Historical information

This lapel pin originates from the Birkebeiner Lodge in Norway. The cross country ski race which originated there in 1932 was the inspiration for the annual Kangaroo Hoppet Race held in Falls Creek, Victoria. The Kangaroo Hoppet is Australia's premier long distance cross country ski race, and a member of the prestigious Worldloppet series of international cross country ski events. The first race at Falls Creek was held in 1979 under the name of “Australian Birkebeiner”. The course started and finished at the alpine ski village of Falls Creek, and took participants out into the wilderness area of the Bogong High Plains. Later, 42km became the main distance and after a few name changes, the name of Kangaroo Hoppet was adopted in 1990.

The lapel pin was owned and donated by Diana Patterson who was a talented cross country skier.
She 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 belonged to a highly recognised Australian and founding member of the Falls Creek Historical Society.

Physical description

A small gold lapel pin from the Birkebeiner Lodge in the form of a Nordic skier with the name beneath it.