OSCA
Koomerang
KOOMERANG REMEMBERS DOUG DRAFFIN
DOUG DRAFFIN (’ 51 ), A LIFE MEMBER OF KOOMERANG SKI CLUB , DIED ON 28 APRIL 2021 , AGED 87 .
Doug Draffin (’ 51 ) was a member and strong supporter of Koomerang from its very beginnings . In the 1970s his Koomerang peers awarded him Honorary Life Membership , and in 2009 Doug received an OSCA Merit Award , in recognition of his ‘ longstanding and outstanding commitment ’ to the Old Scotch community through Koomerang .
Doug served in various committee roles for over 60 years , including as Secretary for many years , President from 1967-69 , editor of the club newsletter , Thredbo Building Manager , as a member of social sub-committees , and as a member of the subcommittees responsible for rebuilding the Thredbo and Mt Hotham lodges in 2005 and 2015 .
The vision and contribution of Doug , and of our other founding members , has enabled Koomerang to grow from the idea to build a ski lodge , to a club with facilities across four mountains .
In 1957 a group of schoolboys , young Old Boys and a teacher , Colin Scott , met to formally establish the Scotch College Ski Club , before commencing construction of a lodge at Mt Buller . Doug took the minutes at that meeting .
Construction took place in 1957-58 . Michael Wood (’ 51 ), who was a member and builder , pre-fabricated sections of the building in Melbourne . Michael and many members , including Doug , constructed the lodge under Michael ’ s supervision , which opened for the 1958 season .
In July 1959 , while guests were asleep , a fire broke out . Fortunately the guests were able to extinguish the fire and there were no injuries , but the building was badly damaged . Doug and Michael Wood , who were in the lodge , travelled to Melbourne in the early hours , borrowed a truck and drove back to Mt Buller with timber to prop up the damaged roof .
With the early success of the Buller lodge , members set their sights on another mountain . Doug , along with Peter Sloane (’ 55 ), visited Thredbo in 1959 and 1961 , and selected a site . The members agreed in 1964 that the club should take on the lease and build a second lodge .
In order to execute the lease at Thredbo and a new lease at Buller , the club became incorporated in 1964 as Koomerang Ski Club , a company limited by guarantee .
A local Thredbo builder constructed the Thredbo lodge with assistance from many member volunteers . Doug coordinated the work parties .
In 1973 the club acquired two adjoining apartments at Falls Creek and , in 1981 , a small family ski lodge at Mt Hotham .
By 2003 the Thredbo lodge was in need of an upgrade , and a sub-committee was formed to consider options . Doug was actively involved in that sub-committee . A comprehensive proposal to renovate and extend the lodge was prepared by the subcommittee and approved by members in January 2005 . The builder commenced immediately and completed the lodge for that season .
In 2006 Doug joined the sub-committee formed to consider rebuilding the Mt Hotham lodge . The sub-committee came up with a joint venture proposal that was approved by the Resort Management Board ( RMB ) and our members , involving a multistorey building with the top floor being set up for our club . But the global financial crisis intervened , the chosen builder could not proceed , and the project lapsed .
Undaunted , Doug and the sub-committee then developed a proposal for a stand-alone lodge . Doug , the late Bill Heath (’ 51 ) and Nigel Watson (’ 65 ) attended a number of difficult meetings with the RMB and its lawyers . The RMB was finally persuaded to approve our proposal and grant us a new lease . The new 16-bed lodge opened in 2015 .
Doug had stopped skiing by 2015 , but was thrilled to be taken by his family to the new Mt Hotham lodge , and to have the opportunity to see his grandchildren enjoying the lodge and skiing on the nearby Davenport run .
Doug was a wonderful friend to Koomerang and many of our members . His contribution has been outstanding .
Koomerang now has lodges at Mt Buller and Mt Hotham and two apartments at Falls Creek Victoria , and Thredbo in NSW . Membership is open to all Old Boys , schoolboys and their parents . For membership enquiries please visit our website : www . koomerang . com . au , or email membership @ koomerang . com . au .
NIGEL WATSON (’ 65 ) – KOOMERANG SKI CLUB
80 Great Scot Issue 163 – September 2021