100 years of skiing on Mt Buller means there have been decades of amazing people working across the mountain to make it the top winter destination it is.
From the Blue and Orange lift companies to what has now become Buller Ski Lifts (BSL), it’s the people that have certainly made the place.
To celebrate this century milestone, BSL invited all staff from across the decades to join in a reunion day across three different July and August dates.
With a complimentary lift pass to reacquaint themselves with the mountain they once worked on, everyone then headed to Moosehead for a celebratory catch-up and après in the afternoon.
For ski instructors Darren Hudson, Andre Costal and Leigh Delahoy, their favourite memories at Mt Buller are the nights spent at Grimus Pension in Herbie’s Bar or Kaptan’s Restaurant, where they were always looked after by the Grimus family.
They remember always having the best time there with the locals from around the mountain.
Bronte McCoy’s favourite moments of working at Mt Buller are all made up of the amazing friends and co-workers that have become family, and the fun and friendly banter that happens on the job every day.
Her favourite memory is the time she announced on the work radio “Matej is a loser” forgetting everyone could hear her on the radio.
Luckily, Matej Sabol didn’t take it to heart and they remain fast friends.
Karen Hoinville worked at Buller for 11 seasons between 1976 and 1986.
Her first five seasons were with Orange lift company, and the last six years she worked for Koflers, Arlberg and the Mt Buller Store.
For the years she’s worked for Orange, she ran Shakey Knees ticket office where it would get really busy as it was open seven days a week until 4pm.
She would close the ticket office for lunch on the weekend.
Hans Grimus used to send his dog, Kaptan, to keep her company on busy days.
Her favourite run was Dam Run.
Peter Kendall worked on the Tirol T-bar lift in 1981 which was one of Australia’s biggest snow fall seasons on record.
He also wired the current ski patrol base during the mid-1980s and dug footings for Horse Hill chair lift by hand.
Justin Carmody worked in lift operations maintenance.
His favourite memory was years ago on one of the wild wind hold days, Nigel took his bedsheets, tied it on poles at Tirol and it was just flapping in the wind.
Very funny moment for Justin (but we don't recommend anyone try it again).
Nigel Buchanan’s favourite memory is when he played a practical joke on somebody, they took their revenge on him by packing up all his belongings (bed, clothes, ski gear, tv/VHS – the whole room) and set up his bedroom in the old Lift Operations sign-on shack.
He slept in there for two nights and joined all mornings meetings from bed each day.
Thank you to everyone that joined in the celebrations on the mountain to share great memories and reconnect with Mt Buller today.
Mt Buller is built on all the people who have come before and is able to continue into the future with thanks to all who are here working now.
