The Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club was formed in September 1977 in Mount Beauty Victoria when a small group of enthusiasts met at the home of Paul and Helen L’Huillier to discuss the idea. Some of them had skied in Norway and taken part in the Norwegian Birkebeiner Ski Race and thought that Birkebeiner would be a good name for their club.
Since 1977, it has conducted many activities and programs for its members and other cross-country skiers centred on the Falls Creek Ski Resort, Alpine National Park and the Bogong High Plains. The first 1991 International Kangaroo Hoppet Worldloppet Ski Race originated from the Australian Birkebeiner run originally by the Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club.
Club Brochure (1992) — From left: Brooke L’Huillier, Esther Bottomley & Naomi Bottomley
Our club name "Birkebeiner" originates from the 13th century in Norway and refers to a group of warriors who tied birch bark around their legs for warmth and protection, hence the name "birch leggers" or "birch bark leggers".The name was initially used as a derogatory term by their rivals, but the Birkebeiners embraced it, and it now symbolizes resilience and strength in the face of adversity.
The Birkebeiner story about the historical journey of the Birkebeiners who carried the young Haakon IV (pictured below) and the Birkebeiner name name have resonated beyond Norway, inspiring similar races and events, such as the American Birkebeiner and was why our club is named the Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club.
30th Anniversary – 2007
The club has held two anniversaries. In 1997 the 20th, and in 2007, the 30th. They both comprised displays, a dinner and presentations.
The 30th was a much bigger affair. A large memorabilia display was set up in the auditorium next to the Hoppet Office. This was available for members to view on Saturday afternoon. A dinner and presentation were held at the Mount Beauty Country Club in the evening. There was a club history quiz, life membership awards, a talk on the Search and Rescue group’s formation and history over its 25 years of existence, club Olympians were recognised on stage and anniversary T-shirts were sold. A great event.
Ronice Goebel, Club President at the 30th Anniversary.
More photos from the event are in the Files available for download.
Clubhouse History
The Birkebeiner Clubhouse project was first envisaged in early 1995 by the then-president Barb Lipscombe who worked tirelessly to make sure it happened.
From the spring of 1995 to June 1996 the Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club started to construct the club day facility above Windy Corner Falls Creek at a cost of $75,000.
It was constructed with mostly voluntary labour with funds coming from member loans, long-term memberships, specific fundraising activities, and funds acquired from conducting the Kangaroo Hoppet Ski Race since 1991. Jim Crebbin was the driving force in seeing this project through to completion, achieving this in only 8 months.
The Clubhouse was officially opened on Saturday 1 June 1996.
In 2015 the Clubhouse underwent renovations replacing all windows with double glazing and aluminium frames, and re-cladding the outside with Colorbond.
The26th Anniversary of the Opening of the Birkie Clubhouseon the 1st June 1996 is presented here as a youtube video.Note— It plays automatically and comprises slides (as a movie) and an embedded 10-minute video. It plays for 16-minutes.
Please find a detailed history of the clubhouse below in the files available for download section.
Race Hut History
The Race Hut was placed in the Nordic Bowl on 4 May 1989.
The hut was originally constructed as a reproduction Cattleman’s Hut, with material donated by Mount Beauty Timbers. The Shire of Bright used it as part of their exhibit at the Bicentennial Exhibition in Wodonga, after which its future seemed uncertain.
Mount Beauty Rotarian Jack Heberle, who also happens to have connections with cross-country skiing and the Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club, saw a use for the hut at Falls Creek as a much-needed Nordic Race Hut. The hut was eventually transported on 4th May 1989.
The hut had to have a new roof and other alterations completed before the winter. Several working bees later, the hut was ready for use this winter as a race hut and as a store for equipment used on race days.
It was named the Jack Heberle Race Hut at a ceremony attended by 40 people on 18 March 1995. Jack passed away suddenly in 1994 and the Club felt it fitting that his efforts in the development of skiing at Falls Creek over a long period be recognised.
1995 Club President Barbara Lipscombe naming the Jack Heberle Race Hut.
In 2005 the the hut was extended with a double storey building added and connected to the existing hut.
In 2010 the original building was painted in grey to match the new extension.
2010 Paint job complete
Please find a detailed Race Hut History below in the Files available for download section.
Bush Search & Rescue History
Bruce Vine had this to say on the 1982 formation of the Birkebeiner NSC Search & Rescue (S&R) Group.
"I recall receiving a telephone call from Mount Beauty Police in August 1981 advising that the Police S&R unit, together with the then FVWC S&R section, was en route to Mount Beauty as a report had been received of a body very near the summit of Mount Bogong. Police S&R were concerned that they did not have enough personnel to ascend Mt Bogong to bring the body down, and they asked if some local outdoor types may be able to assist.
I rang several BNSC members who I thought would be able to cope with the conditions, and from memory, a group of 6 BNSC members met the Melbourne contingent at Mount Beauty Police station. The snow was well down Eskdale Spur, and it was heavy going. On reaching Michelle Hut, it was decided that a group of 4 would leave most of their gear at the hut and dash for the summit (taking survival gear only), followed by the remainder of the group, all carrying full packs.
After a few problems in difficult visibility conditions, the small group found the body and started chipping it out of the snow. When the large group arrived, it was placed in a sled, and the slow and difficult task of sliding it down the icy slope without losing control was undertaken. Good progress was made, and the decision was taken not to stay overnight in Michelle Hut but to continue down the mountain in the dark and back to Mount Beauty.
During the debrief, some complimentary comments were made about the part played by the BNSC members, and the suggestion was made that a S&R group should be formed within the club. A proposal was submitted to the Club executive in late 1981, and an agreement was reached to explore the possibility. Consideration was given to joining the SES; however, it was felt that we had more in common with the FVWC S&R group, so an affiliation was arranged, and the Group was officially formed at the 1982 AGM and initially had 18 members….as they say, the rest is history."
Bush Search and Rescue (BSAR) members transporting a patient, who is on a stretcher covered by a gold thermal blanket, for evacuation by helicopter on a 2019Training weekend on the Eskdale Spur Mount Bogong.
Some Birkebeiner Bush Search and Rescue (BSAR) Reports are available in the Files available for download below.
