By JESSE GRAHAM
SNOW-loving volunteers are being sought to help tourists near Marysville over winter, with the Lake Mountain Ski Patrol taking on new recruits.
The LMSP is searching for new volunteers, with a training weekend to be held on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June at the resort near Marysville.
Ski Patrol volunteers must be over the age of 18, be competent at skiing and have a “good level” of fitness, and must have a level two first aid qualification, according to patrol captain Tim Hatten.
Members provide first aid and advice to visitors and tourists over the snow season, as well as assisting with search operations if people go missing.
Volunteers come from all over the Yarra Valley, with Mr Hatten, the manager of the Millgrove Outdoor Education Centre, based in Healesville.
A normal shift with the LMSP involves patrolling the base of the resort, the network of ski and snow-shoe trails, toboggan slopes and other facilities.
Resort manager Scott Gamble said the volunteers “do an incredible job” in looking after visitors and keeping the area safe.
“The patrol is an exceptionally important part of our operations and, if we are doing our job well in attracting visitors to the resort, then there is a great flow-on to the local Marysville triangle region,” Mr Gamble said.
The volunteers work over the busy weekend periods at the resort, while paid patrollers work during the week.
LMSP members receive free entry to Lake Mountain and accommodation on the mountain on their rostered weekends.
For more information about signing up as a volunteer patroller, contact LMSP secretary Catherine Sutton on 0403 146 378 or ccrsutton@gmail.com.
