On behalf of the Mt Hotham Resort Management Board, we would like to wish you, your family and your team a Merry Christmas and Happy & Safe New Year. We look forward to a wonderful 2017. Jon Hutchins, CEO What's On at Mt Hotham this holiday seasonHOTHAM 365 is open over the Summer period by appointment only. The venue offers an all-season downhill gravity experience, indoor ski/snowboard slope. Learn to ski and snowboard in a safe and controlled environment. For bookings call (03) 5459 3550 FREE guided bushwalking tours will be running Tuesday 27 December at the Mt Hotham Village Square at 9.30am, Monday 2 December at The General Store at 9.30am & Sunday 22 January at The General Store at 9.30am. Learn how the golden era eventually transformed the region from wilderness to the resort we know today. The General Mt Hotham - Closed Saturday 24th Dec at 5pm reopens Boxing Day at 4pm. OPEN from 9am to late everyday and serving lunch and dinner. Blizzard Brewing Co is open Thursday 22 December 5pm – 8pm, Friday 23 December 2pm - 8pm, Saturday 24 December 2pm – 8pm, closed Christmas Day, Monday 26 – Thursday 29 December 2pm -6pm. The brewery offers a range of locally brewed craft beer and cider brewed from the snow-melt, right here in the Victorian Alps. Dinner Plain Tube Park is open on Friday 30 December – Monday 2 January 2pm - 5pm. The tube park is a fun, easy and safe hill slide for children aged 5 years and older. Prices: $15pp afternoon tubing session or $45 family afternoon pass (2 adults 2 children). Tickets are available from the Tube Park ticket office located in Dinner Plain. Cash only please. Onsen Retreat & Spa is open over the Summer period from 11am - 7pm, commencing Wednesday 28 December – Thursday 26 January. The Spa offers massage, skin care and body treatments. The indoor and outdoor Alpine Spa Retreat also features a Japanese Inspired outdoor Onsen and an indoor heated pool. Bookings are essential and can be made via online bookings or contact (03) 5150 8880. Maybe Hair Design is open over the Christmas period by appointment only. For bookings contact Adele on Hotel High Plains ‘Cobungra Bar’ and ‘Stones Throw Restaurant’ will be closed from Wednesday 21 December – Monday 26 December and will reopen on Tuesday 27 December at 4pm. For enquiries about accommodation contact Fiona on 0407 082 642. Dinner Plain Hotel is open 7 days, starting Monday 26 December for two weeks from 11am – 1am. For further detail contact (03) 5159 6462. Mountain Kitchen is open Saturday 24 December 9am – 2pm, closed Christmas Day & Boxing Day, reopens from Tuesday 27 December 10am – 3pm, Wednesday 28 December 10am – 4pm, Thursday 29 & Friday 30 December 9am – 4pm, Saturday 31 December 9am – 3pm, Sunday 1 January 10am – 3pm. Returning to normal opening hours from Monday 2 January 9am – 4pm. For further enquiries contact (03) 5159 6560. “I want to see Hotham’s vison and authentic belief come to life"Board Member FarwellMount Hotham Alpine Resort Management Board member Stephen Clement has announced his resignation and will be finishing up with Mount Hotham Alpine Resort Management Board (MHARMB) on 15 January 2017. Stephen will be starting his new project overseas in February, which involves working on the creation of a new suburb in the heart of Dubai with Majid Al Futtaim. Stephen has been an integral part of the Board’s work and progress since October 2014 and we wish him all the best for his future endeavours in Dubai. During his time as Board member, Stephen has been a core leader in identifying and developing the Mt Hotham Development Growth Plan which focuses on the strategies above the ground to create Mt Hotham as a destination and key anchor on the Great Alpine Road. When Stephen joined the Board in 2014, he was impressed with the work achieved on underground infrastructure and was eager to play a key role in prioritising infrastructure above the ground, while focusing on improving visitation numbers. He has also played an active role in the Marketing and Development Sub Committee and is currently Chair on the Consultative Forum with representatives from the Alpine Shire, Mount Hotham Ski Association (HSA), Mount Hotham Chamber of Commerce, Mount Hotham Skiing Company (MHSC) and Tourism North East (TNE). These two sub committees have been pillars to the growth of Mt Hotham and the future vision of the Alpine Resort. Mr Clement said that he was proud of MHARMB for embracing the process of creating the growth strategy and believes that it is partly due to its good governance and involvement of its stakeholders in achieving the outcome. “Through the involvement of the RMB, the Consultative Forum and input of stakeholders, it has been a genuine uptake of co-creation where everyone has got involved and had buy-in with that strategy,” Mr Clement said. “The RMB has really good governance and structure which means you can be creative and you can go with the growth – we have also had great feedback from our stakeholders.” “I want to see Hotham’s vision and authentic belief come to life and that Mt Hotham does come to be the amazing alpine experience that we have identified in the growth plan,” he said. Stephen wishes all the best for the continuing future progress of Mt Hotham and is grateful for the opportunity to have worked with a good team of people. “Thanks to everyone and especially the Board, it has been a sensational company to work with and particularly, Jon, who came in as CEO when I joined. He has done an absolutely brilliant job with the management team and all the stakeholders of Hotham - I’ll be keeping in touch.” Rare Alpine Marsh Marigold flowers found base of summitHotham staff participating in the annual "Clean Up Hotham" day earlier this month found a patch of the rare Caltha introloba or Alpine Marsh Marigold still in flower so late in the season, not far from the base of the Summit Chairlift load station and took the attached photos. Alpine plants are used to living in conditions that could be described as hostile, but this beautiful little flower puts even many other alpine plants to shame. What is it?The Alpine Marsh-marigold is a type of Buttercup. Like most alpine flowers, it grows slowly, and needs two years to develop flowers and produce seed. So when spring comes, it has no time to lose. If the spring thaw is a bit later than usual, this flower just gets on with the job and opens its petals while still under the snow. It doesn’t wait for summer like most other alpine plants do. What makes it special?Alpine Marsh-marigold is one of only a handful of alpine plants that can comfortably exist in exposed, rocky areas that are constantly subject to running water, severe frost and snow. Together, these few hardiest plants form the Caltha introloba Herbland Community, a rare vegetation community protected under Victoria’s Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act. How rare is it?The Caltha introloba Herbland Community is one of Victoria’s rarest vegetation types. Recent work earlier in 2016 by Dr Arn Tolsma from the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research (ARI), and Dr Henrik Wahren from La Trobe University’s Research Centre for Applied Alpine Ecology, found that the total area covered in Victoria by this special community is less than 2 ha, most of it on the Bogong High Plains. TransportAlps Link Bus Service is operating between Omeo and Bright on Monday, Wednesday & Fridays. Departs Omeo (at Courthouse) at 8am and then leaves from Bright (at Transit) for its return journey at 1.15pm |