Sandie Jeffcoat was among a handful of non-Creswick foresters from the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra who were recruited into the Forests Commission Victoria (FCV) during the 1970s. Other ANU graduates included David Harvey, Ian McArthur, Jack Bains, Mal Tonkin and Paul Mainey.
It was a very buoyant time for trained foresters with increased career opportunities in the Land Conservation Council (LCC) and the expanding National Parks Service. Private timber and plantation companies were also recruiting graduates. Forestry was one of the few tertiary qualifications in “land and bushfire management” available at the time.
Sandie’s postings with the FCV were to Nowa Nowa and Creswick between 1975 and 1981, before he was promoted to Mansfield District in 1982.
The Forests Commission first developed a substantial interest in the development of Mt Buller as a major ski field from the early 1940s. The challenge of establishing roads, communications, water and sewerage, accommodation and other services in a remote location was well suited to its experience and skills.
Initially, small clubs of alpine enthusiasts built rudimentary ski huts for their members, often with cramped and spartan conditions.
But it was common in the early days for disgruntled skiers to arrive on the doorstep of the FCV residence on a Saturday morning angry that their ski shacks had been demolished. The District Forester from Mansfield, Jim Westcott, would travel up to Mt Buller with the crew prior to winter and demolish all the ski shacks that didn’t have a building permit. Come the start of the snow season skiers were shocked when they arrived on a Friday afternoon or night to find their accommodation in neat piles of timber and roofing iron.
Commercial accommodation later flourished along with high-capacity chairlifts, ski hire facilities, slope grooming, ski patrols and new day-visitor facilities.
In another important development, modern and powerful snow ploughs, operated by hardy Country Roads Board crews, worked to keep access roads and car parks clear of snow, even in blizzard conditions.
Mt Buller was administered under an FCV Committee of Management and chaired by Ben Benallack in the 1960s, and Dr Ron Grose for much of the 1970s. Dr Fred Craig also served as deputy chair for a number of years.
The FCV District Forester at Mansfield attended committee meetings on an ex-officio basis. Jim Westcott and Hughie Brown filled this role for long periods.
During the 1970s, it was customary to appoint the Mansfield assistant F1A Forester as the operational manager of the Mt Buller Alpine Reserve. The highly coveted two year “tour of duty” had been occupied by FCV foresters including Malcolm McDougal, Bob Jones, Cyril Suggate and then Sandie Jeffcoat in 1982.
During his first winter, Sandie lived in a single room at the staff lodge with his wife Rae and their two young children. He later said it was one of the worst winter seasons in years but, in his own words, he learned a lot.
The Alpine Resorts Commission (ARC) was formed in 1984 after a major restructure of the former government agencies managing Victoria’s snow fields including the Forests Commission, Lands Department, National Parks Service and the State Electricity Commission. Sandie continued as Mt Buller’s resort manager for a total of 23 years, before leaving in 2005.
Under Sandie’s stewardship, Mt Buller experienced a major transformation into an all-seasons resort and holiday destination. Sealed roads, improved carparking, sewage, power and water supplies, snow making, and reticulated gas was all added.
Sandie was also a Mansfield Shire Councillor and President as well as a CFA Board Member. He was awarded a National Medal for firefighting in 1996.
Sandie passed away in December 2009, aged 59.
https://www.victoriasforestryheritage.org.au/community/recreation/555-above-the-snowline.html
Victoria’s Forests & Bushfire Heritage 