Australian Skiing History

Kiandra Snow Shoe Club - The first and oldest snow ski club.
- QUESTIONS AND DEBATE WELCOME -

Prominent members.

Members from 1859/1860 and shortly after included :-

Elias Gottaas, Norwegian whale boat ships carpenter, first Australian ski maker. (Arrived on non whaler, "Thames" 1859).
Søren Gregoriussen Torp, Norwegian whaler.
Carl Bjerknes, Norwegian whaler, referred to in the poem “The Demon Snow Shoes” by Barcroft Boake, as Carl the Dane.
Tom Yan, Chinese labourer from the Fukien mountains, China.
Catherine Wortz, Bavarian Alps, Germany.
James Pattinson’s family, Weardale, mountain district, Northern England.
Martin Amundsen, Norwegian ski maker. Cousin to Roald Amundsen, Antactic fame.
Henry Ball, grazier in the district since 1851.
John Maximus Lett, Magistrate, store keeper and miner.
Henry Harris, butcher and store keeper.
Charles H. Doran, miner. Cecil Hetherington, miner. William Burgess, miner. William Hughes, miner. William Bourke, miner. Alexander Brownlie, miner.

Before and just after the turn of the century, the membership list is rather astonishing.

1894. Mr. Charles Kerry first visited Kiandra. Quote:- "I first made the acquaintance of Kiandra in the gay "nineties" in connection with mining enterprises”,
1896. Mr. Charles Kerry returned Kiandra on a photographic tour.
1897. Mr. Charles Kerry assisted by Kiandra club members and others, made the first winter climb on Australia's highest mountain. (This historic photo excursion is often reported as being in 1887 and 1896).
1897. Mr. Charles Kerry, elected Vice President.
1898. Club Patron, Mr. Gustav Thomas Carlsile Miller, MLA Monaro.
1898. Vice Presidents, Mr. C.A. Falstadt, Consul General, Norway and Sweden. - Mr. Charles Kerry.
1899. Patron, 7th Lord Earl Beauchamp KCMG. (William Lygon) Governor NSW.
1899. Vice Presidents and competitive skiers, Sir William Lyne, Premier NSW.
1899. Mr. Andrew Barton (Banjo) Paterson, poet and war correspondent.
1908. Mr. R. Paterson, second to American, C. Menger. The first Inter-national/Inter-continental ski carnival. Earl Prince, England third.

Members also included Mr. E. S. Marks, Mr. J. L. Fegan, MLA, Mr. William Hetherington, and Mr. George Irwin, Kiandra school teacher.

Prominent skiing members since the 1920's.

Mr. George Doran, Australian Ski Jump Champion 1923, 1927, 1929, 1932, 1937, Australian Downhill Champion 1937 and 1938.
Mr. Jim Pattinson, Triple Australian ski champion.
Mr. Kurt Lance, Winner numerous ski championships, Manager of Olympic Teams, FIS Delegation and FIS Course Inspector.
Mr. Bill Day, Olympian, competed Oslo 1952, Cortina, Italy 1956, Squaw Valley, California 1960, selected for Innsbruck 1964.
Mr. Paul Reader, National Ski Jump champion 1956.
Mr. Antony Mandlik, selected for 1984 Sarajevo Olympics.
Mr. Jason Onley, Triple Aust. Snowboard Champion, world ranking 3rd. 1997.
Mr. Colin Myers, Mt. Selwyn Ski Fields, founder and owner.
Mr. Frank (Paddy) Pallin, arguably Australia’s most loved skiing personality.
Mr. Pat Lee MP, Antarctic Club of Australia.
Mr. John Crouch, 1949 winner Australian Motor Grand Prix.

The commercial operation known as “The Kiandra Snowshoe Club Inc.” with "Snow Shoe" spelt as one word and Registered in NSW 1992 number Y16053-39, has no affiliation with the original "Kiandra Snow Shoe Club" / "Kiandra Pioneer Ski Club (1861)". __________________ Claims that any other ski club originated from the Kiandra Snow Shoe Club / Kiandra Ski Club, are not valid. No claim is made that the first ski races or competitions were conducted at Kiandra.

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LINK TO.

"Australian Alpine Skiing - Early History"