Fighting the fury of fire – this is the story of the Marysville Ski Centre.

In 1981 Nat saw a business opportunity to operate a toboggan hire on Lake Mountain. Initially he operated the hire from a Bedford van – it was very chilly standing in snow all day. From 1983-1997 we also operated a ski hire and ski school business on Lake Mountain. 1983 also saw us begin our ski hire business in the centre of Marysville.

We hire toboggans, protective clothing and boots, and also hire and sell cross-country skis for all ages – from beginners to advanced skiers. We also have hats, gloves and snow-play accessories for sale.

After the fire, we had an extremely difficult time.

Following 2009 Black Saturday bushfires and due to the lack of reliable snow, there are now fewer skiers coming through our doors. Instead, snow-players are now our major source of trade. People visiting the snow come from many nationalities and different walks of life.

Six weeks after the fire ripped through the area, we had to think about operating our business for the coming cold season and order equipment, which needed to arrive by early June (in a normal year, we order any new equipment by the end of October for the coming winter). For three consecutive winters we operated from a portable building with limited space, until we were able to move into our new ski hire premises in 2012. Unfortunately there wasn’t much financial support or any financial incentives to help people rebuild or set-up new businesses in the area.

We pushed through despite the devastation.

We lost our home and our business during the fires. On top of rebuilding our ski hire business, we have almost finished building two rental shops and two holiday rental units – but we have experienced a number of hurdles during the recovery

Other businesses are being rebuilt, and hopefully there will be more employment opportunities available in the town as a result. It has been a long and difficult road, which we hope no one else has to go through. But, in reality, we know that there will be further tragedies ahead.

If another similar catastrophe occurs, we suggest the Government and local councils approach some things differently, namely being more aware of the fragile emotional state of the people and being more helpful in peoples’ financial and emotional recovery.

The community spirit was strong.

TEven though some people didn’t lose their homes or businesses, we had all experienced the same trauma – the loss of the community, the buildings, friends, sheds and fencing.  This meant we were able to really relate to each other. For the first 12-18 months following the fire it was the centre of conversations. Almost five years later we still discuss it regularly, but we’re moving forward with our lives.

The future of Marysville is looking good. Prior to the fire we had a lot of accommodation available, including six guesthouses and one pub. At the moment we have a lack of accommodation, but it is looking better – especially with the new Vibe building going ahead, and private operators with additional accommodation. If more people come it will help grow our economy, the school, service clubs, and support all our community groups and organisations, like our local cricket club and Brownies.

Any spare time is taken up tending to our large garden, which helps us stay connected with nature. We love the country feel of Marysville, its natural beauty, bushwalks and the friendly charm of the locals. People should come to Marysville to experience the beautiful mountains with its fresh, clean mountain air, scenic walks and other relaxing activities just waiting to be discovered.

Marysville – Wish You Were Here

For more information: www.marysvilletourism.com/marysville-ski-centre/