Working Bee 2023

With the Road closure meaning nobody had been in the Lodge since the end of Ski Season 2022, this year's Working Bee was essential to get the Lodge looking spic n span for season 2023. 

As well as the usual cleaning of rooms, kitchen, windows, ski room, and the replensihment of our firewood supply, a new BBQ was installed and the Spa equipment also had a complete once-over. A huge thanks to Jess our Lodge Manager for keeping the crew fed!

The Lodge is now ready for another Winter season and if promising recent snow falls are anything to go by, who knows we might even see some runs open for Opening Weekend. Fingers crossed for another awesome Ski Season this year!

Here's a short collection of some happy snaps from the working bee weekend, see if you can spot anyone you know!

Last Updated: 18 July 2023 18 July 2023

End of special COVID provisions

Victoria's pandemic regulations have ended and the committee has also ended special Covid provisions at the Lodge. There are no mandatory requirements for members or guests who contract Covid or become close contacts. Special Covid cancellation provisions have also ended.

If you become ill while at the Lodge, please consider the well-being of your fellow guests and restrict your movements in common areas such as the kitchen and dining areas. Also consider wearing a mask if you are sick.

In Green Season the Lodge Managers are not always on the mountain, If you become seriously ill you will need to seek medical advice or call an ambulance.

In the unlikely even that pandemic regulations are reintroduced, the Club may need to alter Lodge operations again.

Last Updated: 14 June 2023 14 June 2023

Registering Family Members in the booking system

Family Members

Immediate family of members can be booked in from 8 March instead of waiting for 15 Match when guest bookings open. Until now you have needed to communicate with the booking officer, through phone or email or notes in your online booking. You can now arrange for your non-member spouse and children to be registered in the system so that they will be recognised and given the Family booking priority. Having family members registered in the system will also make it quicker to book them in future as their details are remembered. To register a family member, please email the secretary with

• Member nominating them as family
• Relationship to the member
• First Name
• Surname
• Preferred Name (optional)
• email address (optional, if not the same as the member's)
• Gender
• Date of Birth

When making bookings you can still use the notes field to tell the booking officer about intentions to add famiy and guests when their bookings open.

Last Updated: 14 June 2023 14 June 2023

Opening of Bookings 2023

It's almost time to book your winter stays. 

Despite some catastrophising in the media and socials, the landslide works are on schedule to have at least one lane open by March. We expect that there could be a traffic light control for a single lane over winter. This happens from time to time in other ski seasons and normally only causes moderate delays.

Members can now register their immediate family (spouse and children) in the booking system to make it easier to book them in, especially during the Family prioritry booking period from 8-14 March. See Registering Family Members in the booking system for more information.

There are no major changes in the booking system this year but here are some timely reminders of changes that have been made of the last few years

• The Eway secure online payment facility that is integrated with the online booking system the most secure way of paying for your bookings. Other payment methods are available but are not recommended
• The waitlisting and exclusive single occupancy trials continue unchanged
• Prompt payment for bookings is expected. The Booking Officer will cancel bookings not paid for in the appropriate time. This is within 7 days for normal bookings and 1 day for approved waitlist requests.
• Continental breakfasts will be provided on peak season Sundays, not cooked breakfasts 

The Ski Lodge Details tab in the booking system and the Book tab on the club website cover most of the information you to make a booking and prepare for your stay. The email that is sent 7 days prior to your stay has important information about your stay, including the door code. Please check these resources to see if they answer your questions before contacting the booking officer.

 

Last Updated: 14 June 2023 14 June 2023

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2022 Club Race

With no races in 2020 or 2021 due to COVID, it was such a relief to hold our Club Race on Saturday 6th August. Pity the weather didn't play its part, but at least the race went ahead!

Our Race Captain, John Cameron, worked hard with the Mountain staff to get a race course set on Father Fosters. The conditions were far from ideal due to the heavy rain that had fallen for three straight days prior to the race, and on the morning of the race we were greeted with 15cm of fresh snow when we looked out our window! The base of soft, wet snow with the top layer of fresh snow made for very challenging conditions to say the least! It was hard enough getting to the race course, let alone going down it! With such tough conditions, our congratulations go to everyone who entered, you all deserve a medal!

A special mention to our youngest competitor Reeve Rist, and also to Peter Howlett, our sole Snowboard entrant this year. Congratulations to you both! Many thanks also to Oscar Johnstone who was our invited course pre-runner who wasn't too shabby as you can see from the times below!

The winner and placegetters of their respective categories were as follows:

Juniors: 1) Ethan Howlett, 2) Jonathon Gerstner-Stevens, 3) Reeve Rist

Womens: 1) Mel Cameron, 2) Natasha Poon, 3) Jacinta Poon

Womens Masters: 1) Viv Wall, 2) Heidi Fry, 3) Kim Walker

Mens: 1) Ross Barker, 2) Harry Cowie, 3) Matthew Wall

Mens Masters: 2) Ross Barker, 2) Gerard Gerstner-Stevens, 3) John Cameron

Here are all the results and times:

After the race, the evening festivities kicked off, with a Commonwealth Games theme. It was great to see everyone in their best Comm's Games getup and a huge thank you to our wonderful Lodge Mangers Jess and Craig for putting on what was an amazing feast! Thanks guys!

Here are a selection of happy snaps of the day/night, we're all looking forward to doing it all again in 2023!!!

 

Last Updated: 14 June 2023 14 June 2023

AAC Falls Creek Committee Members - 2022

Following the 2022 AGM, your Club's Committee members for 2022 were elected as follows:

Chairperson - Justin Checcucci

Treasurer - Will Zacharin

Secretary & IT Support - Jenny Hughes

Assistant Secretary - Kim Walker (New Committee Member)

Lodge Supervisor - Tom Harrington

Assistant Lodge Supervisor - Hugh James (New Committee Member)

Booking Officer - Alan Long

Membership/Events Officer - Lynn Cameron

Communications Officer - Tony Jordan

Last Updated: 14 June 2023 14 June 2023

AAC Falls Creek 2022 AGM

On Tuesday May 17th, The 2022 Annual General Meeting was held both in person at the Royal Brighton Yacht Club and virtually via a secure Zoom online meeting. Thank you to those who were able to attend in person, it was great to see people face to face again, and thank you also to those who attended the online Zoom meeting.

Please find below the link to the meeting minutes.

AAC Falls Creek AGM 2022 Meeting Minutes

Last Updated: 14 June 2023 14 June 2023

Apple Safari users - Booking System issue

The booking system is a having some problems with the Safari browser. The full booking matrix page may not display properly, preventing you from making bookings with it. The devloper is aware of this and hopefully a fix is not too far away. In the meantime there are still ways that you can make bookings from Apple devices.

• Use the simple screen alternative, or
• Use a different browser, eg Chrome

The simple screen was developed as an easier option to use on phones and other small screens. The booking system may default to it anyway but you can click the phone icon to force it to use the simple screen. 

 

Last Updated: 14 June 2023 14 June 2023

Gone But Not Forgotten

The Club would like to recognise the passing of several members who were integral to AAC's establishment.

Bryan Linacre
1928 - 2022

Bryan was the founding board member and long serving chairman of the Australian Alpine Club Dinner Plain. Devoted husband of Peg (dec). Dearly loved father of Jan, Sandy and Andrea, and father-in-law to Gilles and Michael. Beloved Papa to Emilie, Camilla and Tom; Justin and James; Charlotte, Amelia and Phoebe; and their partners. Papa Bryan to Harley, Bastien, Isabelle, Lily, Penny, Sienna and Oliver. Loving partner of Barbara.

Recognised by everyone as a true Gentleman, Bryan’s vision, wisdom and dedication made the Lodge at Dinner Plain a reality.

Clive Brinsmead
1925 – 2021

Clive had a life-long love of skiing and the Australian alpine regions, starting when he was at university in the 1940’s when there were only rudimentary lift systems for skiers, and provisions had to be carried into many Australian resorts on horseback. Clive and his wife Elspeth joined the AAC in the 1970’s and were among the original members of the Club. He and his family stayed at the AAC for many winter skiing holidays and also spent time at Falls Creek during Easter and summer breaks for hiking and bushwalking.

Clive and Elspeth enjoyed the friendships they made through the AAC with families such as the Camerons, Marshalls and Pitts.

Clive is survived by Elspeth and his children John, Katrina, and Andrew who are all members of AAC.

Donald Cameron
1929 – 2022

Critical to the establishment of the AAC Falls Creek Lodge, Don was one of five people who provided a personal bank guarantee to shore up the funding which enabled the construction of the Lodge we now have at Falls Creek, which was built in 1970. At that same time, Don joined up his three children Lynne, John and Jenny to help with the funding, despite them having never skied.

Don passed his membership onto his granddaughter, Mel who remains a Member of AAC Falls Creek today.

 

Last Updated: 14 June 2023 14 June 2023

Amazing Opening Weekend!

It certainly was the greatest Season Opening ever. With almost a metre of snow on the ground and so much terrain open, you could have been excused for thinking it was late July or early August! The Mountain did a great job with grooming and opening up as much terrain as its staffing allowed, providing acres of pristine fresh runs for everyone to get their snow legs back into action. 

Unsurprisingly, with so much snow on the ground and a long weekend off work, we had pretty much all rooms taken up at the Lodge. It was great to see so many happy smiling faces at the Lodge, the atmosphere was super friendly and everyone had a great time. It was also great to see some of the younger Members and their Guests enjoying themselves, continuing on the tradition of their parents when they were younger!

Here are some photos of everyone enjoying their Saturday night at the Lodge!

Last Updated: 14 June 2023 14 June 2023