Committee Meeting Mt Buller Feb 2007

The Buller fires of January 2007 came perilously close to burning down our gorgeous mountain. That would have probably meant limited skiing this season as it would have not just knocked out the lift system, but also made for very dangerous tree skiing!!!

Anyway, thanks to Paul Austin and Peter and Jenny Geels for these pics which were captured during a Committee meeting held at the Lodge second weekend in February to assess things, and also whipper snipper and prune around the Lodge, at which time the Committee also attended an all-in barbecue to thank all the fire-fighters and other mountain staff for their awesome effort in saving our Lodge, and all the others of course.

Our president, Robyn Cracknell, presented a cheque for $3000 on behalf of all 30 Lodge members to the fire-fighters as a small token for putting their lives on the line and ensuring that we can again ski-in and ski-out of Buller’s best lodge!

	Taken by Paul from the Summit and looking into Howqua and up to Kofflers T-bar. Note Boomerang and Chute were burnt out!
	The faithful Committee journeyed all the way up to the mountain to see for themselves, and also plan future fire-protection needs in conjunction with the Mansfield fire Service, as well as checking out the new heating system and much more. Now that’s a committee!!

	You can see just how close the fire got to us. Taken from the Lodge window by Paul, the brown stuff is where it got to!! Another puff of wind and up she would have shot.
	From Jenny's camera, out the Lodge window again. Little Buller was burnt out (except for what appears to be a couple of tiny green patches), and just check out Sun Valley right in front and Womens Down Hill and beyond. Burnt out!
	Sun Valley. Whew!
	Peter and Jenny outside the gnomes tree half way up the mountain. The fire actually scarred this sacred of sacred of gnome sanctuary. Scary stuff. But, like all committed firemen, they have priorities and they put their lives on the line to save a Buller institution. Lots and lots of kids coming up the mountain are going to be very, very happy about that. Thank you fire fighters. Our favourite gnomes will live to see another day!
	Peter scrambles up the mountain after spotting one of the gnomes and rescuing him from an inglorious fate. Nice job mate!

More Bush fire pictures