Bendigo Advertiser "The way we were" from Saturday, June 12, 2004. Youngsters: Eaglehawk High School's form 2B from 1966. Back row: Ray Thomason, David Neale, Bruce Taylor, Eric Pascoe, Peter Mitchell, Michael Summers, Geoff Sang, Tony Lobb. Second row: John Payne, Bill Miller, Robert Lougoon, Russell Johnson, Murray Rankin, Robert Landgren, Garry Neate, John Steele. Third row: Jenny Lewis, Barbara Turner, Les Palmer, Rodney McCurdy, Bruce Meager, Jim Weymouth, RonStrauch, David Wright, Susan Oswald, Karen McMillin. Front row: Helen Lamaro, Carol Yates, Linda Williams, Sherrie Smith, Marcia Makepeace,Daphne Oates, Anne Zimmer, Jan Thomas, Leslie Nowell, Ruth Norris, Lynette Reed.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

This item is from the private collection of George Shirling of Red Onion, Falls Creek. It is an early advertisement for rooms at the "Galleon" Ski Club. The "Galleon" was originally owned by Jim Willis. In 1958 Julian Brown took over the lease, managing it whilst building Arundel Lodge. After the winter of 1959, the "Galleon" was bought by Tom Greene and renamed Cooroona. 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 was an important feature of the Falls Creek Ski School Instructor uniform.A beige coloured flyer advertising room at the "Galleon" in Falls Creek. An explanatory sign is attached.On sign" ITEM No. 147 1958 Julian Brown, manager of the "Galleon", offer you rooms that are "never stuffy" and you can have "as many blankets as you like". This was Julian's first job at Falls Creek.george shirling, red onion, ski instructor badge, falls creek ski instructor