In the late 1950’s, Chris Brangwin and Peter Salter, both still at University, dreamed of starting a ski club and building a lodge at Perisher Valley. So, too, did another two students, Tony Kevin and Dave Golovsky. Chris and Tony met on board a ship sailing for Ceylon and England, and the four of them subsequently pooled their plans and ideas, which initially were pretty naïve. Tony and David had already applied for a site at Perisher Valley; together they would buy an old Snowy Mountains Authority hut and move it to the site. National Parks soon squashed that idea but not their enthusiasm and determination. A newly graduated architect, John James, and his partner RossYunken and a young lawyer, Tony Perry, were offered honorary memberships in the yet to be established ski club, the correct procedures were followed, and registration as a Co-operative Society was achieved. Numerous meetings at Sydney University resulted in a core of prospective members all prepared to pay £120, but as most were students there was little capital available. Hard promotional talking persuaded the Bank of New South Wales to agree to a loan on the pledge of all future members opening accounts. The Bank also loved the free advertising they were promised with a cartoon on every booking slip stating “You can bank on a plank like the Wales!” A group of apprehensive parents became guarantors and the money was made available.
The original name was to be “Blue Cow”, but it was felt an aboriginal name would be more appropriate. Tony’s suggestion, Munjarra, meaning “morning and evening star”, was chosen. Ziggi Tietz, a Berridale builder newly arrived from Europe, was appointed builder, and with labour supplied by many of the students in numerous work parties the club was quickly built. Several students, such as Don Wills, had had building experience previously. The Club opened for the 1960 season. It was very spartan in those days, with two bunks in each room, the rooms being separated by flimsy partitions, which stopped about a metre beneath the ceilings in order to provide the required air space. Not much in the way of privacy!
Munjarra became famous in the Valley for its parties, so much so that one of the legendary Warren Miller ski movies contained an après-ski scene filmed in the lodge. During the ski season the Club enthusiastically participated in the Perisher Cup, a competition held annually amongst all the clubs in the Valley, with points for downhill, cross-country and jumping. Munjarra even had its own ski races each year with skiers vying for the Munjarra Pot and Potette. The social life of the Club was extremely active, with balls, cocktail parties and wine bottlings raising money and creating cohesion. The Club was so successful that after five years the loan was paid off, and the apprehension of the parent guarantors turned to congratulations.
As the Club was a Co-operative it could not make a profit, so Pete Salter, the Club’s Chairman at the time, decided to use the money that was accruing to build a second lodge at Thredbo. He and Jimmy Hodge designed a building of Lockwood Construction, the company where they worked, but the original site granted at Thredbo was deemed unsafe because of the poor drainage from a creek flowing through it, and the present alternative site was granted. Another original member, architect David Epstein, eventually designed the building, still using Lockwood Construction, and the membership was increased to 200 to allow an influx of funds.
Since then the Lodge at Thredbo has been renovated, as has Perisher yet again following the fire in 2004. At one time the Board considered buying a small condominium at Aspen – Munjarra Aspen. Negotiations were well advanced when the Board was advised that the Board of Fire Commission had created new building codes and so the Club’s funds had to be directed to complying with those. Huge increases in payments for fire safety, leases and rates have meant the capital availability of the ‘70’s no longer exists. The Club, however, continues to thrive and looks forward to the input of fresh ideas from new members that will continue to take the Club forward.
