[Brookes Family Home Movies: Reel 3]

This film is divided into three parts with the titles: “Falls Creek 1964”; “NEDSA 1965”; “1965 The Year of Parallel Skis”.

This film documents family ski trips to Falls Creek, Victoria.

We see the lodge accommodation, participation in ski competitions, recreational skiing and leisure time spent on the slopes and at the lodge.

The first part of the film shows the family on the deck of Snowhaven Lodge. The children play on the deck, reading the book “Nursery Rhyme and Pastime Book” and what appears to be a selection of Little Golden Books. A young girl knits while sitting beside her siblings and two people prepare to ski beside the lodge wearing snow gear typical to the era.

The second Part of the film is titled “NEDSA 1964”. The acronym stands for North-Eastern District Ski Association which was formed by ski clubs at Falls Creek and Hotham in 1937. Responsible for running inter-club races, we see the children queuing up to participate in a Slalom event. A race official signals the start, and one by one each participant attempts the course. Some successfully complete it – some do not. There is plenty of footage of people falling over. We see the finishing line banner which reads “Kastle Ski” (a brand of skis) and “Finish”.

The film shows timekeepers and other event officials waiting at the end of the run with their stopwatches and megaphone. A podium stands at the base of the finishing line and place getters are presented with their prizes of a silver souvenir teaspoon and trophy.

We see the children aboard a Snow Cat (vehicle), while others are hitched to the back on a tow rope. This section of the film shows a lovely sequence shot from the back of the vehicle showing children and a man being towed up the hill. In particular, the stylish gent wearing a Trilby or Pork Pie style hat and sunglasses cuts a fine figure on the tow rope.

The third part of the film is titled “Falls Creek 1965. The Year of Parallel Skis.” In this section of the film, we can see how the family has progressed in their skiing abilities with ski lessons and participation in Slalom competition. There are some lovely scenes of skiing without the crowds which includes footage of the panorama and landscape of Falls Creek.

This film has excellent examples of ski village infrastructure, ski fashion, winter snow fashion, snow vehicles, ski techniques, recreation, and leisure activities particular to the era. The footage of the snow lodge and landscape is a good historical reflection of the architecture, furniture, and the topography of Falls Creek during the 60s.

Originally made using 16mm film.

Selected highlights list:
00:00:02:00 Title: Falls Creek 1964
00:00:18:00 Snowhaven Lodge signage on lodge wall
00:00:27:00 Exterior shot of Snowhaven Lodge
00:01:26:00 Children reading and knitting on the deck of the lodge
00:03:23:00 Two people prepare to ski outside the lodge
00:03:57:00 The family have their meal on the deck of the lodge
00:04:31:00 Title: NEDSA 1964
00:06:25:00 A young girl wearing ski goggles exclaims to the camera
00:06:52:00 Finishing line banner “Kastle Ski” and “Finish”
00:06:57:00 Skiers standing together with snow-covered slopes in the background
00:08:19:00 Timekeepers with stop watches and camera stand together with skiers at the end of a run. A good fashion example here
00:08:24:00 Time keeping officials counting down with their stop watches
00:08:37:00 Ski officials stand beside megaphone and use a telephone-looking device
00:09:07:00 Officials in conversation – a good fashion example here
00:09:38:00 Winners’ podiums set up at the Kastle Finish banner
00:13:00:00 Children watch on board a Snowcat as skiers hitch themselves to the back with a tow rope
00:13:05:00 Children and adult male being towed by the Snowcat
00:17:21:00 Title: Falls Creek 1965
00:17:27:00 Title: The Year of Skis
00:19:53:00 Wide shot of people skiing down and uncrowded slope
00:20:14:00 What could possibly be a family ski together down an uncrowded slope
00:22:44:00 Women stand together in a row watching a lone ski demonstration from one of their party
00:23:12:00 Skiers against an empty snow-covered hill and landscape
00:24:05:00 What could possibly be a father and son ski against an empty snow-covered hill and landscape