AFTER 37 years of 'living the dream of mountain work and life' Craig and Barb Jones have called it a day for Stirling Experience and Mt Stirling.
The decision has not been made lightly but has been coming for the past several years.
Craig and Barb first went up to Mt Stirling in 1986 when they took over the ski hire business from Geoff Hayes and Don Cummins (and a third silent partner).
"We ran the hire business from the back of a trailer, and it was a giant leap into the unknown for us," Craig said.
"I had not skied since coming to Mansfield in 1984, and then I had skied a lot but not cross country."
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When Craig asked Geoff Hayes what he was going to do once he sold the business, his reply was he would take all the skis to the tip.
Craig bought all the skis from them which had been basically used to run a school cross country ski program.
Through the ARB the small hut at Telephone Box Junction (TBJ) had been built in 1984 which Hayes and Cummins had moved into.
At the same time Jan Purcell and Bruce McInnes had started a coffee and food van, but by 1986 had decided to close it down.
Craig approached RMB and asked for a permit to run another caravan – a very cheap van with added equipment which included a barbecue to cook on, all within a week before the opening of the next snow season.
Barb describes the van as basic, no power, no water, no refrigeration, all gas appliances and people would come out of hours and take the food supplies – particularly flavoured milk, but not strawberry flavor.
"And the possums would move in and eat chocolate, but were selective and would only eat the fruit and nut bars," Barb joked.
"In the beginning we opened seven days a week."
"We started with a few schools and the locals and that was all pre–trail fees days, people would stop their cars where the snowline came down to and started skiing from there," Craig said.
In 1987 The Joneses' started the ski school which after one year was then put out to tender in 1988 – they lost the tender to Buller Ski Lifts (BSL) who took on an instructor that shared the facilities of the ski hire.
"Basically this instructor Penny taught me the finer elements of cross country skiing," Craig said.
Barb continues this story saying that Penny, when teaching the arm movements would say "think of having a full glass of wine in your hand and you don't want to spill it" – that's the right arm movements.
BSL only held the ski school for one year which was then offered back to the Joneses'.
Craig said they never made money out of the ski school in the first years, it actually cost him.
"But people would have to hire ski equipment and I offered lessons as an add on which paid for the wages of the instructors," he said.
"We loved what we did and Sandy (Jeffcoat) was an excellent manager of that mountain," Craig said.
"Sandy would love to come across on a skidoo to Stirling and have a cup of tea with Barb at the café – he loved tea from her little old fashioned brown teapot.
"Our introduction to Stirling was good; John Coffey and Scott Fair were there and in the early days they were great and were supported by Sandy.
"We worked hard and long in the early days," Barb said.
"It has been an enjoyable experience the whole 37 years we have been there," Craig added.
"It is 'team Stirling' and up until this day Stirling has only worked well because of the ski patrol and Stirling Experience working together."
In 1989–1990 Outdoor Education became a part of the Victorian school curriculum which really helped to boost Stirling.
Craig and Barb started employing outdoor education university students to help with the increase in school numbers visiting the mountain which included overnight snow camping and excursions.
To cope with the boost in educational visits the Jones proposed to build a snow camp which was eventually established at the Cricket Pitch – at the snow gum line – above the mountain ash trees.
And to cope with educational information sessions the King Saddle Shelter was also built which still provides shelter for skiers in bad weather.
In the 1990s summer programs also started which included orientation courses and mountain biking.
Craig purchased 30 mountain bikes to hire out starting off what is now a huge summer activity for both Buller and Stirling mountains.
"So we are responsible for starting the mountain bike riding and hiring out of Mansfield and Stirling," Craig said.
"At the same time I had already established a tourism business which was running out of Mansfield and included half day tours to Craig's Hut by four wheel drive vehicles – due to its popularity from the Man From Snowy river films and becoming an icon of Australia.
"We also opened the café for longer times cooking out of it to cater for visitors to Craig's Hut and the mountain trails."
– "The best years of my life I gave to that mountain" – Barb Jones
As there was no power on Mt Stirling it became necessary to find a way of generating power for the café/bistro and ski hire business.
Craig was introduced to Michael McQueen who was experienced in developing hydro electricity schemes and helped Craig set up a small hydro scheme for TBJ.
The 11kw system was enough to power heating for the café along with the refrigeration, coffee machine and more – all funded by Stirling Experience.
"Unfortunately a part of that hydro system was burnt out in the 06/07 bushfires and has not been restored," Craig said.
The Jones were also responsible for introducing Estonian cross country ski instructors to Stirling, a friendship which has grown since first established in 2011.
This team of experienced ski instructors has included world champions and Olympic level coaches – some now considering Stirling their 'second home' for winter months.
"In about 2020 BSL offered to buy us out and we had considered retiring; COVID then came along and has played a big part in our decision," Craig said.
"We are proud of what we've achieved and the friends we have made and we want that to continue with the new owners."
Barb supported this comment saying, "What we have created we believe is a good foundation and we want people to continue to enjoy the environment in a safe way."
