This item is from the private collection of George Shirling of Red Onion, Falls Creek. Team Red were the original free riders from Falls Creek who focused on freestyle skiing rather than more traditional downhill skiing. They trained to compete in the tough freestyle circuit. Over the years members have included: Eric Hymans, twice Australian Mogul Champion: Lyn Gross, Australian Aerial Champion and World Cup finalist; Kate Stevens twice Australian Mogul Champion; Kent Dowding. Australian Mogul Champion: Steven Lee, Australian Champion and Olympian; and Mark Stevens, Australian Mogul Champion Three-time World Cup competitor and coach to the Australian World Cup team along with many others who took on the challenge of freestyle skiing. George Shirling arrived in Falls Creek in 1962. He engaged Phil Nowell to build the original Koki Alpine Lodge which opened in 1965 with 14 beds. George operated the lodge with Michael “Baldy” Blackwell as manager. He also graduated in sport psychology in 1981 and was invited to become team psychologist for the Australian Winter Olympic team which went to Albertville, France, in 1992. He later owned the Red Onion Chalet. George credited the success of Koki to “Baldy” Blackwell. “Baldy” and Phil Nowell started the Trackers Mountain Lodge in partnership during the 1980s. In 1971 George sold Koki Lodge to Sigi Doerr. In 2024 the renamed Koki Alpine resort remains a highly popular destination in Falls Creek. George Shirling passed away on 27th February 2023. He had remained actively involved in Falls Creek and was generous with his time and knowledge, always an amazing supporter of The Falls Creek Museum and Falls Creek Village.This item is significant because it is representative of all those who took on the challenge of freestyle skiing at Falls Creek.A metal badge with red and yellow print I SUPPORT TEAM RED FALLS CREEKgeorge shirling, falls creek, exploding sports myths

These were the official Australian team's sunglasses issued to competitors at the Winter Olympic Games at Lillehammer, Norway in 1994. The glasses belonged to Paul and Adrian Costa however they could not wear them because the Costa brothers were sponsored by Oakley at that time. The four Costa brothers - Paul, Adrian, Simon and Tom - all skied for Australia in mogul and freestyle competitions. They attended school at Falls Creek and Mt Beauty and were members of the Falls Creek Race Club. Paul’s first major event at the age of 16 was the Falls Creek Summit Masters, where he finished second in the Open Class. In 1993 he placed fourth at the FIS Freestyle World Championships in Austria. He was selected to represent Australia at the Lillehammer Winter Olympic Games in 1994. After these Games, Paul ended his competitive career and took up coaching junior teams and was a member of the coaching staff for the 2006 Torino Olympics. Adrian is a four-time Olympian, who competed in freestyle skiing at the 1992 Albertville, 1994 Lillehammer, 1998 Nagano and 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games. He contested the moguls event at all four Games and his best performance was 14th, making the finals at both the Albertville and Lillehammer Games. At Salt Lake City, Adrian had the honour to carry the Australian Flag in the Opening Ceremony. He competed at the World Championships from 1993 until 2001 and recorded his best place of 9th at the 1993 World Championships. His best World Cup performance was a silver medal in 1998. In total, Adrian Costa made 126 World Cup starts between 1991 and 2003, placing 31 times in the top 10 and seven times in the top five. He also competed in five Freestyle Skiing World Championships.These sunglasses are significant because they belonged to two Winter Olympians from Falls Creek.Ray Ban brand sunglasses decorated with the official Olympic symbols for the Lillehammer Winter Olympics 1994. Pattens on the arms represent skiers in a range of eventsOn corner of one lens: Ray-Ban and Olympic Rings On right arm: Lillehammer 94lillehammer winter games, adrian costa, paul costa

This item is from the private collection of George Shirling of Red Onion, Falls Creek. George Shirling arrived in Falls Creek in 1962. He engaged Phil Nowell to build the original Koki Alpine Lodge which opened in 1965 with 14 beds. George operated the lodge with Michael “Baldy” Blackwell as manager. In 1981 he graduated in sport psychology and was invited to become team psychologist for the Australian Winter Olympic team which went to Albertville, France, in 1992. He later owned the Red Onion Chalet. George Shirling passed away on 27th February 2023. He had remained actively involved in Falls Creek and was generous with his time and knowledge, always an amazing supporter of The Falls Creek Museum and Falls Creek Village. Patricia “Patsy” Sydney Russell Finlayson was born on 17 March 1915. In 1935 she was selected for the NSW Ski team and competed at the Australian Championships. Patsy was runner-up in the individual slalom and giant slalom and became the Australian combined champion. In that year she also won the Summit Ski Race at Mount Kosciusko with a time of 9 hours and 37 minutes, breaking the women's record by 1½ hours. In 1936 Finlayson earned national selection for the first Inter Dominion Championship between Australia & New Zealand. She was then selected to represent Australia at the 1939 Nordic World Ski Championship at Zakopane, Poland but was injured during training. She returned to Australia in August 1938 and had to compete in the men's event (placing 4th) as the women's event had been cancelled. In 1969 Finlayson won all her events in the Australian Ski Championships. In 1941, Finlayson was appointed Australia's first female ski instructor. However, she had to resign from the Australian Women's Ski Club as she was no longer considered to be an amateur. This made her ineligible for the Australian or NSW ski championships and the Olympic Games. In 1949, the International Ski Federation (FIS) changed the rules governing amateur standing and Finlayson was allowed to compete at the NSW and Australian Championships. She went on to win all events in both 1949 and 1950. She retired from competitive skiing in October 1950.This item is significant because it features a pioneer of women's skiing in Australia.A black and white image of Patsy Finlayson with her skis and poles. george shirling, red onion, patsy finlayson, women's skiing pioneer

A small paperback book of ski instruction and techniques. The book consists of 28 pages of text and illustrations.This item is from the private collection of George Shirling of Red Onion, Falls Creek. It is the 3rd edition of a Ski Instruction Manual produced by Kosciusko Alpine Club, written by A. J. Stone and G. R. T. Ward. It was originally published in 1936. The handbook was a great success and was later used in Lebanon during the Second World War to train allied ski troops. George Shirling arrived in Falls Creek in 1962. He engaged Phil Nowell to build the original Koki Alpine Lodge which opened in 1965 with 14 beds. George operated the lodge with Michael “Baldy” Blackwell as manager. In 1981 he graduated in sport psychology and was invited to become team psychologist for the Australian Winter Olympic team which went to Albertville, France, in 1992. He later owned the Red Onion Chalet. George Shirling passed away on 27th February 2023. He had remained actively involved in Falls Creek and was generous with his time and knowledge, always an amazing supporter of The Falls Creek Museum and Falls Creek Village.george shirling, ski instruction manual, ski technique