Weindorfer 100th Anniversary, Cradle Valley, New Year's Day

[tas-man]

Corvus and I met up and went to Waldheim in the Cradle Valley for the special Memorial Service which celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the occasion when Gustav Weindorfer and his friend, Dr Charles Sutton from Melbourne, first entered the Cradle Valley on January 4th 1909. On ascending Cradle Mountain for the first time the following year, with his wife Kate, Ronald Smith and Walter Black, Gustav was recorded as saying something like "this place must be preserved as a national park for the people for all time". The weather was typical Cradle - sunny one minute, blowing a gale the next, and snow flurries in between. There were about 200+ people there which was great in these conditions. The Chevrolet (1927/28) originally belonged to L Tankard of Sheffield, was sold to another party then purchased by Ronald Smith who also had a similar car (or two) - the car is now owned by Parks ranger Eddie Firth - Charles Smith, son of Ronald Smith was present at this year's service. The Kentish Council Mayor, Don Thwaites, and his wife arrived in this Chev in period dress. The special aniversary address was given by Dr. Nic Haygarth who spoke about the influence of "characters" with a vision, like Gustav Weindorfer, who have had a significant impact on the development of Tasmania's National Parks and World Heritage areas. The two Bavarian Candles that were lit (in their weatherproof enclosure) during the ceremony, are sent each year by the local council of Spittal in Austria, where Gustav Weindorfer was born and lived before migrating to Australia.

Weindorfer's friend Ronald Smith's 1920's Chev.

. . .wind and snow . . .

. . . .trying to light the candles . . .

[tas-man]

. . then the sun came out briefly . . .

The Kentish Council Mayor and his wife in period dress.

The ceremony draws to a close.

[tas-man]

Two students from Don College talked about what the Cradle Mountain area meant to them.

Passing our stories on to the next generation.

A panorama of the setting for the ceremony with Waldheim in the background. (Click to zoom in)

[tasadam]

Great work and an excellent report for those of us who missed it, thanks for your efforts.

[Son of a Beach]

Agreed... thanks for posting these historic photographs. I particularly like the two almost identical pictures with sunshine in one and snow falling in the other.

[Nuts]

Yes, well done Tas-man, great pic's.