Les Ortlipp was born on 18 May 1925 at Culcairn in New South Wales but moved to Bright in NE Victoria in 1933 after his father died and his mother remarried.
Les left school aged 12 and took an apprenticeship at the local Jack Sharp’s bakery.
When aged only 16, Les lied about his age to join the Army, but his mum found out and he was sent home. But about 12 months later in 1943 he joined again (# VX93307) and was sent overseas. He served as a machine gunner in New Guinea, the Islands, Halmaheras, Morotai and Borneo, before being accidently sent to Japan with the American Occupation Forces. Les was discharged in 1947.
On his return to Australia, Les worked briefly for the Forests Commission Victoria (FCV) at Bright, before spending a couple of years as a Guard on the Old Ghan railway between Quorn and Alice Springs.
After getting married at Quorn to Colleen, Les returned to Bright in March 1951 and resumed his job on the crew with the Forests Commission.
During the summer months from 1951-1956, Les worked as a fire lookout at Mt Clearspot overlooking the Ovens Valley Plantations. He rode his horse up each day to the summit. And until the late 1950s, there was no tower and not much shelter other than a couple of recycled Stanley Huts on just a bit of open ground, with a telescope mounted on a movable tripod.
During this period at Bright, Les became an active volunteer with the CFA and a foundation member of the local Civil Defence Branch (the forerunner to the State Emergency Service). Les also taught first aid as a St Johns volunteer and was one of the first Ambulance drivers in the township.
Because he showed strong leadership skills and an aptitude for forestry and bushfire work, Les was selected, along with a number of others, to attend the 6-month forest foreman’s school at Mt Disappointment near Broadford in 1962.
On completion of the course, and some short postings in other forest districts, Les returned to Bright in mid-1963 and was later appointed to a permanent Forest Overseer position in June 1965.
A bit like Warrant Officers in the Army, Forest Overseers with the Commission were the people who led the works crew and made things happen. Whether it be remote firefighting, building a road or establishing a plantation, overseers were practical, reliable and down to earth men with a wealth of knowledge. They also guided many a young wet-behind-the-ears forestry school graduate.
But unlike foresters who were compulsorily moved around the state every few years to different districts, Forest Overseers tended to stay put in one place for long periods and so got to know their communities and their patch of forest better than many others.
Les was so familiar with the bush, the mountains, the landmarks and the tracks he was often called upon when the Police needed assistance.
In 1980 and fit as a trout, Les, then aged 55, was the oldest competitor in the “king of the mountains” marathon running event to ascend Mt Bogong, Mt Porepunkah, Mt Feathertop, Mt Hotham and Mt Buffalo over five consecutive days.
Les was well known and well liked throughout the Forests Commission and became instantly recognisable for his trademark bushy mutton chops and moustache.
He spent the remainder of his career at Bright before retiring in late 1984, aged nearly 60. This was around the time of the major disruption and restructuring associated with the newly amalgamated Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands (CFL). Many senior staff chose to leave which led to a massive loss of corporate knowledge and field experience.
The Forests Commission organised a farewell dinner for Les in November 1984. The District Forester Derrick Rolland together with senior FCV dignitaries including Commissioner Ron Gross, Chief of Forest Operations, Max Boucher and Divisional Forester Russ Ritche along with 60 guests attended. A gift included a collection of wood working tools. Les also became an avid photographer of the alps in later years.
The Bright Shire Council also organised a testimonial dinner in his honour a year later on 6 December 1985, after which Les and Colleen moved to a new home at Howlong near Albury.
Les Ortlipp later died in Melbourne on 17 April 2004 and his ashes were returned to Mount Clearspot.
Thank you to Charles Ortlipp for his help with compiling this story.
Standing; Ian Sartori, Jack Blythman, Clarrie Pring, Stan Kirkham, Laurie Ritchie, Les Ortlipp, Bill Barnes, Kelvin Taylor, Fred Craig, Harry Blanch, Albert Allen, Max Boucher, Don Sexton behind, Jack Hutchison behind Bill Woods, John Edwards, Len Arnold Denis O’ Connor, Ray Bennett, Stan Gillett, Brian Sheehan, Don Dyke, Chris Collin, Bert Toogood, George Mortimer, Doug Barge, Max Seamer, Des Kelly, Theo Goldie and Noel Fraser.
Squatting; Ken Doyle, Brian Warren, Ray Hines Phil King, Ron Harris, Jim Speirs, Eddie Page, Billy Fitz, Geoff Clinch, Tom Waldron, D’arcy Smith, Col English, Ernie Cole and Geoff Mair.
Victoria’s Forests & Bushfire Heritage 
A great story, Peter
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