he National Gravity Enduro Series acts as the qualifying series for the Enduro World Series. See mention in the article with Ben McIlroy.
Mountain Bike Australia in conjunction with Falls Creek Resort Management are pleased to present Round One of the 2017 Gravity Enduro National Series. The series is Australia wide with Round Two being held at Stromlo Forest ACT in May. Round Three will be at Balingup WA in June; Round Four will go to Rockhampton in July and the final round will be held on Woodford Island, on the Clarence River in northern NSW in August.
Who can remember the ‘Do the right thing’ ads of the 70’s & 80’s which compelled people to put their rubbish in bins and ‘Keep Australia Beautiful?’ Apart from showing your age if you do remember, I suspect you are just as stunned as I am regards how quickly that message has been lost given the amount of debris that is left in car parks and communal areas at the resort.
Rubbish, litter, trash, garbage… call it what you might. In this pristine alpine environment, failure to properly dispose of it, ie put it in one of the more than 60 bins or rubbish receptacles throughout the village, has consequences that bear some consideration and should make you think before you inadvertently drop that piece of litter…
The popularity of mountain biking continues to grow. From the great efforts of some Mount Beauty locals in the 90’s - to hosting the Nationals in Feb 2000 - to the point where we have some of the best tracks in the country - both in Mount Beauty and in Falls Creek. The growth and the success means we can continue to host fabulous events.
As for the relevance of this topic to the resort, well, the Australian High Plains, particularly those around Falls Creek, Mt Hotham etc are a major part of the Murray Darling Basin catchment area. Approximately 50-70% of the water that makes it way to your tap in metro Melbourne, the townships along the way and right through to Adelaide, originates from the High Plains… Are you starting to see the connection? So next time you see someone incorrectly dispose of their rubbish, or worse - cigarette butt… call them out - particularly here at Falls Creek… because you’ll only be drinking it later, if you don’t.
At Falls Creek, we take rubbish seriously. We have an industry leading recycling and resource recovery rate and diversion to landfill program (thank you 4 Site Australia), that has dramatically reduced kgs of rubbish per visitor. To continue to improve, we need everyone to help.
Round One of the GE National Series will be staged this weekend, beginning with practice sessions from 11am Friday. During the course of the weekend, several of the trails will be closed to general riders although Blue Dirt will have shuttles running on Friday from 11am to 6pm and again on Saturday from 9am to 5pm. Cost is $50 per day or $90 for 2 days. Go to www.bluedirt. com.au to book. On Sunday the trails will be closed to the general public, but will progressively open as the different sections of the event are completed. Pretty Valley Road will also have closures and be subject to delays should anyone be travelling back from the horse yards or Pretty Valley Pondage. Now this Gravity Enduro is a different sort of mountain bike racing to what we know as Downhill or Cross Country. The Gravity Enduro is both. The athletes will start with a warm up ride from Slalom Plaza, out the Bogong High Plains Road, up the Pretty Valley Road and then across to the Trig
Without necessarily pointing the finger (butt I will), the worst offenders, based on amount of cigarette butts that litter car parks and common areas are… smokers! This is bad on several levels. Cigarette butts leach the toxic chemicals that smokers inhale, such as cadmium, lead, arsenic and zinc into water streams. They are made from a type of plastic – cellulose acetate that can take up to 12-15 years to break down, and many are consumed by numerous species as they make their way into the environment.
No time to be smelling the roses during this weekend’s Gravity Enduro. Pic - Jiri Cech.
Point on the Frying Pan Spur. The aim of the game is to ride each section no faster than the fastest time allowed, and no slower than the set slowest time. Then they do the competitive bit, before riding to the start of the next competitive bit without beating or exceeding the times permitted. At the time of going to print, the final course had not been set, but they look like taking in High Voltage and Wishing Well, then heading to Flowtown, completing that before heading to Thunderbolt and then to Generator and Vortex before finishing in Slalom Plaza. Sound like a pretty easy day!!
RESORT ENTRY PERMITS
WHEN THE BRIGHT YELLOW FLAGS ARE OUT
– WE’RE OPEN Usual Hours 12noon – 4pm
For Groups, Clubs etc
WARNING: stat being used for VERY dramatic effect: Between 1979 and 2019, it was estimated there were between 15 TRILLION and 51 TRILLION piece of plastic littering the world’s oceans.
Phone: 03 5758 1200
Locate right beside the bottom station of Halley’s Comet Chairlift! Spend some time and take in the fabulous history that has earned this community so much respect!
The weekend’s program sort of goes like this. Saturday: 9am to 16:00 is compulsory practice. 10am to 18:30 is rider registration and Info Tent open. 17:00 to 17:30 is rider briefing. From 18:00 on there is a social evening at Last Hoot Restaurant and Bar in Slalom Plaza.
Please try to allow 24hours notice.
And, talk to any member of our team about the rewards of volunteering in the Falls Creek Museum.
4 Slalom Street, southern end of the Panabode building. Phone: 03 5758 1202 for further information
Wb: www.fallscreekmuseum.com.au
Em: info@fallscreekmuseum.com.au
Fb: facebook.com/fallscreekmuseum
For further information: www.fallscreekmuseum.com.au info@fallscreekmuseum.com.au Facebook/fallscreekmuseum
A Resort Entry Vehicle Permit is required for your vehicle when entering the resort between 10th June and 1st October 2023. The entrance to the resort is at Howman’s Gap, approximately 4km below the village. Permits can be pre-purchased and printed at home prior to arriving at the resort, or purchased at the resort entrance ticket office. The day rate is $56 if you purchase your entry permit on-line. An additional $7 applies to purchases at the ticket box. If arriving after 5pm and departing the resort prior to midnight on the same day, resort entry is free!
Season Entry Permits are available for purchase on-line for $550 and can be collected at Howman’s Gap Ticket Office or the Visitor Information Centre.
Resort Entry Fees fund the essential services of:
• Ski Patrol
• Water Supply
• Waste Management
• Car Parking
• Snow Clearing
• Visitor Information Services
PLAN YOUR TRIP
Pre-purchasing Resort Entry Tickets and printing at home makes it faster and easier for you to get in to the resort.
Visitor Information Centre
The Falls Creek Visitor Information Centre is located upstairs in the Falls Creek Alpine Resort office, on the corner of Slalom Street and Snowgums Lane. Open Daily from 8am – 5pm for visitor information and gym memberships. Ph: 03 5758 1200.
Map Ref: E4
Accommodation Transfer Service (ATS)
Operating from the Terminal Building on Bogong High Plains Rd, the Accommodation Transfer service will transport you, your group and your luggage to your accommodation in the village. Tickets can be pre-purchased online or at the ATS terminal.
Hours of Operation: Saturday – Thursday: 8am – 10pm Fridays: 8am – 12 midnight
Sunday: 8am to 9am Rider Briefing and Timing activation. 8:30am to 1430pm Trails Open for GE competition.1500 to 1630 Presentations. If you’re into biking and would like to enjoy some good action, be at Falls Creek this weekend. Further detail from 03 5758 1200. •
For
For
Village
all
are now closed to traffic.
-
level, St Falls West. Open 10am - 5pm daily. Ph: 03 5758 3009.
Falls Creek Child Care is open Mon - Fri and is located in Slalom Plaza next to Stingray. The Centre is open to children aged 12 weeks to 5 years old and is run by fully qualified educators and is eligible for government rebates.Booking is essential. Phone 03 5758 1244 or
Upstairs Resort Management Office (above day shelter) Open 9am - 5pm weekdays and 10am - 3pm weekends
The latest estimate (2023) stands at 171 trillion and is forecast to triple by 2040 (https://www.bbc.com/news/scienceenvironment-64889284) – shocking. Warning - more stats: Then, just in Australia alone, there are 24 billion cigarettes sold every year (of the 6 trillion sold worldwide). Of this, an estimated 7 billion butts never find their way into a bin! That’s 280 butts for every Australian… butt according to Quit.com, only 10.1% of Australians aged 15 and over smoke. Not that I want to tar all smokers with the same brush (yes, intended), it appears, allegedly, that of the 2.4m Ozzie adults who smoke cigarettes, you’re each dropping 2,829 butts A YEAR… which makes cigarette butts the largest source of litter.
So, my message to all the smokers (and litterbugs) out there is… put your butts in a bin. Dropping them or flicking them once you’ve inhaled that last toxic plume, by consequence impacts those of us who choose not to smoke, and the environment ultimately bears the brunt of this act of irresponsibility. Think before your flick. What is more, under the Litter Act 1979, dropping a butt (or any rubbish for that matter) can result in a $370 fine for
incorrect disposal. If the butt is still lit, it’s $740 (ouch). The resort rangers have the power to infringe, so please, put it in a bin (https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/reportpollution/report-litter-from-vehicles)
To help us protect our very fragile alpine environment, please do the right thing, every little butt helps. The alternative, and it is being considered, is to mandate the resort ‘smoke free,’ just like a growing number of resorts around the world and pretty much like any patrolled beach in Australia (or the MCG for the matter)!
Ory's Falls Creek
www.orysfallscreek.com.au
Under new management, Ory's is the old Milch.
The menu is completely new and has some ripper eats. Breakfast is by all accounts, next level good. Unfortunately, due to so some other commitments we arrived just on the change-over to lunch, so ordered lattes, a Nutella shake and a Cookies and Cream shake – both of which were demolished by two thirsty lads, whilst lunch got prepped. Nonetheless, we weren’t disappointed. They offer, a strong selection of staples, with
a twist. Pasta, cheeseburger, a chicken parmy, cos salad and feta chips were our meals of choice. All outstanding and satisfying. The Crab & Prawn Pasta was rich and despite at first thinking it was on the small side, was plenty given the taste explosion and flavours – delicious. The parmy was HUGE and defeated one of the lads, whilst the cheeseburger with the Ory’s special sauce got the nod! The cos salad and chips were a main meal substitute, but so large the table got to share. Revelation - re feta, chips and garlic oil – what a combination. Well done to the new team on adding some further variety to the food scene at Falls Creek… do yourself a favour, head on up to Frueauf Village and visit the boys. It’s worth it.
Righty Ho – now get on out there and make the most of the best snow cover any Victorian (or Australian for that matter) resort has… enjoy the groomers and get cracking with that snow dance and pray for a top up or two. •
Stuart Smythe, Falls Creek Alpine Resort
Once again, the weather gods will dictate exactly what happens with future events, but we can only remain positive and adopt a “we’ll do the best we can” attitude.
As we lead up to this planned event, it is probably pertinent to present a little bit of background on the Summit Masters. In doing so, we pay tribute to an amazing Falls Creek local and World Cup champion Lynne Grosse who, with a bunch of Team Red bumps skiers, created the Summit Masters on the mountain!
Lynne was a trailblazer for the freestyle skiing in the 1980’s becoming the first woman to win a world cup medal for Australia and the first in Aerial Skiing. She was the brainchild and event co-founder of Australia’s premier freestyle moguls event, the Summit Masters (the first ever of its
kind) which ran at Falls Creek for 10 years from 1985 becoming the foundation of the extreme sport movement so prevalent at the Olympic Games today. Sadly, Lynne passed away on April 10, 2018 and this event is a fitting way to honour her.
Born on 21 June 1962 in Sydney ‘Linny’, as she was affectionately known, had an insatiable appetite for sport from a young age which laid the foundation for a life full of adventure and personal evolution.
As a nine-year-old, she turned a dodgy pair of roller skates into her first skateboard, a significant moment considering she would become a world champion skateboarder at just 14 after winning the World Skateboard Titles in Los Angeles. After returning from California she turned her attention to surfing and remarkably, in less than six months she added the South Australian Women’s surfing title to her growing list of achievements.
It was in 1978, with the encouragement of her sponsors and a clear talent for sporting adaptation, she arrived here in Falls Creek
where she became the first female to perform a somersault on skis. Lynne had never seen snow before arriving at the mountain, and thus her freestyle snow ski journey began.
After her second Australian snow season she packed up and travelled to France for her first European winter. Not surprising, Lynne would go on to win several European and World Cup titles.
“With my snow ski mates we pooled our money to eat well and we skied all day in the Swiss Alps at the highest altitude” she recalled in her memoir. “These mates are still my best friends to this day.”
“Everyone is gifted. It may be sports, art, technology, or maybe you don’t know. Only you shall find it. Follow your dreams, there is no shame in trying.” ~ Linny. •
This article brought to you from a piece by former Lift Company General Manager, Sharon Raguse. •
Our Falls Creek Race Club is a strong organisation promoting dedication to skiing, learning life skills, meeting friends with opportunities to travel the world. Activities to date this season have been enjoyable and successful – and there is more to come. While snow conditions may not be perfect (and we can only pray and do our snow dance), we can still work towards being positive in all aspects and look forward to enjoying the remainder of events for the season.
For up-to-date information throughout the season, and a calendar of upcoming social and race events, remember to refer to the race club website: https://www. revolutionise.com.au/fallscreek-wsc/home/
For the Race Club Kids. Saturday 12th Aug, 4pm – 6pm. Join us at the Man for a special mid-season afternoon dance party. Show off your dance moves and carve up the dance floor!
Pizza and drinks will be provided for the kids- please specify any dietary requirements for the kids when making your booking.
While this is a social event predominantly for the kids, grow-ups and the young-atheart are also welcome to attend: food and drinks for grown-ups can be purchased at the bar. No charge for the event however please RSVP by Friday, 11th August as we need to confirm numbers with the venue. See you there!
Sunday 13th Aug, from 4pm at the Race Club. Mike Gould hosts this highly informative and practical workshop to keep your skis in top shape.
Everyone is welcome, just show up at the
FCRC clubhouse (located on Bogong High Plains Road, near the Gully chairlift).
Then, if conditions permit, we have the Summit Masters – a Retro Themed weekend on the 19th and 20th August with the inclusion of a Giant Slalom on the Saturday and the fabulous competition on the Sunday.
On the evening of Thursday 24th, it is planned that the Rudi Pendl Cup will be held on the Summit. This event is in memory of one of our dear instructors who did so much for racing in this community. The Oakley Freestyle Series is planned over several weekends with the Storm the Park Slopestyle and Big Air planned for Saturday 26th August. This will be followed by the Bandwagon Banked Slalom on Saturday 16th September and the Dreamer on Sunday 17th September.
Junior Mini Pipe Masters, Presented By Burton is planned for Sunday 3rd September 10am – 12noon. This annual Junior Mini Pipe Masters is held on their world series specification mini pipe! This event is for their under 16 shredders and their rad parents who put in the hard yards ferrying them up and down the hill daily. They’ve got huge prizes up for grabs! Prizes on the day will be given out to anyone who is the most stoked and trying new tricks. Major prize packs will be awarded to the best boy and girl on the day and also to the best child parent combo!
Parents, they want you to be having as much fun as your kids so come out and get involved in their Junior Mini Pipe Masters – Presented by Burton!
Then, on Sunday 1st October the very fun Pond Skim event is planned. (yes, skimming on a pond in an outfit to please the crowd!).
The Pond Skim will be held adjacent to Eagle Express Chair, located in the Village Bowl. Participants must be 10 years or older.
Saturday 16th September 4 - 6pm at the Frying Pan Inn. Join us as we mark the end of the 2023 winters sports season and celebrate a remarkable season in style. Adults and kids' tickets are $15 each. Finger food will be provided. Drinks can be purchased at bar prices. Please RSVP by Wednesday, 13th Sept as we need to confirm numbers with the venue. See you there!
The Race Club Committee are also planning an end of season BBQ. Details will be announced closer to the event. •
Some years ago, I was chatting with my stepmother Linda about the demise of the Mt Buffalo Chalet and the ski lifts at Mt Buffalo and Linda said something that lit my curiosity. That she can remember her grandmother reminiscing about ice skating on Lake Catani at Mt Buffalo, and there is a photo somewhere of Granny doing so.
We all know about the impact of climate change on our weather patterns and rates of snow fall. As a lower elevation mountain, Mt Buffalo was always going to be in climate changes firing line when it came to achieving freezing temperatures. However, what surprised me was when ice skating stopped at Mt Buffalo. It wasn’t that long ago. Lake Catani was a manmade lake initially created in 1910 as water storage for the workers constructing the Mount Buffalo Chalet. After construction finished the lake quickly became a popular recreational spot for the large numbers of
tourists visiting the mountain, often by rail. Train from Wangaratta to Bright and coach to the Chalet.
Lake Catani was the only long track skating circuit in Australia for a while, offering a training circuit for Australia’s budding professional and amateur skaters, even offering the ability to train at night with kerosene lamps dotted around the
shore. The first Lessee of the Chalet, John Newton, and his successor in 1919, Norwegian-born Hilda Samsing, hired ice skates to the public and did much to pioneer and promote winter sports in the Victorian Alps.
Australian Ice-Skating team member Eddie Spicer tragically drowned at Lake Catani while skating alone in 1997 and the lake has been closed to skating ever since. No one has reported it sufficiently frozen for skating for decades (https:// icelegendsaustralia.com).
This made me think about other alpine resorts and if they had had ice rinks and skating as a winter pastime. I can remember an ice rink at Mt Buller sometime in the 1980’s, located near what is now the bus parking at Horsehead Hill.
Friend Lisa Logan, latterly of Diana Lodge, remembers an ice rink at Falls in the village bowl on the original tennis court that was in front of Cummings & beside the eagle chair, as does Andrew Rist and several members from AAC.
It was in the late 1890s that reports of ‘real’ ice-skating in the Australian Alps began to appear regularly in the press, as the newly formed Alpine Club, led by photographer Charles Kerry, began exploring around Kiandra and Mt Kosciuszko and promoting the thrills of winter sports.
With the creation of shallow artificial lakes, such as that on Diggers Creek in front of the Hotel Kosciusko (as it was spelt then, with no ‘z’) and on Lake Catani at Mt Buffalo, skating on ice became a far more likely prospect for residents as well as visitors making the journey to the mountains in winter. Encouraged by newly formed state government tourist bureaus, people who had never seen snow before embraced ice skating. The heyday of Alpine ice skating on naturally occurring ice predominantly came to an end at the 1970s, as temperatures warmed (https:// www.australiangeographic.com.au).
If you’re an ice skater and are interested in vintage ice skates, come into the shop, and have a look. I’ve got quite a few sets of vintage skates, from the wooden style skate that you tied onto your shoes to the modern iteration of the skate boot. • Have a great week and see you in store!
Cheers, Nyree
www.idreamofsnow.com
Above Foodworks, slight right through the public seating, through the bathroom corridor & up the short flight of stairs.
Ben is an accomplished musician with many years experience in the live music scene. Cutting his teeth in the local Melbourne Pub scene in original bands such as The Cliffords and The Supporters (check them out on Spotify), he has a broad musical style that should have something for everyone. He has played in many different cover bands and a whole heap of different venues up and down the east coast.
Ben plays a mix of your favourite covers his way, sprinkled with a few originals. Be sure to bring your requests and some fun times!
Ben Hynes will be heading up the mountain this week to play a couple of gigs for us. Happy Harvey Hour at the Falls Creek Hotel on Tuesday 15th & Thursday 17th 3:30pm – 4:30pm. Then at Feathertop Lodge on Wednesday 16th for Sour Hour –4 – 6pm. •
There is a bit of background to this bio. Your Ed has been badgering Ooz for a bio for say around 15 years. Ooz was a regular and then had a few years away. Now he’s back and doing regular gigs – and the bio –well it actually came from another talented muso, Dylan Hammond through Total Entertainment.
Ooz is a solo acoustic / Live Looping artist with a definite hint of folk/rock roots & reggae. With a large, eclectic repertoire of crowd favorites, his unique 'laid back but lively' style creates a relaxed atmosphere and his song choices have you remembering many of those forgotten classics. His ability to create layers with a loop pedal, enable him to play bass guitar and lay percussion beats to accompany his performances and get the audience on their feet.
His extensive experience in the music industry has seen him play countless shows all across Australia - from the resorts in the victorian snowfields, to the capital cities, the coastal hotspots and of course the beautiful Whitsundays.
restaurant
Open Six Days a Week (Closed Tuesdays)
Full a la carte menu
Five Course degustation menu
Comprehensive Wine List
Bar open from 4pm Dinner from 6pm
Phone: 03 5758 3800 for reservations Email: ski@summitridge.com.au www.summitridge.com.au
For reservations call 03 5758 3800 or Em: ski@summitridge.com.au
Ooz's has also performed extensively overseas, with performances in Europe - his years mainly spent entertaining French and Austrian audiences.
Well into his 2nd decade as resident musician in Australian and international ski resorts, Ooz is a master at pleasing crowds from all walks.
With sing-alongs-a-plenty, Ooz will have your guests engaged and entertained until the very end!
Ooz does regular gigs at Powderkeg and also at Bob Sugar/Apartment 3. Just good to be around! •
Our
Schuss Street, Falls Creek Map Ref: K3
Schuss Street, Falls Creek
From humble beginnings,
of
in
the world and has taken over, what used to be ‘Nourish Wholefoods’ on the corner of St Bernard Drive & Wonnangatta Ave, Tawonga South.
His Gallery has a large range of photography, ranging from his range of postcards to large canvas and framed prints of the local mountains. Charlie can also make you a beautiful coffee from local coffee roasters, Honeybird coffee.
Drop in, say Hi, have a look at Charlie’s work & grab a coffee.
operating out
container
the Kiewa Valley Snowsports car park, Charlie Brown’s ‘Mountainside Gallery’ has moved up in
Australia gave the world some firsts. The Hills Hoist, the wine cask, and… song birds! Yes, that big group of birds that not only call - but sing. They evolved first when we were Gondwanaland and when that split up they went with the islands and triumphed in golden gargle contests around the globe. Songbirds have up to eight pairs of muscles controlling their voice-box, and some use both windpipes coming from their lungs, so their song can be complex and varied. Calls and song are used to attract the other sex, to warn of threats, to assert possession of territory and to touch base with the flock. The morning carolling of the magpie is saying something like “Hi all, Kevin here, and I'm still here patrolling my patch” (and as we get in to Spring “looking for cyclists!”) So on your regular walk or cycle, listen for the birds. In fact you'll likely hear more than you see. Locally we are blessed with some delightful little guys and some of the smallest, like the Brown Thornbill, are also the loudest. You can see the thornbills at the moment on the Pebble Beach walk looking for insects and also trying out wattle nectar. (Refer Brown Thornbill pic below).
There and on the Rockpool walk you can also see the striking yellow and grey Eastern Yellow Robin. It'll be tossing around the leaf litter looking for insects and spiders or perched on the side of a gum waiting for one of them to move. (Refer Eastern Yellow Robin pic below).
In the mild conditions so far of this winter up around Falls Creek you may well hear the modest call and see the spectacular colours of the Flame Robin. Like other robins they're fairly confident and curious around humans and they may hop from perch to perch to check you out. They've learned that insects get blown up onto the snow and die, making an easy smorgasbord.
You may also hear an Eastern Whipbird couple near Pebble Beach or the Rockpool. He does the whip crack and she may, or may not, immediately add a 'tiu' or 'tiu tiu' to the end of it. It sounds like the one call and I guess that's true love for you.
On the grassy patches around Mount Beauty you are likely first to notice the Red-browed Finch when you flush out a foraging flock. They'll perch on shrubs nearby to watch you pass. The town side of the Pondage walk is a good place to spot them at the moment. (Refer Red-browed Finch pic, top right).
• Extensive grocery range
• Bottle shop: beer, wine, spirits
• Fresh fruit and vegetables
• Hot pies and sausage rolls
• Heat and eat meals
• Phone re-charge
• ATM
• Newspapers and magazines
Located in Slalom day carpark at the bottom of Halley’s Comet Chairlift. Phone: 5758 3009
For pick and pack deliveries please visit www.foodworkshighcountry.com.au
Recognising birds' calls and songs makes it easier to find them. There's an app for Apple devices that will try to identify calls but not for Android, and there's a website with the sounds of almost 400 Australian birds: https://www.graemechapman.com.au/ resources/bird-calls.php.
Bird hotspots in the region can be found at https://ebird.org/region/AU-VIC-ALP/ hotspots?yr=cur. •
Ern Reeders, admin of the Facebook group Birds of Kiewa Valley and mountains. All pics by Ern Reeders.
This Week I have spoken with this season’s Falls Creek-based National Team coach, John Max Ertner, who has come all the way from his home country of Denmark. Coincidentally, we happened to be doing this interview only a few hours before the Matildas v Denmark match earlier this week. He did not seem stressed about his team probably losing (my words not his!), but instead sounded excited to see a great sporting match between athletes who are performing at their peak, and between two countries who he now has a connection to, much like how I envision his approach to ski coaching.
John Max Ertner moved from Denmark to Oslo in 1985, where the curriculum for his final year of high school involved learning and practicing the skills of ski coaching to younger athletes. In 1986 he made his World Cup debut and represented Denmark on this
circuit for the next five years while studying a sport science degree at the University of Oslo. Following this, in 1992, he got his first full time coaching job, and has been working in this industry ever since.
His resume of coaching roles around Europe is quite impressive, with one major role of his career being coaching for the Norwegian National Team, where he worked with some of the top skiers in the world at that time. It was during this time that John met Aussies like Phill Bellingham, Cal Watson, and Finn Marsland, who were attending the same world cups as his Norwegian athletes. Through them he learned about the great skiing conditions in Australia during the northern hemisphere’s summer season, and all these years later he still had the contact details for Finn Marsland, who arranged for John Max to use his summer holidays between his winter seasonal job in Denmark to bring some of his experience and wisdom to Falls Creek and the athletes here. He claimed not to have come to Australia with many expectations, but once he arrived he was pleasantly surprised at just how good our network of trails and conditions were here. While his job title is to be the Falls Creek based National Team Coach, John is passionate about his work and providing structure and opportunity to skiers in countries with smaller skiing communities, so has also taken initiative to do extra coaching work through the local school, and the Birkebiner Nordic ski club as well.
I asked John Max what his coaching goals were during his time here, and this is what he had to say:
“In four months it’s not easy to change a lot in a structural way. The athletes in Australia are located all over the country and there aren’t as many in Falls Creek as I’ve heard there have been in previous years, so with those factors in place it’s hard to bring everyone together and create the foundations in such a short time, but it has been great working with the different athletes as they come and go from the mountain. I was hoping that I could come here with the experiences I have with the Norwegian Team and other big teams and to see how the Australian team can develop in different ways, and what I have realised is that my main role here is really to show people here that they already have the building blocks to make a great and successful team, that if you utilise people who are keen and motivated in developing a team, the training itself isn’t
rocket science. Basically you just need to train a lot and do a huge amount of technique focused work, and that’s where I think I can make the biggest difference here, because without the exposure to skiing that other countries have it’s not easy to learn how to practice the right techniques.”
In addition to his coaching at Falls Creek, John Max is also excited about competing in the upcoming Kangaroo Hoppet. I asked him to give readers some advice in preparing for the Hoppet over the next few weeks: “My biggest advice, especially for those that have less on-snow time throughout the season is to ski very slowly! Most people ski too hard in the lead up to races like this, which does more harm than good a lot of the time. It is very beneficial to ski slowly (with a low intensity or heart rate, e.g. no puffing) for long periods of time. Doing this helps us with gaining greater balance, efficiency, and in turn better technique and also more freshness in the body for the race day.”
John Max is a wonderfully approachable and kind person who you will see around the trails usually suited in the Australian National Team outfit. He is only here for another two months, but always welcomes questions and meeting new people, so let’s make the most of his experience as a resource, and help provide him with more memorable and joyous experiences here in Australia!
Coming up:
Women and girls! Remember to register for the Ski de Femme this Saturday12th from 10am in the Nordic Bowl. We understand there are over 100 women anticipated to attend so far, and it will be a fantastic day of fun and community on the snow.
Sponsored by: Falls Creek Resort Management, YMCA Howman’s Gap, Bright Brewery, Sassy Road, Silver Seed Jewellery, Mountain Sports Physio, Tawonga Baker, Gather & Harvest, Wildflower Pilates, Windy Corner Cafe &
Falls Creek Cross Country. Please register ahead of time to help us with catering numbers.
It has just been announced on the BNSC site that the Rocky Valley Rush and Sun Valley Ramble planned for Sunday 13th has been cancelled.
Athletes, the Falls Creek portion of the Aus National Championships are coming up next weekend, so remember to register now, or if you aren’t a racer, consider coming along to watch the action live and free of charge! • Ella Jackson
Kangaroo Hoppet – important course update
While good snowfalls through early July allowed the full Kangaroo Hoppet course to be groomed, deteriorating snow conditions caused by recent unseasonably warm weather, together with rain, have resulted in significant sections of the normal Kangaroo Hoppet course becoming unavailable.
Pic – Courtesy Ski de Femme
The organising committee, together with Falls Creek Alpine Resort, are monitoring snow conditions and considering alternative course options that will allow the event to go ahead on a modified course. An announcement will be made on August 16 regarding the status of the event. •
The Winter blues are entirely normal. You don’t have to face it alone.
MEET IONE MCKENZIE
Mental Health Clinician Ione will be providing support to Falls Creek staff and locals this Winter.
Where: FCAR Admin Day Shelter
When: August 17th & 31st | September 14th Time: 10am - 3pm
For professional personalised service, please contact Annelies Zirknitzer Mb: 0422 773 895 mail@alpineassetadmin.com.au
‘It takes a village’ is more than just a saying about child-rearing. The phrase “it takes a village to raise a child” originates from an African proverb and conveys the message that it takes many people (“the village”) to provide a safe, healthy environment for children, where children are given the security they need to develop and flourish, and to be able to realise their hopes and dream. The concept of ‘its takes a village’ can be applied to many settings where it takes a group of people from diverse backgrounds, with varied ages, experience, education and beliefs. When it comes to supporting those with disabilities venturing onto the ski slopes, it certainly does take a village to ensure hopes and dreams come true. Falls Creek has a ‘village’ filled with wonderful people that volunteer their time to support people with disabilities and their families to have a successful experience.
We often get asked what it takes to become a volunteer guide with DWA. Like any village, it’s best to have a varied range of people with different backgrounds. Obviously, a love of the snow and skiing
is a good start. And yes, that includes snowboarders! Volunteers range in age, educational background, careers and location. As the saying goes, variety is the spice of life.
Our youngest aspiring guide is Madi at the age of eleven, and youngest trained guide is Zara at the age of fourteen. We have high school teachers Mel and Josh from Mount Beauty, retiree Ross from Albury/Wodonga, Peter the architect from Melbourne, Zac the accommodation manager and snowboarder extraordinaire from Falls Creek, our Resort Services Coordinator Lincoln who is a paraplegic and the fastest skier on the mountain, and there’s me, on my telemark skies, just to name a few!
We are a varied bunch, but we all bring something unique when it comes to guiding and to our village. You don’t have to be experienced when it comes to working with people with disabilities, as we’ll provide the training! We’ll also teach you a trick or two when it comes to guiding on the mountain. You just need to bring the desire to cultivate a great experience on the snow, and a love of donuts!
When it comes to guiding, the participants
come with a wide range of disabilities, from physical limitations such as paraplegia, vision impairment, strokes and amputees, to issues such as cerebral palsy, autism, intellectual, developmental and learning disabilities. With each participant, there is the family. Mums and dads, brothers and sisters, aunties and uncles and so on, which all makes for a great day of skiing for everyone. It’s not uncommon to be skiing with the entire family, and in some cases, to teach family members how to become a ‘ski guide’ for their own family member!
Best of all, you get to put a smile on the faces of the participants and their families, to finish the day with a hot donut from Snonuts in Slalom Plaza, and to end up with a message from the families along the lines of;
“Days like today make you as a parent really appreciate people like Zara, Izzy and yourself who give up their time to impact people’s lives. What you don’t see is the happiness that keeps on going into the night, tomorrow, next week and next month. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Lisa and Dan”
“Really appreciate the assistance that you and Lincoln gave to us as a school, and Mackenzie in particular last week. Was a valuable insight into what could be on offer into the future which I discussed with our principal.”
“Mackenzie had a brilliant day yesterday, something she will always remember and I look forward to doing with her again in the near future. I want to thank you and Lincoln for your time, effort, experience and the passion you made available to us all. I will try to drop in there today to personally thank you. Please have a great day today.”
“Thanks so much for the skiing today - so glad I got this photo at the end - Luce and the ski crew - honestly you, Ava, Issy, Maddie were all so kind today - one thing I have learnt over the last three days is people who enjoy the snow are so keen / kind to share it with others no matter what”.
“Just like to reiterate, how great last week was for Blake and ourselves. We appreciate the time and effort, yourself (sic) and Lincoln gave to Blake and us all. You have created a fantastic environment down there and hope to come again next year. Much appreciated. Ben, Lauren, BLAKE, Evie and Isla”
...is one of the common questions! Here are some points that may help you:
1. Detailed local Market data. National data may help, but knowledge of local sales, local inventory and up-coming developments is important!
2. Understanding Neighbourhood Nuances. Neighbourhoods have unique characteristics that naturally influence values. Proximity to schools, parks, shops, public transport and eateries influence the desirability of a home and therefore the price.
3. Evaluating Comparable Sales. Determining the value involves comparing the property to recent sales of similar properties. This is where your local agent with many years of experience comes in. Call us right now to find out!
Ph: 03 5754 499
Your support is very much appreciated. Your membership subscription will go towards maintaining the museum collection and establishing a fund to digitize the museums records. In return for your support, we will place you on our newsletter mailing list. Business / Clubs members will receive a DL sized window sticker to display on your premises.
Membership Categories: Single - $30 | Family - $40 | Club/Business - $60
Name: ................................................................................. Email: ................................
Address: .......................................................................................................... Postcode: .
Direct deposit details: BSB 633 000 Account 145918009
Please reference your name and/or business and then email application form to info@fallscreekmuseum.com.au
With breathtaking vistas and an incredibly private setting, this property is the archetype of an idyllic country homestead.
Set on an acre of beautifully landscaped gardens in a secluded cul-de-sac, it embraces a captivating outlook over lush farmland, which unfolds to a dramatic mountain backdrop including the spectacular snowcapped peaks of Mount Bogong.
This prized northerly orientation not only harnesses such rare valley views but sees the interiors flooded with abundant natural light.
The Alpine Chalet-inspired architectural design exudes an understated grandeur, with superbly-proportioned rooms and a layout
that’s perfect for the contemporary family lifestyle.
PUBLICATION SCHEDULE:
Slate flooring graces the downstairs living spaces, creating a sense of earthy elegance, while wood detailing offers a warmth and character that resonates throughout the entire home.
The open-plan lounge and dining area offers a slow-combustion fireplace, and opens to a broad terrace with a gazebo adorned by ornamental grapevines - truly the place to linger and relish in the captivating scenery beyond.
Falls Creek Resort Management will be collecting hard waste on Wednesday 26th April - the day after ANZAC Day. Please see our Hard Waste Collection guidelines on the website, or if you require any additional information, please contact the FCRM Office on 03 5758 1200. •
Summer Debrief
At the heart of the home is an expansive timber kitchen with modern conveniences, including stainless appliances and a double wall oven. You’ll enjoy three generous bedrooms and two luxurious Victorian-style bathrooms, plus the flexibility of an enormous above-garage studio with its own separate entrance, which can function as a home office, yoga studio, teen retreat or a bespoke room of your imagining.
It has been a record year for visitation this summer and Resort Management would like to get your feedback on events, visitor demographic, mountain biking and general observations.
Therefore you are invited to join the relevant Resort Management personnel and other members of the community for a summer season debrief meeting. This meeting will take place on Wednesday 26th April from 9:30am to around 11:30am in the Boardroom above Foodworks in QT.
On a practical note, there’s the amenity of a dual lock-up garage plus oversized double carport, and solar panels adding that important element of sustainability.
If you have any specific agenda items, please email http://joprothero@fallscreek.com.au. We look forward to seeing you all there. •
This remarkable residence, coupled with its prestigious setting, present an unparalleled opportunity for discerning buyers.
A celebration of Lyn’s Life will take place on Friday the 28th April 2017 in the Village Bowl at Falls Creek for anyone who wishes enormous contribution to Falls Creek. Some
and also a plate to share. In the case of wet weather, a contingency plan will be in place. and it is understood that members of Lyn’s
Something of an institution since 1982, the Trade Fair @ Falls Creek is an opportunity
Tickets: Mount BeautyNewsagency
Ph: 5754 4204
$25, $20 (members), $10 (students)
Ed 11 * 18.08.23 * Summit Masters. Australian Open XC Champs. Rudi Pendl Cup - Summit. (C) Ed 12 * 25.08.23 * Kangaroo Hoppet International Ski Race. Big Air Competition - Ruined Castle (C) Ed 13 * 01.09.23 * Kangaroo Hoppet Wrap. Welcome to Gay Ski Week. Burton Junior Masters (C) Ed 14 * 08.09.23 * Oakley Freestyle Series. Spring Ski Touring Adventure. School Holidays. (C)
DISTRIBUTION: • All accommodation houses, restaurants, businesses, club lodges & apartments in Falls Creek, Bogong Village, Mount Beauty, Tawonga South, Tawonga & Dederang, plus the RMB’s between Dederang & Tawonga & selected venues in Bright & Myrtleford.
ONLINE:
WEBSITE: • www.thisweekinfallscreek.com.au
• Available in PDF form at: www.fallscreek.com.au/whatson/
ADVERTISING
CLASSIFIEDS:
WHERE WHEN HOW WHO WHAT
Tawonga Crescent
8:30am - 5:00pm Mon - Friday 10:00am - 12:00pm Saturdays Ph: 5754 3400 for appointments
24 hours for emergencies
Drs Mark Zagorski, Jeff Robinson, Libby Garoni, Skye Delaney, Laura Zagorski, Angela Stratton & Anoop Pem.
To arrange your inspection today, contact: Courtney Sullivan, Director, Mountain Creek Property. Shop 2, 215 Kiewa Valley Hwy, Tawonga South. Ph: 03 5714 9730. Mb: 0437 191 892. Em: courtney@ mountaincreekproperty.com.au. •
(https://australia247.info/)
OPEN: 8am - 8pm weekdays
9am - 7pm weekends & Public Holidays
41 Bogong High Plains Road, Mount Beauty · Ph: 0400 350 488
Stubby series 1000 universal woodturning lathe, as new, $9,000. Ph: 0408 466 790.
Cane Armchair and footstool. $30. Six metal framed dining chairs upholstered in burgundy vinyl $30. Ph: 0477 443 964.
Championship Billiard Table 12x6’ excellent condition complete with Belgian equipment, cover and light. Handcrafted by ACE Billiard Tables for Kasman Billiards. One owner. $5500 ono. Ph: 0414 318 043. Blade X rollerblades, as new not yet used, men’s size 43, $100. Ph: 0408 466 790.
Complete set of Encyclopaedia Britannica, 45 volumes. Excellent condition, $200 or best offer. No longer needed, got married, wife knows everything. Ph: 0400 350 488.
ARBORISTS
A fully insured, GST Registered, ethically minded local business. Alpine Valley Arborists. Call Kane 0428 287 814 or Hayley 0427 272 777 – for all things trees!
ALTITUDE PHYSIO & MASSAGE
Frueauf Village (below Ory’s Falls Creek), Ground Floor, Room 2, 43 Schuss St Falls Creek. Ph: 03 5758 3766. Em: fallscreek@altitude.physio
BONNIE LUVE BEAUTY
Exciting new business opening in Yackandandah and servicing the Upper Kiewa Valley, Bright and Myrtleford. Offering services such as Massage, Waxing and Lash and Brow Tints. In the coming weeks Facials, Body Treatments and Nails will be available also. Call Bree on 0438 680 440.
BOWEN THERAPY & MASSAGE
Tawonga South. Ph: Heather 0428 993 125.
BUILDING & ELECTRICAL
Duggan & Hanlon, your complete building service. Please cal Justin Mb: 0458 220 879.
CAKE MAKING & DECORATING
Elene Wood at www.studioecakes.com.au in Tawonga – for all occasions. Mb: 0409 673 192 or Em: hello@studioecakes.com.au
CAR DETAILING
Give Steve a call in Tawonga South. Ph: 0423 499 086.
CARPET CLEANING
Call Nathan of NatWest Home Maintenance, your local Carpet Cleaning Service. 0410 480 697.
Every Tuesday at 9am at the Ladies Facility, Dederang Recreation Reserve. Bring a drink bottle and towel. $6 per session. Classes by Narelle Jones (Personal Trainer). Enquiries: Sharon McEvoy 0438 289 293 (the6maccas@bigpond.com)
POSITION VACANT
Public Relations and Social Media Manager - Traverse Alpine Group. An outstanding opportunity has become available for a talented and creative Social Media & Public Relations Manager to join the Traverse Alpine Group Family. If you have a passion for the alpine environment, and love to work in a fast paced and dynamic role, please visit the TAG website: https://traversealpinegroup.com.au/join-our-team/
CARPENTRY & BUILDING SERVICES
Oztek Constructions Pty Ltd. We do local building work, renovations, extensions and maintenance. Email Dave at: oztekconstructions@gmail.com. Or Ph: 0466 990 862
CIVIL CELEBRANT – HEATHER MULL
Quality Ceremonies – All Types. Mb: 0428 993 125. www.celebrant-ne-vic.com.au
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR
Altitude Electrical – no job too big or too small. Domestic, Commercial & Industrial. Ben Svarc Mb: 0419 801 109.
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR
Electrik Charge – Cade Piera – Licensed Local Electrician. Mb: 0400 827 060.
FREIGHT – ALB – MTB – FALLS CREEK
Remo’s Transport from Albury/Wodonga to Mount Beauty and Falls Creek Mon to Fri inclusive. Refrigeration available. Ph: John or Esther 0417 414 320.
HAIRDRESSER
Natalie Raymond, Birds Nest Salon, 26 Hollonds Street, Mount Beauty. Open Six days a week and evenings by appointment. Ph: 03 5754 1177.
LANDSCAPING
Design and landscaping - quality work. Contact Hamish at External Solutions: Em: admin@externalsolutions.com.au.
Mb: 0400 160 532.
LD’S HOME PET CARE
Pet Care and Dog Walking. Ph: Lisa 0407 541 695.
The school phoned me today and said, “Your son has been telling lies.” I replied, “Tell him, he’s bloody good. I don’t have any kids.”
MISSING BOOK
A hard-bound copy of Dr Ruth Lawrence’s Thesis titled ‘The Interaction between Land Use, the Environment and the Hydrology of the Bogong High Plains between 1850 and 1985’ was given to this community in the care of the late Bill Sutton. It has been loaned out –and not returned. This is a vital piece of the history of this area and it would be fabulous to have it returned. If you are going through your old bookshelves, keep an eye out for it. Fortunately your Editor has obtained a Digital Copy form the Melbourne University for reference. Any news, please call 0400 350 488.
LOCKSMITH & HANDYMAN
Codi Coutts – servicing the Kiewa Valley & North East Victoria. Ph: 0475 388 990. Em: kiewavalleylocksmith@yahoo.com
PAINTING SERVICES
Interior/Exterior, Domestic/Commercial.
Obligation Free Quotes. Quality & Service Guaranteed. KLM Alpine Painting Services. Ph: Laif: 0437 023 921.
PHYSIOTHERAPY
Kiewa Valley Sports & Spinal Therapy, 5A Hollonds St, Mount Beauty. Out of Hours & Home visits available. HiCaps. Ph: 03 5754 1270.
PILATES
Reformer, Group or Individual for a better quality of life. Wildflower Pilates Ph: 0433 017 660.
PROPERTY INSURANCE
With over 15 years experience as Alpine Industry Insurance Brokers, we are very happy to help you and your business. Call Tim on 0429 852 452, or Em: tclarke@northeastib. com.au
SPORTS MASSAGE
Book On-Line: impactmassage.com.au
STORAGE
Caravans, Vehicles, Pallets, Large Lock-Up Units. Ph: 0428 361 497. www.alpinewarehousing.com
TECH SUPPORT
PC Trouble? Wifi Issues? For anything tech related home or business, call Ray! Ph: 0412 812 263 or Em: ray@ raystechsupport.com
Helen Mathew m 0419 399 737 Mount Beauty | www.mountaincreekarch comThe world is changing. And so is AGL. agl.com.au
A plane is on its way to Melbourne when a blonde in Economy Class gets up & moves to the First Class section and sits down.
The Flight attendant watches her do this and asks to see her ticket. She then tells the Blonde passenger that she will have to return to her Economy seat.
The Blonde replies, “I'm blonde, I'm beautiful, I'm going to Melbourne and I'm staying right here!”
The flight attendant goes into the cockpit and tells the pilot and co-pilot that there is some blonde sitting in First Class who belongs in Economy and won't move back to her seat.
The co-pilot goes back to the blonde and tries to explain that because she only paid for economy, she is only entitled to an Economy seat and needs to return to her original seat.
▼
The Blonde replies, “I'm blonde, I'm beautiful, I'm going to Melbourne and I'm staying right here!”
Exasperated, the co-pilot tells the pilot that it was no use and that he probably should have the police waiting when they land to arrest the Blonde who won't listen to reason.
“You say she's blonde? I'll handle this, I'm married to a blonde, and I speak blonde!”
The pilot goes back to the blonde, whispers in her ear, and she says,
“Oh I'm sorry - I had no idea,” gets up and moves back to her seat in Economy.
The flight attendant and co-pilot are amazed and asked him what he said to make her move without any fuss.
The pilot replied, “I told her First Class isn't going to Melbourne!” •
WHERE Bottom of Gully Chairlift.
WHEN Open Daily 10am – 12:30pm & 2pm – 5pm (Map Ref J6)
HOW Ph: 03 5758 3238 all day!
24 Hours for Emergencies
WHO General Practitioners experienced in Family and Snow Sports Medicine.
WHAT First fully accredited snowfields practice in Australia based on 37 years experience.
Mount Beauty ▼
WHERE Tawonga Crescent.
WHEN 8:30am – 5pm Mon – Friday 10am – 12noon Saturdays.
HOW Ph: 03 5754 3400 for appointments
WHO Mark Zagorski OAM, Jeff Robinson, Libby Garoni, Skye Delaney, Laura Zagorski, Angela Stratton, Lauren Cussen, Damian Heman, Daniel Florisson, Andrew Mason, Jacinta O'Niell & Matthew McAlpine.
WHAT Fully accredited General Practice with 43 years service to the Upper Kiewa Valley.
“You’ve only got one head – put a lid on it!”
COVID-19 Restriction changes and weather may impact some of these events. Please check with the organiser for the most up-to-date information.
AUG 12 Park Run. 8am at Bicentennial Park 19 & 26 beside the library in Lakeside Avenue. All Welcome. Enquiries to 03 5754 1118.
AUG 12 Ski de Femme.10am Nordic Bowl. A fun day for the ladies. 1km, 2.5 & 5km events. Ph: 03 5754 4910.
AUG 12 TDFNL Rd 17: Rutherglen V Dederang Mount Beauty.
AUG 12 Night Skiing and Boarding. Every Saturday & Wednesday at 6pm - 8:45pm, on Wombats Ramble.
AUG 13 Rocky Valley Rush/Sun Valley Ramble. 10:30am Nordic Bowl. Ph: 0427 006 246.
AUG 15 Twilight Tuesdays – taking place every Tuesday from now through to late August. 3:30pm to 5:30pm in the Village Bowl – a Street Party for kids and adults alike. Fire pits, marshmallows, games and music, Pete the Snowdragon and during August, World Cup Soccer in the bowl. Further details: 03 5758 1200.
AUG 17 Fireworks Fiesta. Thursday nights at 7pm, in the Village Bowl.
AUG 19 Australian Open Sprint Championships, (F) 9:30am in the Nordic Bowl.
AUG 19 Summit Masters Giant Slalom, Retro Themed Racing on the Summit.
AUG 19 TDFNL Rd 18: Chiltern V Dederang MB
AUG 20 Australian Open Championships, (C) 9:30am in the Nordic Bowl.
AUG 20 Summit Masters Bumps Skiing Retro Themed Bumps on the Summit
AUG 24 Rudi Pendl Cup. 7pm - 9pm on the Summit. Honouring a much loved local resident. For further details on coming events, got to: https://www.fallscreek.com.au/whats-on/events/