Historical information

This medal commemorates performance in the Australian Cross Country Ski Championships and was awarded to Diana Patterson.
Diana Patterson was born in Tasmania and originally pursued a career as a physical education teacher. After making a major career change, she applied to join the Australian Antarctic Division. She applied four times before she was accepted. Diana first travelled to the Antarctic in October 1987. By this time only ten Australian women had spent a winter there. She first worked at Casey Station, before becoming leader at Mawson Station therein becoming the first female leader of an Antarctic base of any nation. After retiring Diana guided tourist expeditions to the Antarctic for many years, as well as continuing work in research and conservation.
In 2012 she published her story “The Ice Beneath My Feet: My Year In Antarctica”. Diana Patterson was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for "service to conservation and the environment”.
As well as these outstanding career achievements, Diana has been a Board Member of both the Mt. Buller Alpine Resort Management Board, including a period as Chairman, and also the Falls Creek Resort Management Board.
She was also a founding member of Falls Creek Historical Society.

Significance

This medal recognises the performance of a highly recognised member of the Falls Creek community.

Physical description

Hexagon shaped medal with a skier and Nordic figure on the front and snowflake design on the reverse side.

Inscriptions & markings

Below image: AUSTRALIAN SKI FEDERATION