Rene is well known around Atherton for the car he drives. Having survived its river ordeal, his wife's jeep again became the centre of attention when he converted it into a multi coloured version of something out of the Flintstones.

"I was having my shop renovated to look like a giant cave and we had some materials left over so we remodelled the car. My wife could have killed me when she sae it. I sometimes wonder who she puts up with me."

Rene says on eof his most spectacular projects was when he wrapped an entire building in tin foil back in Holland. "I also wanted to wrap all the tress in town but they wouldn't let me," he said.

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THE TABLELANDER - 13th January, 1987

"Lost, collection comes to light"

A three and a half year old mystery was solved recently when a valuable collection of crystallised mineral specimens, owned by Rene Boissevain of Atherton, turned up after being lost in transit from Holland to Atherton.

The collection of 450 specimens, was put together by Rene during his eight years of trading in mineral specimens on the International market.

Over the years, Rene, a minerals expert, kept the best of what he bought gradually putting together the superb collection.

Initially, it was displayed in his museum in Holland, but following the sale of this museum four years ago, it was carefully packed for transportation to Australia.

"It took weeks and weeks to pack the crate," says Rene. "Each of the specimens had to be handled with great care as their values lies in the crystals being undamaged".

The 650kg carte was shipped and disappeared. At the same time, Rene had consigned a ride on motor mower from Holland, and that turned up quite safely in Atherton.

"Holland blamed Australia and Australian blamed Holland," says Rene.

"The phone calls and telexes and letters flew back and forth, but the crate couldn't be located."

Rene went personally to Brisbane and Sydney obtaining permission to look in all the bond stores, but after 10 days of fruitless searching, had to accept that the crate of specimens, had vanished.

"it took a long time to get over the shock," he says

Then, to his astonishment, about six months ago, a letter turned up from the customs department asking why he hadn't collected a crate stored in a Sydney to Brisbane Transfer shed.

The letter warned that if the crate was not picked up within seven days, the contents would be sold at auction.

Rene immediately contacted his agent who made arrangements to collect the crate and pay the $700 demanded for storage.

"We paid the money - we thought we would argue after we got the crate back," says Rene with a grin.

Finally the precious collection arrived in Atherton where it was unpacked and found to be in excellent condition.

Now it is on display prior to its sale, in Fascinating Facets, Rene's shop in Main Street, Atherton.

Rene says that considerable interest in purchasing the collection has been show by a mining company and a museum, but he is hoping it might stay here in the north.

The most valuable piece is a specimen of Erythrite, a type of cobalt, which owes its value to its size rather than its rarity.

The rarest is a minute crystal, "nothing much to look at", called Kottigite and the most spectacular, the metallic grey Stibnite.

Rene says the public's reaction to the collection is most interesting.

"Quite a few people just don't believe the crystals are natural formations," he says. "They ask how they are cut and polished, and whether dyes have been used to obtain the brilliant colours.

"Of course all the specimens are completely natural."

THE TABLELANDER - 11th August, 1987

"What's Rene up to now?"

Atherton businessman, Rene Boissevain, has a reputation for originality.

Remember last year, when he shocked and delighted Maize Festival crowds with his winning shop window display featuring 40 live white rats with Rene himself in their midst, complete with ears and whiskers, as King of the Rats?

Now he has come up with a new idea that looks certain to put Atherton on the tourist map.

Atherton Is about to get its own treasure cave.

Rene, originally from Holland, has operated his business, Fascinating Facets, in Atherton for several years.

Visitors from all over the world are drawn to his shop to see his outstanding collection of gems and minerals, and to buy specimens and jewellery.

Now Rene is to provide a fitting setting for his gem and mineral collection.

No longer will it be displayed on mundane shelves, but instead will be shown off to best advantage in an artfully created "cave" in the basement of his shop.

Strategically placed spotlights will highlight the specimens.

Carpenters are already busy constructing the cave and winding tunnel which starts at the rear of the shop.

"It's the first cave I've ever had to build," said one of the workers with a grin.

Rene is hoping his cave will exert a magic influence, drawing visitors to Atherton to see his world standard collection of minerals and gemstones in a setting worthy of their intrinsic beauty and interest.

TRAVEL & TOURISM - THE CAIRNS POST - September, 1987

"Cave of crystals"

Rene Boissevain is pictured with one of the unusual pieces which makes up his crystal mineral collection, described as one of the best in Australia.

This collection, containing 429 separate pieces, is on permanent display at Rene's shop Fascinating Facets in Main street, Atherton.

Until recently housed on specially designed shelves, Rene has now moved the collection into a more realistic setting, by designing a "café" in the basement of his shop where the crystals can be shown in an environment closer to their natural surrounds.

In addition to the "mineral department", admission to which is free, Rene and his wife Nelleke carry a wide range of gems, gold, healing stone and quartz crystals for sale.

THE TABLELANDER - 1st September, 1987

"Would you believe…. A crystal cave and a rock car?"

All I can say is that it's absolutely fascinating! I'm talking about the exciting new tourist attraction opening soon in Atherton.

Local identities, Rene and Nelleke Boissevain, have expanded their Fascinating Facets store, to include the Underground Crystal Museum.

It's an underground cave that houses the most beautiful crystal and mineral deposits ever seen in the area. Included are quartz crystals, rose quartz, amethyst crystals, agate, Australian "thunder eggs", and much, much more.

The displays are made up of Mr Boissevain's private collection of crystals and minerals as well as special imported samples of these lovely rocks.

The museum opens to the public next week.

In conjunction with the opening of the museum, fascinating Facets is running a competition to name the "rock car".

The competition is open to all schools and their students and the winners will receive a free tour of the museum for their class.

As well as being a wonderful display of crystals, the museum is full of interesting information on how the crystals were formed and where the stones were discovered.

THE TABLELANDER- 8th September, 1987

"Crystal cave beauties"

Rene Boissevain, of Fascinating Facets, and his bevy of cave-girl beauties, are pictured after the opening of his new Crystal Underground Museum, located in the basement of his Main street shop.

With Rene and Del Hamilton and the two small daughters of Mr and Mrs Joe Tanko, Krystina-Ann and Tanya Maree.

The new museum was officially opened on Friday afternoon by the manager of the Queensland Tourist and travel Corporation, Mr Brett Gilbbert, and it certainly went off with a bang as a wall was blown out to reveal the cave entrance.

What was previously a very ordinary basement in the shop has been transformed into a realistic looking cave entered by tunnel.

Artfully placed spotlights paly over the glittering exhibits and here also, Rene's world class mineral and gemstone collection has an appropriate setting.

Rene believes that the new tourist attraction will draw many additional visitors to Atherton, and based on the enthusiasm of guests at the opening, his optimism is entirely justified.

November 1987

"Spectacular crystals in underground cavern"

While a collection of rare and spectacular crystals mounted in display cabinets is a thing of beauty and wonder, to see those same crystals set in grottos and stalactites in an underground cavern is to truly appreciate the extraordinary beauty of these naturally formed stones.

Add to this the sparkling of the crystals in the glow of concealed lights, with a low stone roof and the sound of dripping water, and you could be forgiven for thinking you are in a fantasy world.

It has taken Rene Boissevain of Fascinating Facets in Atherton three and a half months and $75,000 to create the underground cavern in the basement of his shop where he now houses his crystal collection - described as one of the best in Australia.

The most spectacular of the 429 pieces in the collection have been selected for the cavern, while the remainder are on special display shelves nearby.

Vast quantities of polyurethane foam were used to create the 'cavern' effect, complete with stalactites and stalagmites. To enhance the 'underground' feeling, entry is via a dimly lit tunnel, which leads the visitor into the 'treasure chamber' gleaming with marvellously coloured crystals.

In their natural state crystals are found mainly in volcanic blisters, small pockets of stone embedded deep beneath the earth, within which the crystals form. They are commonly found by mine workers, who dispose of them to crystal collectors throughout the world.

The shape and colours are completely natural, but according to Rene this is the thing people find hard to accept.

"I am constantly being asked how I cut and polish them to such shapes, " He said. "I have trouble convincing some people the pieces are totally natural."

Fascinating Facets is situated in Main street, Atherton, and in addition to the crystal display carries a wide range of gems, gold, healing stones and quartz crystal , as well as gift items made form these materials. A charge is made for admission to the cavern, which is entered through the shop.

TOURIST SCENE - December, 1987

"Discover your own Aladdin's cave"

Millions of years ago, deep down inside the earth, volcanic action was forming minerals into crystals.

Only now are these natural crystals formations being brought to the surface by mine workers, some won from the earth up to 3.5 kilometres below its surface.

In many countries, the miners still use the old fashioned methods of extracting these precious stones - picks, shovels and raw muscle.

Sometimes the miners trike a pocket, a cavity or mini cave lined with most spectacular and sometimes bizarre crystals.

Carefully and with great patience, they loosen and remove these natural treasures from inside volcanic blisters.

The thrill of happening across a rich pocket of these wondrous crystals has been reserved for a select few. Until now.

Now you too can discover your own Aladdin's cave of spectacular crystals - without even getting your hands dirty!

You can embark on your own voyage of discovery, heading underground, deeper and deeper until you hear the tinkling rush of running water. Through the tunnel you'll go…. At first it is rather dark, but soon you'll see the first of the light pockets jealously guarding the most amazing variety of minerals.

At the end of the tunnel is a curtain. Open it and you're in a treasure chamber.

Hidden between stalactites and stalagmites are little spotlights that pick the crystals out of the walls

The spectacular formations embedded in their natural looking cavities will make you shake your head in wonder and gasp with awe.

This amazing underground crystal wonderland is the work and brain child of adventurer and rock expert, Rene Boissevain.

His shop, Fascinating Facets, si located in Main Street Atherton, and is truly a "one of a kind" experience.

Here, Rene has set up his own treasure trove of minerals, gemstones and jewellery. He also stocks the famous healing stones.

Collected world wide, Rene's crystal display is the best in Australia. Guaranteed!

It's a must whether you live her or are just visiting the North.

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CAIRNS WEEK - 2nd March, 1986

"Stone of the month"

February's birthstone is the amethyst. A semi precious gemstone, it is said to protect the wearer from the effects of drunkenness and to insure justice. The Chinese have been known to rent amethyst to people involved in court cases. Amethyst is reputed to be effective against headaches, especially migraine. In cases of insomnia, gently rubbing the stone on the temple is supposed to induce sleep. This interesting example of the gemstone comes from Brazil and is displayed by 18 year old Cecilia Boissevain of Fascinating Facets, who believes in the power of this beautiful purple stone.

THE TABLELANDER - 16th September, 1986

"Magic stones!"

The interest in "healing stones" is booming in Europe with Australia close behind, according to Rene Boissevain, of Fascinating Facets.

Rene, who has been involved with healing stones for the past eight years, initially overseas, and now in Atherton, is firmly convinced that the beautifully polished gemstones he sells, do have remarkable properties.

At his Atherton shop, he stocks more than 20 varieties.

"For instance, there's amethyst, very helpful for those who suffer from migraine e and headaches, amber which is good for asthma and chest conditions, malachite, stronger than a copper bracelet for alleviating rheumatism and arthritis, and many more - even one to help you slim,' he said.

Rene says people have been conditioned to believe that inanimate objects like stone or metals are totally lifeless. However, scientists have found that there is great activities in the most passive looking object with its atoms and molecules in constant motion.

And, he says, ancient teaching indicates there exists a very important inter relationship between the human being and the kingdom of nature, the mineral world in general and precious and semiprecious stones in particular.

Rene stresses that the theory of healing stones I not his. It is, he says, a well known world wide concept featured in several major magazines and about which almost 60 books have been written in various languages.

He commented that a recent television program, "Good Morning Australia", had featured a segment on crystalline healing energy which had created a great deal of local interest and as a result he had received a number of enquires about the crystal which eh stocks.

"Those who really know about it," he says, "come in and are able to choose the piece of crystal that is right for them by holding their hand over several pieces until they feel the right aura."

Rene says the theory si that healing stones work best when placed as close as possible to the heart so it is a good idea to wear them as pendants. And very attractive ones they make!

Each healing stone comes mounted ready to take a chain r can be purchased beautifully presented in a box with a chain and a miniature dried flower arrangement, for under $15.

The stone by itself, of course, costs very much less than this.

"And," says Rene, "what you are actually getting is a genuine gemstone with the healing properties thrown in free."

As well as healing stones, Rene has lots of other fascinating things in his shop … beautiful jewellery, all genuine, ornaments featuring natural minerals, and miniature pewter animals and lots lots more.

You are always welcome to call in and browse.

THE CAIRNS POST - 30th December, 1986

"Rare mineral collection goes on sale"

A Far North Queensland mineral collection of rare excellence will be offered for sale in early 1987.

The collection has been assembled over a period of 20 years by Mr Rene Boissevain.

The carefully selected crystalline specimens come from many different countries.

Examples include specimens from Trepca in Yugoslavia, Vera Cruz in Mexico, stibnites from Rumania and green apophylcites from India.

Mr Boissevain's position as proprietor of the famous Dutch mineral museum, "the Old Earth", and his Australian companies, Gemstones of the World and Fascinating Facets, have given him the unique opportunity of being able to select from undamaged specimens of the highest quality, said the selling agents, Dave Sinclair and Associates.

Collections of this calibre deserve exhibition at the most prestigious locations. State or National museums would no doubt be excellent venues, but it would appear that current economic conditions may preclude this option unless assisted by a publicly spirited company, the agents said.

Mr Boissevain is currently involved in the laborious task of compiling a catalogue which will provide a photograph, measurements, and a description of each specimen.

In most instances, collections like this are purchased by overseas buyers. As we rapidly approach our bicentennial year it would be stimulating to realise that Australia was developing the sophistication to take an interest in acquiring perfect specimens of the minerals that actually constitute our planet, said a spokesman for the agents.

The collection may be inspected personally at Fascinating Facets in Atherton by contacting the agents.

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1985

"Excellent trophy for champion maize"

As a gesture towards the Atherton Centenary, the Atherton Maize Festival Committee has decided to donate a trophy to the grower of the champion maize exhibit at the 1985 Atherton Show.

The trophy was designed and manufactured by Fascinating Facets, of Atherton, and depicts three cobs of maize which have been copper plated and mounted on a highly polished timer base. The trophy is valued in excess of $100.

Committee chairman Mr John Hardy, said "As maize has been grown in the area since the turn of the century, the maize industry is fitting as a pioneer crop of the area.

"it was decided to highlight this for the Atherton Centenary celebrations by donating a trophy for the champion maize exhibit of this year's show."

So, Mr Maize Grower, consider making an entry in the maize section of this year's show and have the once only opportunity to win this highly valued and fancied trophy.

ADVERTISER - 9th January, 1985

"New gallery in Atherton"

An exhibition by Tableland artist Bettina Glass was an appropriate choice for the opening of a new art gallery in Atherton recently, as three years old Bettina ran a private gallery only a few doors from where her present exhibition is on display.

The new gallery is the idea of Atherton businessman Rene Boissevain who runs a gemstone and mineral shop, "Fascinating Facets" in the town's main street.

When Fascinating Facets moved into larger premises three months ago Mr. Boissevain decided to convert one wall of the new shop into a small gallery, to provide a place for exhibitions by local artists.

To those people who know Bettina mainly as a portrait painter, the exhibition comes as something off a surprise. The dozen or so paintings have been chosen to illustrate the artist's versatility, with only one portrait, a head study done in pastels, among them.

The main comment among people who have visited the gallery, according to Rene Boissevain, has been surprise that all the paintings are by the same artist.

Bettina explained the differences in style by saying that for each different subject she painted she reserved a different treatment.

Paintings range from the extreme realism of Winter Sunrise and Old Ravenswood through an interesting study of youthful movement in On the Wind, to the bold abstraction of Irrigation Channels with its cloud of rising bubbles.

Nor has the artist confined herself to the use of oils. The paintings demonstrate her technical ability in such diverse mediums as pastels, acrylics, enamels, and water colour.

Her "Eacham Shire" described as "acrylic and mixed medium with found objects", uses a montage technique combining various forms of paint, stones and other small objects.

Bettina and fellow painter, Maree Cohen will be travelling to Florence, Italy in June to study art. "The trip will be for about a month, and I will be concentrating on my portraiture," she said.

Bettina recently completed a life-size portrait of Cooktown's "Flying Padre", now the Anglican Bishop of Carpentaria, Anthony Hall-Matthews, which was submitted for consideration for the Archibald Prize.

The exhibition will remain open all this month.

Rene hopes to have an exhibition of a different artist each month.

"To make the exhibition worthwhile, the artist will need at least a dozen paintings."

Bettina said the idea was a good one, and would do a lot of Tableland artists.

While on the subject of Tableland Art, Bettina a member of the Atherton District Art Society said that the Society desperately needed more members to help with work such as their Annual exhibition.

"The office bearers and members are having to do so much work that they are not getting the time needed to devote to their painting," she said.

"We would like to see a lot of young people join the society. The ability to paint is not a necessity, only an interest in art is needed."

Anyone who wishes to join the Society, or is willing to give assistance can get in touch with them care of the Secretary, PO Box 368, Atherton.

THE CAIRNS POST - 17th December, 1985

"Fascinating gem store opens in Cairns"

Fascinating Facets, a gemstone retail outlet, is now open in Cairns. Situated in Abbott St diagonally opposite the post office, this new store offers both the serious gem collector and amateur fossicker a vast range of collector specimens and advice. For the shopper, Fascinating Facets provides different gift ideas from its collection of cut and polished gemstones and handcrafted jewellery. The new store in Cairns was opened as a result of the success achieved by tis sister store in Atherton. This feature tells you of the fascinating storey behind the store and its owner, Rene Boissevian, who came to Australia from Holland 20 years ago to work in Atherton, where he became interested in his gem foraging hobby.

Following the success of the unusual, Fascinating Facets, gemstone retail outlet in Atherton, over the past three years, Rene Boissevain, has opened a new store in Cairns, in Abbott St. diagonally opposite the post office.

Fascinating Facets is not strictly a gemstone shop, or a jewellery shop, nor is it a rock collector's shop or gift shop, but all of these - as multi faceted as the faces of a natural crystallised mineral and as stunning as the facets cut into a stone that will make it into an exclusive gem.

Unusual
The new store is as beautiful as the products displayed, having a quiet, gallery atmosphere, where shoppers can select from an unusual and exquisite collection of cut and polished gemstones, handcrafted jewellery made from imported turquoise, natural opal, jade, crystal, as well as silver of all types and gold nuggets.

There are natural crystals, birth stones, healing stones, genuine quartz crystal balls, exclusive imported fish fossils, beautiful malachite and collectors mineral specimens.

Fascinating Facets is one of the few gemstone stores in Far North Queensland catering for collectors and amateur fossickers, with a vast range of collectors specimens, crystalline samples and helpful advice on identity and authenticity.

Nothing artificial
Rene points out that all the stones are crystals at Fascinating Facets are genuine, all natural and nothing artificial. For example the quartz crystal balls are carved from huge rock crystals, unlike some crystal balls available, which are often man made lead crystals or cut from glass.

As well as the range of exclusive jewellery and finished stones, Fascinating Facets has some very different but much appreciated gift lines. Rings and pendants inlaid with different stones, polished alloy cigarette boxes and cigarette lighters also inlaid, imported silver and gold chains, gold plated flowers and leaves, and a selection of bead necklaces cut and polished from a variety of stones including amethyst, which will last a lifetime.

There are fascinating, do it yourself mosaic pictures supplied with a kit of coloured stone chips to be glued onto outline pictures of birds, wildlife and bush scenes - a variation on painting by numbers.

Another participation gift is the revived version on the ancient native game of Man-Kala. Originally played with 36 pebbles moved around a series of cups dug in the ground, Fascinating Facets have recreated the game with 36 polished gemstones, on an Australian timber board. Naturally instructions are included and as well as being a great conversation piece it is reputed to be as addictive as backgammon.

All terms are superbly displayed and remarkably inexpensive.

"Just because we display things nicely, doesn't mean we are expensive - we have something to suit all budgets", Rene said.

To complement the vast and beautiful retail lines, Fascinating Facets will cut and polish client's own stone's design settings, repair all jewellery and repair and maintain antique jewellery.

Electroforming
The workshop and studio on the Tablelands also has the facility for electroforming - a process by which loose stones of any shape, including facet cut or tumbled, can be set in silver or gold edging to take a chain, clasp or earring, depending on how the client wants to wear the piece.

THE CAIRNS POST - 17th December, 1985

"The inside facet"

When Rene Boissevain first came to Australia from his native Holland in 1965, he was living and working at Walkamin on the Atherton Tableland.

He spent a lot of time foraging for agate and gemstones in Agate Creek, near Forsythe and Georgetown.

In an old Nissan Patrol, along almost impassable bush tracks, accompanied by his wife Nelleke and young daughter Lifje, Rene became more and more fascinated by the rich variety of gems to be found in the Far North and the concept of Fascinating Facets started to take shape.

He had been involved in one of the few privately owned museum/ galleries in Giethorn, Holland, called De Oude Aarde meaning The Old Earth and many of Rene's Far North Queensland specimens were sent there for cutting, polishing and exhibition at the gallery which attracts almost 50,000 visitors each year and is still a major attraction.

So from a long experience in minerals the Fascinating Facets retail outlet and workshop was established in Atherton, three years ago.

A wholesale department - Gemstones of the World was also established with Rene importing mineral specimens from all over the world, and travelling extensively visiting mines and selecting the most beautiful specimens for display and sale in Australia and Holland.

Genuine Indian furquoise from the Nevajo Indians has been imported from America and limited quantities of stunning fish fossils have been imported from Brazil, while some fantastic Australian specimens and fossils have been exported to many countries.

The turquoise, in particular, is handcrafted in America by the Navajo Indians and has become a highlight in the Atherton shop and now, the new Cairns shop.

Rene has introduced Healing stones from Europe which have been little known in Australia and he also imports silver and gold chains.

He believes that by importing direct from overseas suppliers and with his personal involvement in overseas buying trips, that he can keep prices affordable and offer the very best in value and quality to his clients.

The recent opening of the Cairns shop has been major expansion for Fascinating Facets.

Wife Nelleke is still very much involved and maintains the Atherton shop and co ordinates overall administration, while daughter, Cecilia is operating the Cairns shop with the assistance of Karen Serum-Lewis.

Rene shares his expertise between the two locations.

With more than 20 years experience in minerals and gemstones, Rene is pleased to share his knowledge and offer advice to his clients and assures the staff of both shops also have excellent knowledge of the multi facets that makes Fascinating Facets a delightful shopping and browsing experience.

THE CAIRNS POST - 17th December, 1985

"Take a close look at these gems"

Gemstones have fascinating backgrounds and were used many hundreds of years ago for their healing and mystical powers as well as for decoration.

For example aquamarine means sea water and the blue to blue green colour of this precious gem brings it to mind. It is the stone of clairvoyants and mystics. Aquamarine is supposed to help against eye disease, neuralgia, swollen glands, throat, jaw and tooth conditions. It also is a gemstone which is supposed to be useful for stomach and liver conditions. It is said aquamarine keeps one young, fearless, warm hearted and faithful and supposedly gives happiness in marriage.

Tiger eye has a band of light which resembles an eye and was used in ancient times to ward off the evil eye and to protect against eye defects. It is said to give the wearer increased insight into himself and to enhance his outlook on the world. Tiger Eye is supposed to help eye diseases, colds, to relieve cramps and give one self confidence.

Amethyst is a beautiful purple gemstone popular for its colour. It is said to protect the wearer from drunkenness and to insure justice. The Chinese have been known to rent amethysts to people involved in court cases. Amethyst is reputed to be effective against headaches, especially migraine. In cases of insomnia, gently rubbing the stone on the temple is supposed to induce sleep.

Rock crystal is water clean quartz. The ancient Greeks believed it is to be ice turned to stone. This gemstone is used to manufacture crystal balls for fortune tellers. In hot summers the Romans used such spheres to cool their hands. Rock crystal is reputed to be useful for diarrhoea, dizziness and fainting. This gem is supposed to clarify knowledge and to conquer fear, therefore it is used for centre of meditation.

THE TABLELANDER - 17th December, 1985

"Beauty that lasts a lifetime"

More and more people are going for the real thing, the natural beauty of genuine gemstones, says Rene Boissevain, of Fascinating Facets.

With real gemstones, he says, you have something precious that lasts a lifetime and can then be passed on to your children.

"buy a dress," says Rene, "it lasts a season. Yet if you buy a necklace of real gemstones at about the same price as that dress, it will last forever."

At Fascinating Facets you will find over 40 different types of gemstones, some already made up into necklaces, or you can have your necklace strung to any length you desire, missing or matching stones, whichever you prefer.

The style is baroque with the polished irregular stones making a bold statement very much in line with current fashion trends.

The colours are endless and quite beautiful. There is the pale pink of rose quartz, honey coloured citrine, apricot carnelian, snowflake obsidian, perhaps alternating with white magnesium nuggets or amethysts ranging from deep rich purple to lilac, and much, much more.

Every necklace is individual and as Rene says, people recognise the real thing when they see it.

Some clients, he says, even bring in their new dress or dress material to have the perfect necklace made up to go with it.

Prices generally speaking, range from around $60 to $95.

As well as the gemstone necklaces, Fascinating Facets has many other ideal items for gift giving including beautiful silver and turquoise jewellery, plus cases for cigarette lighters, key rings and belt buckles, all handcrafted by the Red Indians of Arizona and imported direct by Fascinating Facets.

Or what about a pair of petrified wood book ends, mineral specimens which make beautiful and unusual ornaments as well as collectors items, wall hangings from India, healing gemstones (ask for the pamphlet) or the old/new game, Man-Kala, played with polished gemstones on an Australian timber board. Remember, Fascinating Facets has an electroforming studio where you can have your own polished gemstones made into pendants for as little as $15.

And Fascinating Facets has the cheapest gold and silver chains in the north because they import direct.

Fascinating Facets is now at 53 Abbott Street, Cairns as well as 69 Main Street Atherton.

Date unknown

"A fascinating new shop"

Fascinating Facets has moved to new premises n Main Street, Atherton right next to Rockmans.

"We just outgrew our former shop," says proprietor, Rene Boissevan.

The décor of the new showroom is dramatic and different, complementing the truly fascinating stock.

There are mineral specimens from all over the world, with some spectacular items from the famous Jewel Tunnel at Poona, India, just arrived.

There are superb piece s of furniture, such as the hand carved bar in the photograph, jewellery and other interesting knick knacks such as carved jade pieces.

Plus of course, Rene's special love - up to 40 different species of palms, both common and rare varieties for sale.

Fascinating Facets also offers an exclusive jewellery designing, alteration and repair service, together with stone faceting.

An additional feature of the beautiful shop is what Rene calls "The Gallery", a specially lit wall, designed to provide a showcase for local artists. Fascinating Facets draws customers from all over Australia and in addition, provides a comprehensive mail order service.

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THE CAIRNS POST - 27th July, 1984

"Healing powers of stones"

The ancient theory of healing powers being associated with precious stones is alive and apparently booming in Atherton, and Rene Boissevain and his daughter, Lefje, are experts on the subject.

The pair (pictured) operate Fascinating Facets - a shop which sells healing stones - in the town's main street.

Authoritative writings on the use of precious stones have been made since the First Century AD. They reached their peak of proliferation in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Theoretically, a person's zodiac sign governs their birthstone.

According to research in Australia, if a girl wants a diamond for a best friend she should be born under the Libra sign. To be effective it is believed a stone should be of good quality and weight not less than two carats. The stone must touch the skin to allow the subtle energies to penetrate the tissue.

ADVERTISER - 31st October, 1984

"New location for Fascinating Facets"

Fascinating Facets officially opened for business at its new location on Saturday, October 13. The shop moved from 69 Main Street in to the shop space formerly occupied by KnitWit.

Fascinating Facets in its new location has completely updated the shop and is entirely different from its former location which was next door to the coffee lounge, Where People Can Meet.

It is much larger, and beautifully equipped with three spotlight rail systems for lighting, greatly expanded stock and an exhibition wall space which is intended to be used as a gallery area for the exhibition of various artists work at monthly intervals.

Fascinating Facet is a family business Lefje Boissevain is the manager of the shop.

Rene Boissevain, her father, has been in the mineral business for 20 year starting in Australia with three years in Walkamin, then to Holland where he and his wife Nelleke, owned and operated a very successful mineral museum.

The museum has been sold, but is still a very viable business under new ownership.

Rene and his family returned to Australia and have resided in Atherton for the past eight years.

Throughout the entire 20 years Rene has spent much time travelling the world to purchase excellent mineral specimens.

The world wide contacts he has established in the mineral business makes it possible to obtain the finest materials, many of which are on display in the new shop.

Also on display and for sale are jewellery, gift items, oriental object d'art, the largest collection of gold and silver chains in the North, fine stone carvings and even t-shirts.

In addition there is a wide range of collectors species of palm trees.

The shop stocks all sorts of faceted stones in all price ranges.

They do custom faceting, jewellery design, construction, alterations and repairs including antique jewellery repairs. Plans for the further include stocking rough gemstone materials and to extend the gift items available.

All in all, it's a lovely place to visit, to browse, and to shop!

THE TABLELANDER - 7th December, 1984

"Rare specimens at Fascinating Facets"

The results of 20 years travelling the world collecting mineral specimens are now on display in the aptly named Fascinating Facets in Main St. Atherton.

The business, owned and operated by the Boissevain family, Rene, his wife Nelleke and daughter Lefje, specialises in gemstones and mineral specimens, many of which are collectors items and have attracted attention from as far south as Sydney and Melbourne.

A recent move into larger premises has enabled the business to expand into oriental objects d'art, stone carvings and jade.

Rene's interest in collecting dates back 20 years to his early days in this country.

He went to Holland some years ago where he established a successful mineral museum, subsequently coming back to Queensland and eventually settling in Atherton eight years ago.

He continually travels, acquiring new and rare specimens, which are added to the display.

The additional space provided by the new shop has enabled Rene to set out the display impressively in large showcases with special lighting so the specimens are shown to best advantage.

According to Lefje, who manages the business, many of the pieces attract purchasers simply because they' like the look of the stone', while the best items in the display are purchased by collectors.

"we have several from Cairns who come here regularly, and we often have collectors from Sydney and Melbourne dropping in. They are always amazed at the range we carry," she said.

The Boissevains plan in the near future to expand their stock to include rough gemstone material in addition to cut stones.

They also do custom faceting.

Their stock includes jewellery, gold and silver chains, and they undertake jewellery design and repairs.

Their next project is the establishment of a small art gallery on one wall of the shop, where they plan to hold regular exhibitions.

They also carry a small selection of rare and uncommon palm trees which are proving popular with keen gardeners.

PEOPLE MAGAZINE - 17th December, 1984

"The healing stones!"

Rene Boissevain reckons he has a good cure for your ills - get stoned! That is, put your body in touch with stones - amethysts, agates, aquamarines - the kind of stone depends on your ailment.

It's called gem therapy, and according to gem specialist Rene, it's becoming increasingly popular in Europe, especially in his homeland, Holland.

"there are specialists there who feel your pulse, and just by touching you can tell the stones that you need," says Rene.

"People wear the stones sewn in their underclothing, so that they get full benefit," adds Rene's daughter Eifje.

"Jade is worn in underpants for kidney complaints, and amethyst under the pillow will cure insomnia."

And if that sounds like double Dutch, Rene will tell you that scientists have proved that the atomic energy in stones reacts with the atoms in our bodies - especially since we share with the gems many of the same mineral and chemical properties.

Most people think of gems only as jewellery, but with the growing interest in alternative healing methods, gem therapy is gaining wider acceptance.

They're not just the sparkling, inanimate ornaments we're lead to believe. Gems are in fact teeming with atomic and molecular energy - energy that can be used in spiritual and physiological healing.

Rene and Eifje sell the healing stones from their shop, Fascinating Facets, in Atherton, North Queensland. Both are well qualified in the gemstone business.

For the best results, a stone should be worn close to the skin.

There are a number of ways of selecting the gemstone that's right for you. One way is by using a well researched horoscope and a birthstones chart.

You may also find yourself drawn intuitively to a particular gem. When I visited Fascinating Facets, Rene and Eifje invited my two year old daughter to choose a stone from their dazzling display. Alana made straight for an agate - which Rene later revealed was her birth stone. She was born on June 14, under the star sign Gemini.

Agates are said to give courage, strengthen the heart and protect the wearer from extravagance. It has a calming effect, can cool fevers and improve hearing.

Unsuitable stones, however should be avoided - they can have ill effects, and bring out negative aspects of the wearer's personality.

And just to show that healing stones do impart their good vibes to our bodies, they'll sometimes fade and crack when they've been drained of their energy.

A few days in the sun will restore a gem's potency.

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TABLELANDER - 8th February, 1983

"Fascinating Facets"

"Fascinating Facets", a new business which opened last week in Main street, Atherton, next to "Where People Can Meet" coffee lounge, certainly lives up to its name.

The shop specialises in mineral specimens, jewellery, and palm trees - and there is such fascination in the display cases that the customer could literally spend hours browsing.

Rene Boissevain and his pretty blonde daughter, Lefje, are the brains behind the business.

For the last 17 years, Rene, who originally came from Holland, has been importing and exporting minerals and gemstones.

"We decided to open the shop in Atherton so that people could see why we found gemstones so interesting," said Lefje.

"People come in and they just don't believe their eyes."

And that's not surprising. There are large glowing slabs of polished agate, geodes, sliced in half to disclose a fairyland of shimmering crystals inside the plain rough stone, hundreds of mineral specimens, and delightful jewellery which utilises the natural beauty of the minerals.

Pure gold or silver edgings add a rich finish to the individual pieces.

One unusually display si of the so called "healing stones" - polished gemstone pendants which reputedly have the power to cure headaches, bad temper, even drunkenness.

Fro the budding collector there are boxes of mineral specimens, all named.

Lefje is very knowledgeable about her stock, "I grew up with it because of my father's interest," she says.

She also mines some of the locally found gemstones and minerals and does the initial shaping of the pieces made into jewellery.

Many of the minerals and gemstones are imported from Mexico and Brazil while others, particularly the opal, agate and fools gold is Australian in origin.

"New stock si coming in all the time, so there is always something different to display," says Lefje.

There are eight varieties of palms on sale as well as the minerals and gemstones

Prices for the lush green plants range from $7 to $15 with some rarest specimens a little more expensive.

ADVERTISER - 9th February, 1983

"New shop opens in Atherton"

Fascinating Facets, a new shop being managed by Miss Lefje Boissevain, opened in Main St., Atherton, on Tuesday.

The shop is stocked with crystallized mineral specimens, including amethyst which is imported from Brazil and others imported mainly from Mexico, agate slabs from Brazil, jewellery such as gold and silver edged agate made in Cairns, palm trees suitable for indoors or patios and coffee tables with slate and agate inlays made by Miss Boissevain's father.

Miss Boissevain said her father had helped her set up the shop and at this stage all the stock was bought from her father. Later she said she hoped to buy from other dealers.

Miss Boissevain said the response from the public had been pretty good so far.

"it's a gamble to start off with, but people seem very interested," Miss Boissevain said. "they're really fascinating."

"I think people are more interested in the minerals," she said. "minerals are an investment and to enjoy looking at, like a painting."

Miss Boissevain said she gained experience in their business when she worked after school and in her holidays in her father's mineral wholesale business in Holland in 1981.

"I know the minerals because I've been brought up with them and they've always interested me," she said.

31st May, 1983

"A real gem"

A major drawcard at Rusty's Bazaar shopping centre in Cairns is this imported Brazilian "geode" amethyst, priced at $690.

It was brought to the country by an Atherton mineral dealer, Mr Rene Boissevain, and its brilliant purple and mauve colouring causes most passers by to stop for a look.

Admiring the stone's unique formation and colours is four year old Luzena Adams.

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TABLELANDER - 14th December, 1982

"Gemstone therapy for a better love life"

Looking for a cure for your headache, insomnia, or perhaps an uneasy stomach? The answer could lie in gemstone therapy.

According to local gem expert, Rene Boissevain, gemstones were believed by the ancients to have the power to relieve the symptoms of many illnesses, plus an ability to calm bad temper, strengthen self control and even to improve the quality of your love life.

Different qualities were attributed to different gemstones, for instance, amethyst is reputed to be effective against headaches and insomnia as well as protecting the wearer from drunkenness.

Aquamarine is supposed to help neuralgia and to bring happiness in marriage.

On a recent trip to Europe, Rene found that gem therapy was sweeping the Continent and he heard many first hand stories of seemingly miraculous cures.

So when he returned home he decided to introduce the concept to the Far North.

He has set up a series of attractive boards with beautiful polished stones suitable for hanging from a chain. Each is accompanied by a list of its particular virtues.

They will be for sale from local health shops.

Did Rene himself believe in gem therapy? "It seems to work," he says. "And in any case a beautiful gemstone for just $5 is a lot more fun than a box of pills."

TABLELANDS ADVERTISER - 15th December, 1982

"Gemstones to make you healthy, wealthy & wise?"

Crystal balls, talismans and amulets are all part of the myth and legend of various ancient cultures, and even today there are those who hail the curative power of gemstones.

Atherton gemstone importer, Rene Boissevain, has been on the Tablelands for 17 years and his first experience with the local rock industry was a trip in 1966 with a fellow tobacco worker to dig for agates.

It was then that he decided to open up his gemstone business in Atherton. In 1969 he returned to Holland to establish a rock shop and museum "The Old Earth" in Giethorn in Holland, which is still open today.

For years people have been coming to Rene's shop and to his home in Atherton asking for stones for "this or that ailment", and although he knew little about the supposed curative powers of gemstones his curiosity was soon kindled enough to start reading a few books.

Rene is not about to make any promises as to the virtues of various gemstones, but he has done quite a bit of reading and often shares what he ahs read with people who buy his stones or who are interested in the theories of gem therapy.

One theory is that the stones redirect the energy within the human body, creating a chemistry like reaction which can correct certain physical ailments in certain ways.

Some maintain there are benefits from communication with a natural substance, while another theory is that it is simply a psychological effect - much the same as colours of, for example, the walls of a hospital can create a certain frame of mind.

Perhaps a quote which best sums it up is "Each individual is different, as is each stone, and the vibration comes from within" - (Natura and Health Autumn 1982).

But whether or not we believe in the powers of certain stones to make us healthy, wealthy and wise, there is still a tendency among us all to intuitively wear the stone which will most benefit us.

A practice which hails from Poland and is fast gaining popularity is the belief that 3each month is associated with and under the influence of one or another precious stone.

For January the Jacinth or Garnet (whose possessors are likely to be faithful and true)
February - Amethyst
March - Bloodstone
April - Sapphire or Diamond (which endows the virtues of love, joy and purity)
May - the Emerald
June - the Agate, Chrysophase (eloquence and good luck)
July - Cornelian, or Ruby (protecting from harm by poison)
August - the Sardonyx
September - Chrysolite, Sapphire
October - Aquamarine, Opal
November - Topaz, Cats Eye (Chrysoberyl)
December - Turquoise, Malachite

Rene has complied a display case and collection of literature for most Tableland health stores and in Cairns, which includes stones he imported and supposed benefits of wearing them:

AMAZONITE: Held in high esteem by the ancient Egyptians and used in ornamentation and jewellery. Although not generally accredited with healing powers, it should be worn for beauty alone. It is said to be aphrodisiac.
BLOODSTONE: (Heliotrope) Birthstone for March. Ancient Greeks and Romans used this stone for easing labour in childbirth and the early Christians claimed the red spots on the green stone were the blood of Christ on the cross. It is said to stop bleeding when dipped in cold water and applied t a wound. It is supposed to protect the wearer from wounds, nose bleeds, bladder stones and haemorrhoids. Also said to endow wisdom, idealism and sympathy.
AMETHYST: (birthstone for February) A beautiful purple gemstone know for its colour. It is said to protect the wearer from drunkenness and ensure justice. The Chinese are known to have rented them to people involved in court cases.
Reputed as effective against headaches, especially migraine. In cases of insomnia, gently rubbing the stone on the temple is supposed to induce sleep.
AGATE: Probably has the widest variety of patterns and colours of all stones. Named after the River Gata in Sicily where the stone was first found. Reputed to give one courage, strengthen one's heart and protect the bearer from extravagance. Also said to have a cooling effect on fevers and create a calming effect and improve hearing.
AQUARMAINE: means sea water and the blue in blue green colour of this precious gem brings it to mind. It is the stone of clairvoyants and mystics. Supposed to help against eye disease, neuralgia, swollen glands, throat, jaw and tooth conditions. It is also a true gemstone supposed to be useful for stomach and liver conditions. Reputed to keep on young, fearless, warm hearted and faithful and give happiness in marriage. It is another birthstone for March.
TIGER EYE: has a band of light which resembles an eye and was used in ancient times to ward off the evil eye and to protect against eye defeats. It is said to give the wearer increased insight into himself and to enhance his outlook on the world. Tiger Eye is supposed to help eye diseases, colds and to relieve cramps. This beautiful stone is said to give one self confidence, its attractiveness alone should do this.
ROSE QUARTZ: the soft lovely stone of Venus, is said to enhance artistic ability, awareness of beauty, colours and musical sounds. It is said to bring out creative ability. It is claimed to be the stone of romance.
ROCK CRYSTAL: water clear quartz. The ancient Greeks believed it to be ice turned to stone. It is sued to manufacture crystal balls for fortune tellers. In hot summers the Romans used such spheres to cool their hands. Rock crystal is reputed to be useful for diarrhoea, dizziness and fainting, and is supposed to clarify knowledge and conquer fear, therefore it is used for the centre of meditation.
ADVENUREINE: is the stone to give unexpected adventure. It is supposed to bring good luck in love and in games, and is reputed to have healing powers for skin diseases and to bring a sense of independence and increase one's self control. Mica inclusions in this green quartz causes its beautiful glitter.
CARNELIAN: the stone of family togetherness. It is generally accounted to increase fluency of speech, to protect against accidents, nightmares and to stop bleeding. It has been claimed that it cures infections and blood poising and reduces fever. Carnelian is a supposed to help control violent temper and relieve rheumatism and neuralgia. It is the birthstone for July.
RUTILATED QUARTZ: is a clear rock crystal with gold and red gold hair like needles are known as Venus hairs. Rutilated Quartz, especially in France, is reputed to be useful against bronchitis and other chest conditions.
RED JASPER: was an honoured gemstone in ancient Peru. It is supposed to prevent stomach ache, destructive diseases and bladder stones. It has been used to treat diseases of the liver, gall bladder and kidneys, and anaemia and morning sickness. It is supposed to improve willpower and a sense of smell.
SODALITE: is a beautiful mottled blue stone sometimes dishonestly represented to be lapis lazuli. It is supposed to protect against evil influences and is particularly good as a friendship stone. It is reputed to brighten moods, promote healthy sleep and to purify the blood. Sodalite is claimed to give confidence to shy children and is said to be useful for head, spleen and skin diseases. In addition to its pure beauty it is reputed to strengthen love.

For further information call into our local health store or phone Rene on 91 2124.

Year unknown

"Copper plating on display at show"

Rene Boissevain and company, owners of Fascinating Facets have recently acquired copper plating equipment and are now offering a new and versatile service to Tableland people.

Their display at the Atherton Show next week will include items that have undergone the copper plating process.

Visitors are invited to come and inspect the latest results of this technique.

Copper plating is not new - in fact it has been very popular overseas for some years but until now there have been no facilities for doing this type of work on the commercial basis in Queensland.

Rene says the technique is actually electroplating; a process preserving the article in its entirety, so no detail of the original is lost. In fact, smaller items can also have the added effect of 24 carat gold plating if the customer so desires.

He says that almost anything can under go copper plating - the only limit being the size of the article fitting into the tank available at present.

Persons wanting to know more about the process should take advantage of the opportunity to seeing the work on display at the Show and further enquires are most welcome.

The Stand will include a selection of items from the Fascinating Facets Shop in Atherton's Main Street.

The Boissevain's do all their own buying from Australia and overseas and can assure customers of bona fide value and quality.

They also offer a large range of silver and gold chains at wholesale prices, a jewellery designing and stone setting service and a comprehensive collection of beautiful semi precious and precious gemstones.

Year unknown

"Keep it - in copper"

Copper plating has been very popular overseas for many years. Mothers have their baby's first shoes copper plated as a keepsake, roses and many other flowers are copper plated, even that first tooth to hang on a charm bracelet.

Soon a similar service will be available on the Tablelands.

Rene Boissevain, of Fascinating Facets, Atherton, said this week that everything needed for the copper plating process was now set up and almost ready to go, and very shortly, Fascinating Facets would be offering a copper plating service at a price that everyone could afford.

One of the most exciting things about the new service, eh said, was that it would almost certainly be the first commercial venture of tis kind in Queensland and could be expected to attract business from a very wide area.

Rene said there was virtually no limit to what could be copper plated.

"Anything that stands still, we can do it. We are only limited by the size of our tanks."

He explained that the process is very similar to gold and silver plating but very much cheaper which means that quite large objects could be copper plated at an affordable price.

The copper can be left in its rich apricot toning, or given an antique bronze finish which highlights fine details. A special lacquer finish prevents tarnishing.

The process can be used not only to preserve mementoes but also to cover articles like door knobs, car accessories, sculpture.

And what better trophy than the winning golf ball copper plated and mounted.

"We can even do wheat or barley for decorative arrangements, copper fruit - the possibilities are endless," said Rene.

If you would like to know more about having an article copper plated, call in to Fascinating Facets, Main Street, Atherton.

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