THE passion and commitment of the Victorian High Country Huts Association (VHCHA) was evident last weekend at an event to mark its 20th anniversary and the unsung heroes that volunteer endless hours to preserve and maintain our iconic huts.
VHCHA president Andy McGregor regarded the event at the Mansfield Showgrounds on Saturday as a huge success and said the committee was proud of its work to make it happen.
Committee member and one of several organisers, Shez Telford, said it was a team effort and thanked everyone who came along to support the association’s work.
This work also entails strong relationships with the Department of Energy, Environment & Climate Action (DEECA) and Parks Victoria, developed over several years.
DEECA Secretary John Bradley spoke about “crown responsibility” and how the department had cooperated with the association to preserve these “incredible huts”.
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Bushfires are a real threat to the huts, and where rebuilds are necessary, Mr Bradley said volunteers used appropriate materials and were able to make them more fire resistant.
Parks Victoria representatives Shael Martin, acting regional director eastern region, Ross Grant, area chief ranger (Western Alps) and Talia Holloway–Roden, volunteer coordinator, were among the guests for the birthday celebrations.
Mr Grant said, “The dollar value of the hut association over 20 years would be in be in the millions if funded by the public purse.”
Part of a Parks Victoria MoU discussed with the VHCHA, he said, was to “get on board and recognise the value of the huts” to not only cattlemen but also recreational users.
“Our role as custodians is to ensure access to huts for all times,” said Mr Grant.
He described the VHCHA volunteers as the “enablers” allowing huts to be protected and preserved.
The Member for Indi, Dr Helen Haines, was unable to attend due to another commitment but sent a message of congratulations, which VHCHA secretary Tim Davies read out.
“This fine celebration marks an impressive milestone – 20 years of a dedication and commitment to rebuilding, maintaining and restoring an iconic part of our history,” Dr Haines said.
“It is a testament to the special historical value and emotional connection these buildings hold in our community.”
Dr Haines added, “And it is more than that – these incredible huts serve as a place of gathering and storytelling and critically they provide safety and refuge for countless numbers of people who come to explore our magnificent alpine area.”
“It was a privilege for me to recently stand in the House of Representatives to speak about the 20th anniversary of the Victorian High Country Huts Association and record into Hansard for perpetuity your incredible work,” she said.
She thanked the association for their contribution to our region and Australia.
The event was an opportunity to see firsthand the work being done by volunteers and talk to those involved with the association.
There were talks by various members who shared stories about the beginnings of the association and all the work done back then.
An impressive photographic display contributed by Charlie Brown was a record of huts across the alps and their history.
Traditional hand tools and methods used to rebuild or restore existing huts authentically were demonstrated by craftsmen Jimmy Findlay from Cheshunt, Andy Hooke from Indigo Valley and Mansfield’s Doug Tarrant, who gave up their time to showcase the skills used in many of the huts’ preservation works.
Mr Findlay, a builder passionate about the legacy of the huts, said it was about interpreting construction and tooling methods used in existing huts and replicating those techniques.
Visitors could sign up on the day as association members and buy merchandise to support the ongoing work of the VHCHA for hopefully another 20 years.
Anyone interested in this vital work can visit the association’s website: https://hutsvictoria.org.au/
