SNOWY SCHEME ASSOCIATION

ssa@snowyschemecollection.com.au
PO BOX 721 COOMA 2630

Celebrating the Anniversary of the Start of the Snowy Scheme

Snowy Reunions

Report of the Snowy 60th Reunion

15th October to 22nd October 2009 in Cooma

Snowy Scheme Association was formed in haste so that the those who were keen to see a 60th Reunion happen could make their plans to attend. Those able to travel found a warm welcome and good company. The reunion lived up to expectations by giving opportunities to socalise with friends and their families.

The reunion Committee was made up of Snowy Mountains Scheme admirers in Cooma and Adaminaby. Fortunately word of the reunion spread sufficiently to make it possible for people to organise themselves to gather from around Australia. Up to about fifteen came from overseas by arranging their travel to coincide with the reunion.

We were helped enormously to have a Reunion Reception Centre opposite Cooma Visitors Centre given on loan by Centennial Plaza management so that a reunion welcome could begin. The photograph shows three of the Committee at the Reception Centre: left-to-right, George Shelton, Frank Rodwell and Wally Mills (Chairman).

Cooma and Adaminaby planned the reunion around the weekend of 17 and 18 October 2009 with significant reunion opportunities either side of the weekend as well. Members were able to book their family into one or more of the events listed on the Reunion Program. Conducted Coach Tours into and through the Snowy Mountains were a special feature. People on the tours saw how some of the construction sites have reverted to bush and saw how the Snowy Hydro dams and power stations fit into the Kosciuszko National Park today. The sharing of the memories by the tour party was especially rewarding for each one. A surprise for the first Tour was to be caught in a late snow storm! Many good times and challenging events that were endured during the former years were remembered and memories shared during these Tours.

Main Events

The anniversary gathering was in Adaminaby on Saturday afternoon 17 October 2009, exactly 60 years to the day and time of the Official Ceremony to mark the commencement of the Snowy Mountains Scheme. An outstanding re-enactment of the dignitaries arriving, the essence of the many fine speeches that were delivered, the symbolic explosive blast signifying the start of construction and the congratulations that followed were superbly carried out through the community effort of young and old in Adaminaby today. The 500 or so attendees came away with awe of the visionary hopes expressed for the objectives of the Scheme. One could reflect on how the Snowy Mountains Authority Commissioner, Sir William Hudson, had given himself to the leadership for the next 18 years to see those expressed ambitions fulfilled to the benefit of the Nation and the creation of productive work and livelihood in the process.

At 9am that day the first reunion gathering in Adaminaby was a packed ecumenical Church service led by Fr Paul Huthnance of St Mary's but held in St John's. Snowy Scheme Association Chairman, Wally Mills, gave a stirring address to be reflective of the Scheme's ethos, to bring glory to God on earth for the good works through our lives. Tours to the surrounding old town and camp sites followed before returning for lunch back in Adaminaby.

In Cooma that evening about 350 people gathered for a very joyful main reunion that packed to capacity both the Cooma Ex-Services Club around a meal and simultaneously the Alpine Hotel for a dinner-dance. One of the messages of good-will was from the Norwegian Embassy in Canberra remembering the very significant contribution of Norwegians who came with the first major contract awarded to Ingenior F. Selmer A/S for the Guthega Project in September 1951. What's more, there were several families present at the meal who were part of that original Norwegian contingent.

On Sunday 18 October 2009 another major reunion gathering of about 400 took place at Cooma Showgrounds. It incorporated a special "Landmark" engineering award given in recognition of the tunnel mining  innovation of rock bolting; The attached tourist leaflet describes the local engineering heritage site "Lambie Gorge".  A booklet "The Snowy Men Behind Tunnel Rock Bolting" has been published that gives the fascinating story of the individual contribution of about 20 engineers and scientists who brought about this achievement of world acclaim.  

Not everyone of the reunion was at the Showground. More than 200 gathered at Centennial Park in the heart of Cooma for the monthly Rotary markets and to be entertained by balladeers, gymnasts and dancers who were especially organised for the reunion. At the same time throughout the day, the consulting engineering group that retained the successful Snowy Scheme's team in design and construction, Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation, took successive tours through the former Snowy Scheme Laboratory where present day hydraulic models were demonstrated, like the use of the laboratory in its heyday.  

Not least in celebrating reunion were the local Bocce Club and the Trout Acclimatisation Association who gave welcome over a meal. Projected photographs as slide shows, shown on two occasions, also gave much pleasure to see how things looked when change was taking place. Thanks to our talented artist, Diana Klima, and to Hazel McKenzie-Kay we were able to have the Reunion Reception Centre decorated to carry the multicultural nature of life as it was by having a number of costumes and flags, as seen in this panoramic photograph taken by Judy Goggin, daughter of George and Charlotte Shelton.

Reunion Reception Centre

To read the offical recently issued "Snowy 60th Reunion Report" , please make the link to the copy provided here.

Membership Registration Continues to be Invited

It falls to the participants in reunion to pay for the reunion running costs. To become a member either post the completed membership registration with your fee by a download of the form from this Website, or you can do it by completing the data on-line and then making a direct deposit (at any Australian Bank) to our bank account with a unique Registration Number included. The Association  Membership will ensure that you are informed of future reunion activities and also allow the possibility of reunion members to find help to make the individually desired reunion connections.

The membership fee is A$20 to be paid with the Registration, per family residing at the one address, (preferably including your Email address) accompanied by the description that identifies your grouping for finding others that you want to meet. Please pay either by Direct Deposit or post a Money Order or Cheque to Snowy Scheme Association, PO Box 721, COOMA, NSW 2630. If you are overseas, please request concessional arrangements of us for your payments. Our Email address is ssa@snowyschememuseum.com.au .

Membership payment will allow us to send out the Reunion Program so that you can make firm reunion travel bookings as early as possible. We would also welcome your suggestions and any information that can help us plan aspects of future reunion functions.

© Copyright 2004, Adaminaby Snowy Scheme Museum