This item is from the private collection of George Shirling of Red Onion, Falls Creek. Ernest Forras came first to Falls Creek but settled at Mt Buller and established Kooroora Chalet. It was built on the site of Cow Camp Hut in 1954. The Chalet was destroyed by fire in 1961 and rebuilt in 1965. After the rebuild, they installed a large generator and sold electricity to their neighbours. Kooroora gained a reputation as the party place of Mt Buller. It was purchased by Richard Paine in 1994. Ernest Forras died at Mt Buller on Sunday 31st October 2010. At the end of the 2018 winter season, the Kooroora Chalet underwent a major refurbishment. 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 photo is significant because it features Ernest Forras who originally came to Falls Creek but settled at Mt Buller and established Kooroora Chalet. A colour photo of Ernest Forras and the truck from Kooroora Chalet On side of truck: Kooroora Chalet Mount Buller with E. Forras & Staffgeorge shirling, ernest forras, kooroora chalet mt buller

Judith (Judy) Forras and Christine Smith both represented Australia at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck. Judy was a National Ice-Skating champion before becoming an Olympic Alpine Skier. She had already won the Victorian skating title she met her future husband Ernest Forras, owner of the Kooroora Chalet and ski instructor at Mt. Buller. After having four children, Judy came back to skiing, winning every major State and National Title in all three disciplines, Slalom, Downhill and Giant Slalom, therefore gaining automatic selection to the Olympic team for Innsbruck in 1964. The only other Australian woman selected to that team was Christine Smith. She was born in Cooma NSW, Christine learned to ski at an early age. She won the 1961 NSW Junior Champion title before being selected in the Australian Team to ski against New Zealand. Christine gained selection for the 1962 St. Moritz Commonwealth Winter Games. In the 1964 Innsbruck Olympic Winter Games she placed 27th in the Downhill and 28th in the Slalom. Before departing for Innsbruck, members of the team including Ross Milne, completed some of their training at Falls Creek, Victoria where this photograph was taken.This image is significant because it represents two women who were pioneers in the Winter Olympic movement in Australia.A black and white image showing two female skiers, representatives of the Australian Winter Olympic team of 1964.winter olympics innsbruck, judy forras, christine smith

Julian Newton-Brown arrived at Falls Creek in 1957. He had studied Pharmacy at Melbourne University. After developing a love for the mountains, Julian moved to Mt. Beauty and then Falls Creek. He worked for the SEC in the test laboratory at Rocky Valley reading weather instruments. By working several jobs, Julian was able to build a small lodge of 10 beds named “Arundel”, located at 18 Slalom Street, Falls Creek. The lodge is now the “Elk at Falls”. Arundel prospered and Julian extended it to include 32 beds and changed its name to "Julian’s” in 1961. When alcohol restrictions were eased in Falls Creek, Julian built a night club which he called “Big Julian’s” and later “THE MAN”. When Julian and his wife Beth retired and left Falls Creek, their son took over running the lodge. An active community man, Julian was a member of the Falls Creek Chamber of Commerce, a member of the SES, a stakeholder in Falls Creek, an author and a documentary maker. Julian Newton-Brown died in May 2020. Ernest Forras built Kooroora Chalet at Mount Buller with his brother, Aurel in 1953. They were both ski instructors and contributed greatly to the development of the ski industry.This item is significant because it gives details of an important lodge at Falls Creek, Victoria.A colour photograph of four friends inside Julian's Lodge, Falls Creekjulian's lodge, julian newton brown, falls creek ski lodges, earnest forrer

This item is from the private collection of George Shirling of Red Onion, Falls Creek. It accompanied a copy of Ernest Forras' autobiography "Earnest Escapades" given to George Shirling - two pioneers of the Australian Ski Industry. Ernest Forras died on Sunday 31st October 2010 at Mt Buller. 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 links two pioneers of the Australian Ski Industry.A message from Ernest Forras to George Shirling in a wooden frame. An explanatory sign explains Ernie Forras' background. The autograph says: "To My dear Friend George Koki's Creator From Hungary with Love!! Ernie F." ITEM No.4 Ernest Forras "Earnest Escapades" The autobiography of a pioneer of the Australian snowfields First published in 1994. Ernest, later the owner of Kooroora, Mt. Buller on his first visit to Falls Creek in June 1951 writes about the lodges at Falls Creek... Albury, Bogong, St. Arnauds, Wangaratta, Skyline (Ski Club of Victoria), and Myrtleford ski club, St. Elmo's hut, Bob Hyman's small chalet, and Tom Mitchell's (then, State Attorney General) private hut. When learning that the State Electricity Commission controlled Falls Creek in the early days, Ernest wondered why the Egg Board and the Potato Board had missed out! Ernest acknowledged the impressive development in the Australian snowfields but remained concerned about a "head in the snow" attitude which argued against privatisation of our snowfields, park entry fees, and the compulsory carrying of snow chains. Is anybody listening?george shirling, ernest forras, "earnest escapades"

This book contains 190 pages including illustrations and photographs. The front cover features a photograph of Ernest Forras. It is subtitled "Earnest escapades, or, Seriously for fun only"non-fictionErnest Forras was a pioneer of the ski industry in Victoria. This autobiography traces his time as a young officer in the Hungarian army during the Second World War. It follows his escape from Hungary and escapades in Europe. Ernest then tells the story of his journey to Australia with his brother Aurel. He reveals all the colour and excitement of pioneering the Australian snowfields which he helped to develop, including establishing Kooroora at Mt. Buller in 1953. Ernest Forras died at Mt Buller on Sunday 31st October 2010. victorian high country, "earnest escapades", ernest forras