Even though there is snow on the ground at Mt Mawson as I write this (on 24 October) it is time to farewell Season 2013, and look forward to next winter’s activities at Southern Tasmania’s only downhill skifield.

Snow cover was variable this winter, but we did manage to get in a month of ski tow operation. Julian Oakes and his team from Mt Mawson Ski Club scored the busiest weekend, but as is always the way at Mt Mawson our volunteers all chipped in to help get everything operating smoothly – even when it wasn’t their rostered duty weekend.

I would like to say a big thanks to everyone who assisted at Mt Mawson during the year, with particular recognition of Bishwa Oakes who got our great new website up and running, and Ian Stewart for his clever work on our two snow cams. Ski Patrol were great supporters as always, with Andrew Davey, Liz Koolhof and their fellow patrollers always being on site to provide first aid assistance if needed. I would also like to thank the dedicated STSA Committee, who not only helped with administration, but formed the core of the tow operation crews and working bee volunteers:

Julian Oakes,  Ambrose Canning, George Brettingham-Moore, Antal Hanke,  Kay Sigrist, Liz Koolhof, Fred Koolhof, Adrian Brettingham-Moore and Tony Oakes.

I would also like to acknowledge the great support we received from Parks and Wildlife staff during the season, particularly  Ranger-in-Charge Mt Field/ SouthWest Brendan Moodie and his team, and the General Manager PWS Peter Mooney. The removal of the old Sitzmark Lodge, and the grooming of the bottom of the Mt Mawson slope sets the scene for further improvements at Mt Mawson over this Summer.

The first of these will be the repair of existing snow fences and the addition of some new panels to assist in snow retention on the new flatter section at the bottom of the Mawson slope. The first working bee to undertake this task is scheduled for 23-24 November- come along and be involved.

Cheers

Peter Davis

President Southern Tasmanian Ski Association 2013