Major Whitehead served in 21st Light Horse prior to WW11 ; 2/6th Armoured Regiment in WW11, and 8/13 VMR past WW11.Colour photograph of Major Norman Whitehead MC ( Retd) addressing gathering at 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles Open Day at Buna Barracks 28 February 1982. On dais with him are , left to right : Major G. Cole, Mr J Maynes, Mr. J. Moyle, Lieutenant Colonel M. Hough and Captain R. Fyffe ( Retd)

he 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles was raised as a regiment of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps on 1 May 1948 with Headquarters in Melbourne and squadrons in Sale, Benalla/Wangaratta and Albury. In 1955 Regimental Headquarters moved to Wangaratta and a second squadron was located at Albury. The Sale squadron transferred to 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse. In 1977 8/13 VMR Regiment was reduced to an independent squadron A Squadron 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles and in 1991 was linked with 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse forming the VMR Squadron of that regiment.Colour photograph of officers saluting at a parade of ' A ' Squadron 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles at a hand-over parade at Puckapunyal 1982." Major G.F. Cole handing ' A ' Sqn 8/13 VMR over to incoming OC Major IE Docking, Puckapunyal Courses Camp 1982. "

Regiments conducted Courses Camps to train RAAC crewmen.. The 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles was raised as a regiment of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps on 1 May 1948 with Headquarters in Melbourne and squadrons in Sale, Benalla/Wangaratta and Albury. In 1955 Regimental Headquarters moved to Wangaratta and a second squadron was located at Albury. The Sale squadron transferred to 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse. In 1977 8/13 VMR Regiment was reduced to an independent squadron A Squadron 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles and in 1991 was linked with 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse forming the VMR Squadron of that regiment.Colour photograph of soldiers marching past an officer on saluting dais." hand-over Parade Puckapunyal 1982. September Courses Camp March Past for out-going OC Major GF Cole ( Assault Trooper Course ) "

Regiments conducted Courses Camps to train RAAC crewmen. The 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles was raised as a regiment of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps on 1 May 1948 with Headquarters in Melbourne and squadrons in Sale, Benalla/Wangaratta and Albury. In 1955 Regimental Headquarters moved to Wangaratta and a second squadron was located at Albury. The Sale squadron transferred to 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse. In 1977 8/13 VMR Regiment was reduced to an independent squadron A Squadron 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles and in 1991 was linked with 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse forming the VMR Squadron of that regiment.Colour photograph of soldiers marching past an officer on saluting dais." Hand-over Parade Puckapunyal 1982. September Courses Camp March past for out-going OC Major GF Cole ( Radio Course )

The 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles was raised as a regiment of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps on 1 May 1948 with Headquarters in Melbourne and squadrons in Sale, Benalla/Wangaratta and Albury. In 1955 Regimental Headquarters moved to Wangaratta and a second squadron was located at Albury. The Sale squadron transferred to 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse. In 1977 8/13 VMR Regiment was reduced to an independent squadron A Squadron 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles and in 1991 was linked with 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse forming the VMR Squadron of that regiment.Colour photograph of group of soldiers outside brick building." Officers form up ready to move on to Parade. Courses Camp Puckapunyal 1982. Hand-over parade Major GF Cole to Major IR Docking. " military, vmr, officers

The 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles was raised as a regiment of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps on 1 May 1948 with Headquarters in Melbourne and squadrons in Sale, Benalla/Wangaratta and Albury. In 1955 Regimental Headquarters moved to Wangaratta and a second squadron was located at Albury. The Sale squadron transferred to 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse. In 1977 8/13 VMR Regiment was reduced to an independent squadron A Squadron 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles and in 1991 was linked with 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse forming the VMR Squadron of that regiment.Colour photograph of soldiers marching past an officer on saluting dais." Hand-over Parade Puckapunyal 1982. September Courses camp march past for out-going OC Major GF Cole ( NCO Course.)

The 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles was raised as a regiment of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps on 1 May 1948 with Headquarters in Melbourne and squadrons in Sale, Benalla/Wangaratta and Albury. In 1955 Regimental Headquarters moved to Wangaratta and a second squadron was located at Albury. The Sale squadron transferred to 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse. In 1977 8/13 VMR Regiment was reduced to an independent squadron A Squadron 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles and in 1991 was linked with 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse forming the VMR Squadron of that regiment.Shows soldiers on parade at annual camp.Colour photograph of soldiers marching past an officer on saluting dais." Hand-over parade Puckapunyal 1982. September Courses Camp March Past for out-going OC Major G f Cole ( D & S Course)military, uniform, parade, vmr, camp, citizen soldiers

Regiments conducted Courses Camps to train RAAC crewmen.The 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles was raised as a regiment of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps on 1 May 1948 with Headquarters in Melbourne and squadrons in Sale, Benalla/Wangaratta and Albury. In 1955 Regimental Headquarters moved to Wangaratta and a second squadron was located at Albury. The Sale squadron transferred to 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse. In 1977 8/13 VMR Regiment was reduced to an independent squadron A Squadron 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles and in 1991 was linked with 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse forming the VMR Squadron of that regiment.Colour photograph of soldiers marching past an officer on a saluting dais."Hand-over Parade Puckapunyal 1982. September Courses Camp March past for out-going OC Major G.F. Cole ( Crew Commanders Course ).

Regiments conducted Courses Camps to train RAAC crewmen.The 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles was raised as a regiment of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps on 1 May 1948 with Headquarters in Melbourne and squadrons in Sale, Benalla/Wangaratta and Albury. In 1955 Regimental Headquarters moved to Wangaratta and a second squadron was located at Albury. The Sale squadron transferred to 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse. In 1977 8/13 VMR Regiment was reduced to an independent squadron A Squadron 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles and in 1991 was linked with 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse forming the VMR Squadron of that regiment.Colour photograph of three soldiers in bush setting." Lt Tom Goode ( Bush Hat) briefing visiting officers from HQ 3 Div and OC major Cole ( left ) on a Defensive position deployed by the Assault trooper Course. Puckapunyal 1982. "

Szabolics, Coward, and Haydon were members of Light Aid Detachment, attached to 8/13 VMR to carry out vehicle repairs.Black and white photograph of nine soldiers 0f 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles posed casually outside a building. Left to right, back row: S/Sgt L. Szabolics, unknown,WO2 E Roberts, WO 2 L. Coward, WO 2 R Haydon. Front row: Sgt T TerHaar, Lt J Horsley, Capt D Short , Sgt G. Cole.

Gordon Cole served through the ranks from Trooper to Major. He was Officer Commanding 'A' Squadron, 8/13 VMR 1980-1982.Black and white photograph of Ferret Scout Car Mark 1 at Puckapunya, C 1964. crew Commander is Lieutenant G. Cole 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles.l

The 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles was raised as a regiment of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps on 1 May 1948 with Headquarters in Melbourne and squadrons in Sale, Benalla/Wangaratta and Albury. In 1955 Regimental Headquarters moved to Wangaratta and a second squadron was located at Albury. The Sale squadron transferred to 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse. In 1977 8/13 VMR Regiment was reduced to an independent squadron A Squadron 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles and in 1991 was linked with 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse forming the VMR Squadron of that regiment.Black and white photograph of officers of 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles at Annual camp Puckapunyal 1974.Back Row l to r: Lieuts J Clay, L Trapnell, T Ireland, Goodson,S. whitehead, R Griffiths, J boyce, Mentliskowsky,Wallman, K Courtis, J Mclean; Front Row: Major N whitehead MC, LieutsL Shefford, I Docking, Capt B Rowley, Major D Short, Lt Col J Neale, Colonel LG coleman ( Honrary Colonel ), Capt G Cole Lieuts J baines, L Jackel, J Horsley.

Colour photograph of Major Gordon Cole and Warrant Officer Class 2 J. Baily at Formal Dinner, Wangaratta, 20th June 1992.cole, baily, wangaratta

Kew achieved independence from the Boroondara Roads Board in 1860. As a new municipality, its first three leaders were designated as chairmen. On becoming a borough in 1863, its leaders were identified as mayors. The earliest photographs date from ca.1906, when the Town of Kew commissioned the noted local photographer Josiah E Barnes to produce standardised portraits of former mayors to be displayed in the Mayoral Chamber of the Town Hall. The collection also includes photographs by other well-known photographic studios such as Burlington Studios, Melba – Melbourne, Stuart Tompkins, Spencer Shier and Talma & Co. The majority of mounts identify the photographer. Eighty photographs are housed in their original frames.This portrait is one of a series of mounted and framed photographic portraits of mayors and town clerks of the former Borough, Town and City of Kew. The portraits were transferred by the City of Kew to the Kew Historical Society in March 1989. A Significance Assessment in 2018, funded by the National Library of Australia confirmed the historic, and often artistic significance of the series.Framed portrait of Cr. G.H. Cole, Mayor of Kew 1926-27. The mounting and framing of the photograph follows a typical layout or style in that each is framed in dark wood, glazed, and laid down on an inscribed board. The inscription identifies the name of the mayor and the year/s that he/she served.[Inscription] "G.H. Cole, Mayor 1926/7"mayors of kew (vic), cr. g.h. cole, kew (vic.) — municipal collection

Colour photograph of Majors Gordon Cole and Ian Docking of 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles in mess dress at a dinner at Buna Barracks Albury 9 November 1991.military, dinner, vmr, officers, uniform, cole, docking, albury

Formal dress ‘blues’ uniform with patrol collar and chain mail epaulets replacing the previous lapel style jacket. This uniform was worn by Major Gordon Cole RFD who enlisted in 8/13 VMR 1960 (?) and went on to command the Independent Squadron 1980-1982.Army dress jacket with silver VMR buttons and badges and chain mail epaulets. Jacket is hung on half mannequin.military, uniform, vmr, cole, blues

The 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles was raised as a regiment of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps on 1 May 1948 with Headquarters in Melbourne and squadrons in Sale, Benalla/Wangaratta and Albury. In 1955 Regimental Headquarters moved to Wangaratta and a second squadron was located at Albury. The Sale squadron transferred to 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse. In 1977 8/13 VMR Regiment was reduced to an independent squadron A Squadron 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles and in 1991 was linked with 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse forming the VMR Squadron of that regiment.Colour photograph of Majors John Baines, Ian Docking and Gordon Cole all of 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles at Dinner at Buna Barracks 25 May 1991cole, baines, dinner, docking, vmr

The 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles was raised as a regiment of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps on 1 May 1948 with Headquarters in Melbourne and squadrons in Sale, Benalla/Wangaratta and Albury. In 1955 Regimental Headquarters moved to Wangaratta and a second squadron was located at Albury. The Sale squadron transferred to 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse. In 1977 8/13 VMR Regiment was reduced to an independent squadron A Squadron 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles and in 1991 was linked with 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse forming the VMR Squadron of that regiment.Colour photograph of 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles officers and guests at a Dining In night 22nd April 1989. From left: Major ( Ret'd ) Max Oates, Lieutenant Colonel ( Ret,d ) Jim Allard, Colonel John Neale, Colonel McAloney, Colonel ( Ret,d ) Tom Arrowsmith MC, Major Robert Morrison, Colonel Brewer, Major Gordon Cole and captain Peter Hartung. Sergeant Robin Ellison standing behind.

The 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles was raised as a regiment of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps on 1 May 1948 with Headquarters in Melbourne and squadrons in Sale, Benalla/Wangaratta and Albury. In 1955 Regimental Headquarters moved to Wangaratta and a second squadron was located at Albury. The Sale squadron transferred to 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse. In 1977 8/13 VMR Regiment was reduced to an independent squadron A Squadron 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles and in 1991 was linked with 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse forming the VMR Squadron of that regiment.Colour photograph of 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles officers and guests in anteroom following Dining In dinner 22 April 1989.From left : Major Gordon Cole, Colonel JohnNeale, Major Ian Docking, Lieutenant Marshall, and Major Robert Morrison speaking with Pipe Major of Army Apprentices School Pipe Band.

The 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles was raised as a regiment of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps on 1 May 1948 with Headquarters in Melbourne and squadrons in Sale, Benalla/Wangaratta and Albury. In 1955 Regimental Headquarters moved to Wangaratta and a second squadron was located at Albury. The Sale squadron transferred to 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse. In 1977 8/13 VMR Regiment was reduced to an independent squadron A Squadron 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles and in 1991 was linked with 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse forming the VMR Squadron of that regiment.Colour photograph of 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles officers and guests at a Dining In dinner 22 April 1989. From left : Major Gordon Cole, Captain Peter Hartung, Major ian Docking, Lieutenant Arrowsmith.

The 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles was raised as a regiment of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps on 1 May 1948 with Headquarters in Melbourne and squadrons in Sale, Benalla/Wangaratta and Albury. In 1955 Regimental Headquarters moved to Wangaratta and a second squadron was located at Albury. The Sale squadron transferred to 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse. In 1977 8/13 VMR Regiment was reduced to an independent squadron A Squadron 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles and in 1991 was linked with 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse forming the VMR Squadron of that regiment.Colour photograph of a group of 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles 0fficers at Dining In function 22 April 1989. Standing from left : Lt. J. Burke, Capt. C. Carrington, Lt. Marshall, Maj. R. Morrison, Lt. Mathews, Capt S Whitehead, Lt. J. Clay, Maj. I. Docking, Maj. G. Cole, Lt. Col J. Allard, Maj. R. McDermott, Col J. Neale, Seated: Capt. P.Hartung, Maj. M. Oates, Capt. P. Martin, Capt. J. McLean, Capt. L. Jackel.

The first British designed and made Centurion tanks arrived in Australia in June 1952. The first tanks went to the 1st Armoured Regiment, but as more tanks became available armoured regiments of the Citizen Military Forces received replacements for their aging General Grant tanks. The Centurion was a great improvement on the Grant with a bigger gun and the ability to fire accurately while moving. Serving soldiers of regiments such as 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles were converted to the new tank and National Servicemen received full-time training while at Puckapunyal. In February 1968, C Squadron, 1st Armoured Regiment, equipped with Centurion tanks was sent to Vietnam. This tank No 169073 was one of the twenty tanks which served in Vietnam. There were many doubters about the likely usefulness of the Centurion in the jungle and paddy field environment of South Vietnam. How would this very large tank perform? No one needed to have worried. The tanks performed magnificently and were treasured by the infantry with whom they operated. ‘Tanks save lives’ was the catchcry. Several Reserve officers were attached to the Squadron in Vietnam including Colonel John Neale and Major Gordon Cole. Following the Australian withdrawal, the tanks were refurbished and issued to Army Reserve regiments for training. Our tank was allocated to 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles. Together with the tanks came a crop of Regular Army Cadre staff and training reached a new peak. When the Centurion was superseded by the Leopard surplus vehicles were allocated to museums and regimental collections as trophy vehicles. Black and white photograph of Centurion Tank No. 169073 at Buna Barracks, Albury, home of 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles 1988.centurion, tank, buna barracks, albury, vmr

Cambrai Day is celebrated annually by Armoured Corps regiments of the British Commonwealth. It marks the anniversary of the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917 when a force of more than 400 British Mark IV Tanks broke the defences of the German Hindenburg Line, It was the first large-scale, effective use of tanks in warfare. Cambrai turned from a battle of great success to failure, but it heralded a new type of warfare and changed the nature of the battlefield forever The gathering at Buna Barracks Albury, Beersheba Barracks Wangaratta, Bapaume Barracks Benalla and Salamaua Barracks Cobram on 30 November 1986 was the inaugural meeting of the 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles Regimental Association..Colour photograph of seven men taken at Buna Barracks, Albury on Cambrai Day 20 November 1986. Back row, left to right: Lieutenant Colonel Doug Hunter, Major Ian Docking, Max Oates and Gordon Cole: Front Row : Major Reg McDermot, Lieutenant Colonels Alan Cunningham and John Neale. All were former Officers of 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles Regiment.

Cambrai Day is celebrated annually by Armoured Corps regiments of the British Commonwealth. It marks the anniversary of the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917 when a force of more than 400 British Mark IV Tanks broke the defences of the German Hindenburg Line, It was the first large-scale, effective use of tanks in warfare. Cambrai turned from a battle of great success to failure, but it heralded a new type of warfare and changed the nature of the battlefield forever.The gathering at Buna Barracks Albury, Beersheba Barracks Wangaratta, Bapaume Barracks Benalla and Salamaua Barracks Cobram on 30 November 1986 was the inaugural meeting of the 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles Regimental Association.Colour photograph of three men taken at Buna Barracks Albury on Cambrai Day 30 November 1986. They are : Bill Woolford, with back to camera, Max Oates and Gordon Cole. All were former members of 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles Regiment.

Cambrai Day is celebrated annually by Armoured Corps regiments of the British Commonwealth. It marks the anniversary of the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917 when a force of more than 400 British Mark IV Tanks broke the defences of the German Hindenburg Line, It was the first large-scale, effective use of tanks in warfare. Cambrai turned from a battle of great success to failure, but it heralded a new type of warfare and changed the nature of the battlefield forever.The gathering at Buna Barracks Albury, Beersheba Barracks Wangaratta, Bapaume Barracks Benalla and Salamaua Barracks Cobram on 30 November 1986 was the inaugural meeting of the 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles Regimental Association.Colour photograph of Corporal Bruce Barnett and Major Gordon Cole taken at Buna Barracks Albury at a Cambrai Day gathering of former members of 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles, 30 November 1986.Gordon Cole enlisted as a trooper and progressed to Squadron Commander.

The 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles was raised as a regiment of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps on 1 May 1948 with Headquarters in Melbourne and squadrons in Sale, Benalla/Wangaratta and Albury. In 1955 Regimental Headquarters moved to Wangaratta and a second squadron was located at Albury. The Sale squadron transferred to 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse. In 1977 8/13 VMR Regiment was reduced to an independent squadron A Squadron 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles and in 1991 was linked with 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse forming the VMR Squadron of that regiment.Black and white photograph of Major Gordon Cole on an officers' revision course conducted at Tully, North Queensland, May 1982.Major Cole was Officer Commanding " A " Squadron 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles..

Ski-Horizon is the official journal of the Federation of Victorian Ski Clubs which began publication in 1949. The were 26 original member clubs which included Albury Ski Club, Bogong Ski Club, Myrtleford Ski Club, Tallangatta and District Ski Club and Wangaratta Ski Club. Two pioneers of Falls Creek, Tom Mitchell, M.L.A., and Martin Romuld were Vice-Presidents of the Federation.This Journal is significant because it documents the early development of skiing in Victoria.The journal features stories and events chronicling developments in Victoria and internationally. Items related to the Falls Creek Area in this publication include:- Page 3: A reminder for people wishing to use Cleve Cole Hut, that they need to collect a key. The Hut is dedicated to the memory of Cleve Cole, a Victorian skiing pioneer who died after being trapped on Mount Bogong in the winter of 1936. Page 14 At the Annual Dinner of the Bogong Ski Club on Saturday, 19th November, Mr. T. W. Mitchell, M.L.A., presented the Silver Discus to Fred Vines, Captain of the Bogong team which won the 1949 Inter-club Championship. The Bogong Ski Club were keen to send a team to New Zealand in 1950 to compete in the N.Z. inter-club championship (Wigley Cup).ski history victoria, federation of victorian ski clubs, nedsa events, victorian skiing 1949

MEYER COLLECTION - FALLS CREEK PHOTOS In 1947 a determined group of like-minded State Electricity Commission (SEC) staff including Ray Meyer, the chief surveyor of the Kiewa Hydro-Electric Scheme, had a common interest that revolved around the skiing potential of the snow-covered high plains which included what is now the resort of Falls Creek. The six SEC employees, Toni St Elmo, Ray Meyer, Jack Minogue, Lloyd Dunn, Adrian Ruffenacht and Dave Gibson (together with their families) banded together to secretly build a 'hut' that was the first ski lodge at Falls Creek. Using a road built in 1930s to gain access to Falls Creek, their hut project was carried out in secret as efforts by other skiers were blocked by H.H.C. Williams – the engineer in charge of the Hydro Scheme. In 1946 Ray Meyer made a trip to the Lands Office in Melbourne. He came away with a 99-year lease on three acres that was ideally suited for a hut designed by Lloyd Dunn. Adrian Ruffenacht (Design Engineer for the KHS) had suggested where the group should build because of easy access to a spring for water. Much of the building material required was scavenged from derelict huts on the high plains. Due to the need for secrecy, the determined group worked on the hut in the evenings and weekends to avoid detection. During the building period the group had met at Echidna Rock (now known as Eagle Rock) where Skippy St Elmo announced, "This is my favourite ‘Skyline’.” And so the first lodge in the area at Falls Creek Ski Resort came into existence. With the development of the International Poma in the 1970s, the Skyline Lodge, which was sited between the ski-lift’s pole one and pole two, was demolished. However, the legacy of Ray Meyer, Toni St Elmo, Jack Minogue, Lloyd Dunn, Adrian Ruffenacht and Dave Gibson and Skyline lives on in the vibrant atmosphere of Falls Creek Resort. The MEYER COLLECTION documents developments on the Kiewa Hydro Scheme and their life at Falls Creek from the mid 1930s to 1960s.This image is significant because it depicts aspects of the life of a pioneering family of Falls Creek and the founders of "Skyline", the first lodge at Falls Creek.Black and White Images of visitors at Cleve Cole Lodge. Photo 1. L to R:- Ray Meyer, H. Gibbs and Wal Johnson. Photo 2. Ray Meyer and Wal Johnson having photo taken. CLEVE COLE HUT was built in 1937 for the Ski Club of Victoria, to commemorate pioneer skier, Cleve Cole, who died on a disastrous ski trip across the high In August 1936 three men, Cleve Cole, Mick Hull, and Howard Michell, skied from Mount Hotham across the Bogong High Plains to Mount. On reaching the mountain they became trapped for four days on the summit ridge by appalling weather conditions. For three days they followed the Big River through rough country before deciding that Howard should continue alone to find help, leaving Mick to care for Cleve who was barely able to continue. Three days later a search party, raised after Howard had reached Glen Valley, found Cleve and Mick. Within two days the group arrived at Glen Valley where, tragically, Cleve Cole died later that night. In memory of Cleve’s life and his pioneering work in the Victorian alpine country it was decided to build a refuge hut on the mountain. It is called the Cleve Cole Memorial Hut.falls creek, bogong high plains, cleve cole hut

MEYER COLLECTION - FALLS CREEK PHOTOS In 1947 a determined group of like-minded State Electricity Commission (SEC) staff including Ray Meyer, the chief surveyor of the Kiewa Hydro-Electric Scheme, had a common interest that revolved around the skiing potential of the snow-covered high plains which included what is now the resort of Falls Creek. The six SEC employees, Toni St Elmo, Ray Meyer, Jack Minogue, Lloyd Dunn, Adrian Ruffenacht and Dave Gibson (together with their families) banded together to secretly build a 'hut' that was the first ski lodge at Falls Creek. Using a road built in 1930s to gain access to Falls Creek, their hut project was carried out in secret as efforts by other skiers were blocked by H.H.C. Williams – the engineer in charge of the Hydro Scheme. In 1946 Ray Meyer made a trip to the Lands Office in Melbourne. He came away with a 99-year lease on three acres that was ideally suited for a hut designed by Lloyd Dunn. Adrian Ruffenacht (Design Engineer for the KHS) had suggested where the group should build because of easy access to a spring for water. Much of the building material required was scavenged from derelict huts on the high plains. Due to the need for secrecy, the determined group worked on the hut in the evenings and weekends to avoid detection. During the building period the group had met at Echidna Rock (now known as Eagle Rock) where Skippy St Elmo announced, "This is my favourite ‘Skyline’.” And so the first lodge in the area at Falls Creek Ski Resort came into existence. With the development of the International Poma in the 1970s, the Skyline Lodge, which was sited between the ski-lift’s pole one and pole two, was demolished. However, the legacy of Ray Meyer, Toni St Elmo, Jack Minogue, Lloyd Dunn, Adrian Ruffenacht and Dave Gibson and Skyline lives on in the vibrant atmosphere of Falls Creek Resort. The MEYER COLLECTION documents developments on the Kiewa Hydro Scheme and their life at Falls Creek from the mid 1930s to 1960s.This image is significant because it depicts aspects of the life of a pioneering family of Falls Creek and the founders of "Skyline", the first lodge at Falls Creek.Black and White Images taken at Cleve Cole Hut Photo 1 Outside Cleve Cole 1951 - From Left: Ray Meyer, Wal Johnson and other people from a visiting group Photo 2 Cleve Cole Hut Mt. Bogong CLEVE COLE HUT was built in 1937 for the Ski Club of Victoria, to commemorate pioneer skier, Cleve Cole, who died on a disastrous ski trip across the high In August 1936 three men, Cleve Cole, Mick Hull, and Howard Michell, skied from Mount Hotham across the Bogong High Plains to Mount. On reaching the mountain they became trapped for four days on the summit ridge by appalling weather conditions. For three days they followed the Big River through rough country before deciding that Howard should continue alone to find help, leaving Mick to care for Cleve who was barely able to continue. Three days later a search party, raised after Howard had reached Glen Valley, found Cleve and Mick. Within two days the group arrived at Glen Valley where, tragically, Cleve Cole died later that night. In memory of Cleve’s life and his pioneering work in the Victorian alpine country it was decided to build a refuge hut on the mountain. It is called the Cleve Cole Memorial Hut.falls creek, bogong high plains, ray meyer, cleve cole hut