Meet The Team

Peter Blythe founder and owner

Peter opened Mineshaft in 1978. He has had a lifetime interest in opals and gemstones. He has been cutting opals since 1964. He has spent many years professionally mining opal at Mintabie in South Australia and more recently northwest of Quilpie in southwest Queensland. Peter's interests other then anything to do with opal and gemstones are fishing, fitness,rugby league (go you Canberra raiders) and travel.

Marianne Blythe (FGAA) Co owner Mineshaft

Marianne is married to Peter. She has been interested in gemstones since she was a little girl. She has a gemmological diploma with the Gemmolgical Association of Australia. Apart from her gemmological expertise she has completed a course in pearl restringing and is responsible for many of the unique bead designs in Mineshaft. She has been actively involved with the mining of opal at our Rainbow opal mine in southwest Queensland. Her interests other then opal and gemstones are fossicking, the gym, country music, rugby league (Go you Canberra raiders) and travel.

Michelle Blunden Manager Mineshaft

Michelle is Peter's eldest daughter. Michelle handles all the day to day running of the shop and most of the paperwork. When younger, Michelle and her sister Kim would visit her father at Mintabie . Michelle enjoyed mining and spend most of the time down the mine. She was Peter's good luck charm because on several occassions an opal pocket was found during her visit. Her interests are her family, fishing, the gym,rugby league (go you doggies) and travel.

Wendy Blythe

Wendy is Peter's youngest daughter. She is currently attending college and wishes to become a mechanic. She works at mineshaft whenever possible. She is quite competent at filling mining trucks with an excavator. Her interests are partying, music,rugby league (go you storm) and regular hair style changes.

Sam Blythe

Sam Blythe is Peter's second oldest son. He is currently at university and works at Mineshaft whenever possible. Sam's best find at the Rainbow opal mine was a king brown snake when he was looking for a gecko lizard. Sam's interests are girls, partying, karate and all those other things first year uni students enjoy.

Judith Humphreys

Judith Humphreys has been working at Mineshaft for more than a decade. She mostly works weekends. Her interests are gardening, rugby league, motor sports and spending time with children and grand children

Megumi Masumoto

Megumi is our newest staff member and works mainly on weekends. Being Japanese means a tremendous benefit to our Japanese customers. Megumi's interests are gemstones, her motor bike (almost as big as her), food, fossicking and travel.

: Ethan and Jack

The next generation Minehaft manager and mine supervisor. Jack and Ethan are Peter and Marianne's twin boys