Falls Creek Historical Society
Photograph - Alex Warrender - Ski Patrol
... Alex Warrender - Ski Patrol...Alex Warrender - Ski Patrol...Alex Warrender...A colour photo of Alex Warrender Ski Patroller at Falls... Patrollers whose memory is still honoured today. Alex Warrender Falls ...
Alexander Warrender was born in Melbourne and educated at Melbourne Grammar and Geelong Grammar School. He began skiing at an early age and spent many winters at Falls Creek.
After leaving school in 1973, Alex decided to live at Falls Creek and went on to join the Falls Creek Ski Patrol. He was quickly promoted to second in charge of the Patrol aged 20 and was one of the first fulltime paid patrollers on the mountain.
Alex also played in the band at the Frying Pan in the Bowl. Tragically he died in a car accident on the Oxley Road leaving the mountain on 23rd of August 1976.
His funeral was a St John’s church in Toorak, and ashes were scattered on The Summit in a ski formation of the letter A by his young brother Simon and members of the Patrol.
After Alex’s death, a small hut was constructed at the top of the Summit in 1980 which houses first-aid equipment used by Ski Patrol where a plaque was placed by Ski Patrol. Each year since Alex’s death, at 5pm on the 23rd of August, Falls Creek Ski Patrol gathers at this hut along with members of the Falls Creek community to remember Alex and other patrollers no longer here. This annual event is referred to as the Warrender Night, and celebrates the spirit of the Ski Patrol.
Members of the Ski Patrol also raised funds and materials to build The Alexander Warrender Memorial Ski Patrol Base located on the ridge to the left at the top of Eagle Chair. It was officially opened by Alex’s mother Pamela on August 23rd 1990.This image is significant because they capture the image of one of Falls Creek's First Official Ski Patrollers whose memory is still honoured today.A colour photo of Alex Warrender Ski Patroller at Falls Creek and a framed photo of a group of Ski Patrollers and friends who attended Warrender Night in 2008Beneath framed image:
Ski Patrol Evening 23 August 2008 - Summit Hut - Falls Creek
Thank you from The Warrnedersalex warrender, falls creek ski patrol