.... Dad was not a follower.... 'not having any new fangled machine... i have a work horse'.... oh... the embarrassment!
Marg, thanks so much for the excellent photos and history. Really great stuff! Interesting that Kilimanjaro was built that early. What's John up to these days? Julian water skiing....well of course! Phenomenal yellow creation your mum is wearing in the car there in that Christmas Day shot. Tecks that is definitely Lorna and second from right I think is Gerhart standing next to Franz? Great photo of the lodges too. Not sure if that is the edge of Cooroona on the rhs but I recall there was a large open area between that and Riparoo (eventually). If you have more please post them!
Hi BillyKidd.... glad you liked my info, albeit a bit outta-whack... woops! I'm going on my own memory about Kilmanjaro... it was (back then...) a block of units on RHS as you head (on the straight bit of road) to the Bowl.... Mum & Dad's unit was no. 1 !! Both Mum & Dad have passed away.... Mum in 2008 and Dad in 2009.... My brother john scattered their ashes up on the High Plains (hope this doesn't creep people...?) they (Mum & Dad) are now where they loved...! then, not sure if you remember my brother, Chris.... he passed away last May... he never got over the death of his daughter (2013) whilst she was in Thailand. Emma contracted Denghi Fever...!! and then last November 5th, i lost my GORGEOUS daughter through complications during heart surgery....:-( The past few years have been so emotional.... it has been a very hard to keep my head together... but.... I am so happy i stumbled across this forum.... I know there is a multitude more pics... just have to set aside time to go through them all...!! take care.... and if you are 'up the Creek'.... think of me and have a drink to all the amazing people that made Falls Creek, as we knew it, a huge happy memory for us... ! i will know...
Myself and my beautiful daughter, Kylie.... 1977 (near Kilmanjaro....) 1977.... don't ya just love my boots.... and the wide legged jeans.... OMG.... ! all the rage then !!
A more recent pic, 31.01.15, of myself (a very 'proud' Mum) and Kylie at her graduation from University... becoming a VERY much loved Primary School Teacher.... xx
Well... i can sleep now....! i have remembered....! Mum & Dad's flat was in the Katmandu building....! NOT Kilmanjaro..... ahhhh... that feels so good.... !! it has been a long time since i as last there !
Hi Marg, I'm very sorry for your losses. Very unfair. I think your folks being up on the High Plains is the very best place. Didn't know Chris but those are great photos of you and your daughter. Very real treasures. I think Falls has changed a lot since those times, as is the way, and while I'm not looking to live in the past it was far less constrained, corporate wasn't even a word and it was more fun!!
Update:.... Mum & Dad's unit was in the Katmandu building... not.. Kilmanjaro.... my apologies.... It has been a VERY long time since i was last there and..... i was only young... !
Hi BillyKidd.... I would have to agree with you about the changes that have occurred at Falls.... :-( Life was a lot simpler & more carefree then.... this is a subject that i could go on about for a lo-o-o-ong time ! but.... progress.... cannot not be stopped and there will always be people making 'their' memories in FC.... I moved to Perth January 1990.... and i love the 'slower' ways here (it is said... W.A. = Wait Awhile... ) I would LOVE to return to Falls Creek..... but too far and WAY too many people for me.....! (Summer was always my preferred season at Falls Creek) .... We live in a beautiful country !!
It is a beautiful country in many parts that's for sure. Have never spent too much time in Perth, really only transiting there on my way to Leonora, Laverton and points beyond. Not too many people out there!
Well.... those places you mentioned are very remote! WA is such HUGE state with less population than Melbourne and I LOVE that....! For you to have visited those areas in WA, am I to assume / presume this was for work....? I worked for WesTrac (Caterpillar Mining Machinery) for 11 years, but my job was solely based in Perth. I have been here 27 years (Swan Valley for 10 years - beee-ooo-tiful...!) and I'm STILL exploring this side of the country and all it's very diverse scenery! I have been across the Nullabor 3 times - twice on my motorcycle.... NOT a lot out there either, but certainly a wonderful journey... Just the NT and Tassie to tick off my list now....
Yes, those areas was for work (Defence) and they always get you out into the most remote places...never bloody Tahiti or Gstaad. Fantastic areas through WA though I am led to believe, really only having seen parts of it from 30,000 feet odd or right on the deck but limited in the areas visited as it were. Would be keen to get to the south west forests and up to Shark Bay, northwest points and Kimberley regions. Doing it on a bike sounds the go!
Thanks so much Marg for sharing your memories, photos and experiences, and so much more. You must get back for a visit. It's about the same time as it will take me to visit my family in SW WA next week (MR region) and not that hard. Love seeing all these old pics and reminded me of the old hotel (Sundance ?). I remember all the bus drivers used to drop off the punters, hit the pub until they had to cook the barbie for lunch and then back to the pub until last lifts. Never took a bus as I knew how they filled in the day.
The place was pleasantly quiet on the weekend just gone. I hadn't been up in the green season for a few years. The leaves are starting to colour up & there's a nip in the air. Lots of cyclists and mtb riders but not at all busy. Next weekend is the three peaks so hopefully a few more people about. A weekend in Falls is never enough. Some great stories, photos and memories there @Marg Old Diana Lodge.
Jon the pom?.....are you the John from Cornwall who met in La Plagne in about 1975/6...girlfriend Marion, gave Irish and myself a lift back to UK, came to Verbier in 1979...if so I'm at robrasher@gmail.com...Rob
That's the great thing about this forum.....turn your back for a few months and more names, memories and photos appear. Hallo Marg......sorry I could recall your family's name but you were definitely part of that tiny "establishment" who had made Falls their home. I don't know what you remember of me but I would have named you from any of your photos. Your pictures stir many memories and I certainly recognise your Mum & Dad. I'm so sorry to hear of the tragedies you've faced but hope sharing good the times from way back continues to help. WA was my home for two years before I found Falls Creek.....mainly on farms at Dalwallinu and Bridgetown but then I too did a spell "beyond" Laverton. Many, many friends around the state still - we'll be back to WA soon we hope.. OK, Rob, if you'll admit to going under the name of Basha in the days I was Jon the Pom, then yes I'm the one who brought you and Irish back to England from La Plagne where we'd all had some great days skiing with Uncle Dick. Gerard was back working there. A story about false teeth rings true for Verbier......and some good times in Scotland too. We last heard you were living in Portsea.....but I'll write to your email address.
Re. the first tower of the Inter.Poma, I'm not sure what has happened over the years but I helped fit the "cotton reel" to the wheel. It was a compression assembly - i.e. held the cable down - and in the event of a bungled take-off there was a risk the cable could have been derailed and launched the victim skywards. This extension would have caught the cable.
Hello, my father is Russell Rockliff and Julian Brown mentions him a few times in his book Falls Creek: How it Came to be. At some stage he owned the Diana Lodge, possibly the person before your parents did Marg. But he also used to play in a jazz band the Thunderbirds each season prior to owning it. I will upload some slides that I have but we have heaps and i can convert the slides to photos. My friends who have gone in the past come over to show dad what it's like now and there is a dam and a few other things still around that he built. I found a spinet of an old The Age Newspaper from the 8th May 1967. FALLS CREEK PHONE 22 GO! WITH THE SNOW STAY AT DIANA LODGE The most swinging lodge on the mountain. Completely heated throughout. Live entertainment throughout the season. For more information phone or contact VICTOUR, 63 0202, Molony's 67 8428, or Direct to Russ Rockliff, DIANA LODGE, Falls Creek. Phone 14 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/122119191/ So my favour to ask is, it's my dad's birthday and I would love a copy of any old ads, post cards or anything historical from around 1961 to 1970 that I can give to him as a keep sake and in return i'm happy to send over what I have. thanks Jodi
Jodi I was a liftie and many other positions during my five winters at Falls. Diana/Russell made most of us very welcome and he was my first insight into how a ski lodge enhanced a Falls Creek winter holiday. Would love to catch up with your father whenever I'm in Melbourne.. Regards Ian Scoop Talbot skipress@wix.com.au
Thanks Ian, we are in Adelaide but ive given him your email. Dad just asked if he saw you at Julian's book launch??
[QUOTE="JodiRockliff, post: 3358244, member: [/QUOTE] Dad gave me these to add in and he also has the visitor's book from the time he was there.
The last year that we saw him would have been around 2008 or 09 when picking the kids up from Snowclub. (I must be growing old or getting strange when you can enjoy that sort of music - Weird Al Yankovic has a lot to answer for).
Great photos Jodi. I used to ski down that slope in front of Diana as a kid....well before the Sundance/Country Club was built. Love the shot of Hugh Hefner in the middle.
Rarely ventured to that side of Falls since 07 when skiing with my was less experienced son. Very interested about his story as I thought he created a great ambience with his accordion playing and bell ringing.
I haven't seen him playing accordion for a while but i see him around occassionally. I think he Iikes fishing around here as well as skiing.
He's an absolute legend at Falls. Can someone tell me who he is as he has brightened up my days so much.
IIRC he's from Albury and his name is not particularly Austrian. i had a longish talk to him one day, but it turned into a bit of a whinge and i don't recall much. i'd much rather have him playing to the chairlift than having them play music on ruined castle to pump up people for the park
