WITH the first edition of her self-published book having sold out, Mt Darragh based author, Gillian Salmon has issued a reprint and is promoting the title around the area.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
After many years of research and editing, Gillian completed ‘The King of Hotham; My Father’ in 2013, and has now donated a copy of the book to the Bombala Library, with several locals also owning a copy.
The book outlines the fascinating life of Lindsay Salmon, Gillian’s father, focusing on the Drift Chalet, Mt Hotham Ski School and the first Australian Corps Ski School.
It is evident from the book that Lindsay was a pioneer of great importance, and a stone monument now stands isolated on top of Mount Higginbotham as testimony to Lindsay’s efforts in the early development of Mount Hotham as a ski resort.
The story pays tribute to a remarkable man, a hero who fought against all odds in order to carve out a career for himself on the white-roof of Australia in Swindlers Valley.
It is a fascinating account of one man’s journey, a historical memoir that proves compelling, educational and truly inspirational as it traces Lindsay’s experiences through war and depression, to a life in the mountains.
The reader is drawn into the picture as Mount Hotham grows from a gold mining outpost to the premier ski resort it has become today, and the writing paints vivid portraits of pioneering individuals who lived a lifestyle few Australians have experienced.
There are several chapters dedicated to the 1st Australian Corps Ski School as Lindsay was one of just six Australians chosen to teach the troops to ski in combat in the Lebanon Mountains during the Second World War.
“It is not only the biography of Lindsay Salmon, but also an autobiography, as I, the author, explore my relationship with my father and the mountain I once called home,” Gillian says.
‘The King of Hotham’ will not only appeal to people interested in snow, skiing, mountain life and Mount Hotham in particular, but equally it will captivate a much wider and general audience as a true tale of bravery and adventure.
And there is a local link that must also be noted. In the appendix of the book there is three-page piece on Johnny Abbottsmith, who is in fact the father of one of our Bombala Councillors, Dianne Hampshire.
Like Lindsay, Abbottsmith was one of the six Australians tasked to teach troops to ski in combat in 1941 and 42 in Lebanon, and his story too makes for fascinating reading.
“Through my research I connected with several children of some of the soldiers connected to the ski school,” Gillian said.
“We are really keen to connect with anybody whose relative may have been a student or instructor at the ski school in the Lebanon Mountains. Very little is known about this unit. We want to know what happened to some of those pupils/soldiers who were trained in mountain warfare.”
If you know something or someone who may be able to help, please contact Gillian on 6458 2065 or email tresche@bigpond.com
You can also contact Gillian direct if you would like to purchase a signed copy of ‘The King of Hotham; My Father’, or find the book at the Bombala Newsagency and Lavender House. A copy can also be viewed at the Bombala Times office.
