The purely social meetings, arranged in the evening over an informal dinner, have also proved very popular for both members and their partners. These attendances indicate that S.M.E.D.G. is filling a vital role by providing Sydney-based explorationists with an excellent selection of experienced speakers and topics of interest in the field of mineral exploration. Furthermore, the informal atmosphere is what most Australians find conducive to active and meaningful discussion. A number of meetings have also been of particular interest to senior geology students. The interest in, and success of, the S.M.E.D.G. meetings has travelled well beyond the limits of Sydney.
Active members come from as far afield as Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and Perth.
The organisation and running of the Sydney Mineral Exploration Discussion Group has, right from its beginning, been carried out on a very informal basis. The Organising Committee has generally consisted of 4 or 5 enthusiastic volunteers and herein lies its strength, flexibility and success. The members of the committee have wide experience and contacts throughout the mineral exploration and mining industry, both in Australia and overseas. This enables them to enlist the assistance and co-operation of a large number of people so necessary to providing speakers and topics of interest for discussion. With transfers the membership of the committee has gradually changed.