Falls Creek Historical Society
Letter - Reminder - Only Approved Ski School May Conduct Tuition In Skiing, 01.06.1961
... Ski tuition regulations... Hymans Falls Creek Tourist Area Management Committee Ski tuition ...
Bob (Herman) Hymans (a former member of the Royal Netherlands Navy) was born in Bloemendaal, Holland on 30th September 1922. During World War II he fought against the Japanese in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) and was imprisoned in Changi and on the Burma Railway.
After gaining qualifications as a Ski Instructor, Bob arrived in Falls Creek in July 1950. Working as an Instructor and Supervisor at Bogong Lodge, Bob decided his future was in accommodation. He was successful in negotiating an indenture for land from the State Electricity Commission (SEC). It took Bob two years to build his Grand Coeur Chalet but, tragically, it was burned down in August 1961.
Bob also built the first Chairlift in Australia. This was a single chairlift and the structure was built from wooden electricity poles. He was constantly full of new ideas and proposals for the village. Bob Hymans die on 7th July 2007.
This Collection of documents and letters tells the story of Bob's endeavours to develop Falls Creek into the ski village it is today.This letter is significant because it reflects the relationship between Bob Hymans and the Management Committee.A letter from the Management Committee regarding a notice in a Melbourne paper from the Victorian Tourist Bureau. This notice advertised a Queen's Birthday weekend tour to Falls Creek staying at Hymans' Grand Coeur Chalet. It referred to tuition and ski hire being available at a cost. The Committee of Management reminded Mr Hymans that regulations recently released stated that only the approved ski school could conduct tuition for season 1961. A copy of the letter was also being forwarded to the Victorian Tourism Bureau.bob hymans, falls creek tourist area management committee, ski tuition regulations