FAMILY of Hotham local Peter Malkin will see his legacy continue with Vail Resorts and Alpine Resorts Victoria committing to naming a ski run 'Malko's' on the mountain after the avid skier.
Peter’s son, Nick Malkin, said his father was a founding member of the Pegasus Ski Club in 1972, was integral to the building of three lodges, including the commercial building Jack Frost in 1981, and was president of the chamber of commerce for 12 years.
“My late father was a pioneer of Mount Hotham and was instrumental in the establishment of significant infrastructure on the mountain going back to the early 1970s,” he said.
“This included connecting Hotham to the electrical grid, sealing the Great Alpine Road, and the construction of three lodges.
“He was born in the golden triangle; Maryborough, however he used to explore the area as a gold prospector with his father who invested in gold mines in the high country.
“Peter was introduced to skiing in 1969 by a friend and soon became involved in a ski outfitting business with two Norwegian partners that was called Nordic Ski and Backpacking.
“During this time he invested in property at Falls Creek and became a founding member of Pegasus Ski Club at Hotham in 1972.
“Peter and four of his school mates from Pegasus built Jack Frost in 1980 and opened for the famous bumper 1981 snow season.
“Because the resort needed critical infrastructure; mains power, gas reticulation, a school and a sealed road, the chamber of commerce was the advocating body representing private businesses and worked closely with the (then) Lands Department to deliver much of what we benefit from today at Hotham.”
Nick said his father had a varied career, starting off in freight transport before turning his attention to skiing.
“He also began to establish a life for his family in the North East through tourism and property development,” he said.
“During the ‘off-seasons’ Peter worked in the resources sector as a 'powder monkey' or blast engineer blasting quarries and as well as numerous gold mining ventures in the area, the latest being a director of the Mt Wills Gold Mining Company on the other side of Falls Creek.
“He supported my engineering consultancies as a surveyor and mining specialist up until he passed away.
“He remained involved with Hotham right until the end.
“He talked fondly of strong friendships with Jack Frost staff and customers, and the camaraderie necessary to keep the resort going in the 80s and 90s.
“He was very proud of donating accommodation and ski adventures to children with cancer via Camp Quality for many years at Jack Frost.”
Since his love of skiing began, Peter skied all over the world and also had a commercial lodge in Hakuba, Japan, but seeing the naming of 'Malko's' ski run will be special for his family to see here.
“It’s a great feeling to see his legacy continued and we as a family are grateful to Alpine Resorts Victoria’s Helen Moran and Hotham operations manager Len Dobell for acknowledging Peter's contribution to the Hotham community.
“Peter's legacy will continue through his children; I continue to be involved with gold mining and resource development in the north east, and grandchildren who are keen skiers with Amelia skiing competitively with Team Hotham at present.”
