HSA Silver Shovel Award 2025
Every year on the KBW, the HSA presents its Silver Shovel Award to individuals who have made significant contributions to the Mount Hotham community. This year’s presentation, held at the Genny on Sunday, saw us present two awards.
The first award was presented to Paddy Hoy, who accepted the award on behalf of the Hoy family, which has served the Hotham community for over 90 years.
Starting as a passenger transport service to Hotham in 1934, Eric and Edith Hoy later expanded their business to include accommodation in Hotham and Harrietville. Now a fourth-generation business, Hoy’s Skis has multiple retail outlets across Hotham, Harrietville and Omeo, providing ski/board sales and hire along with chain hire. Their mobile chain fitting service, which they’ve operated for over 40 years, and their daily snow and road conditions social media posts are a testament to their dedication and commitment to the Hotham community.
The second presentation was made posthumously to Dr. Ron Bassett, a man whose vision and leadership helped shape Hotham as we know it today.
Through his work with BCR Asset Management, Ron played a pivotal role in transforming Mount Hotham into one of Australia’s premier Alpine resorts. One of Ron’s greatest contributions came to life in 1997 when the Gotcha and Keogh’s chairlifts were completed and officially opened.
His vision extended beyond snow; he was involved in the enhancement of food and beverage offerings, real estate development and the greater integration of the Dinner Plain resort. Perhaps his most visionary development was the creation of the Mount Hotham Airport, which opened in 2000 with Qantaslink flights from major cities.
Ron left Mount Hotham a far better place than he found it, and today, we are all the beneficiaries of the effort. Ron’s award was accepted by his children, Sam and Laura.
HSA Silver Shovel Award 2024
Every year the HSA presents its Silver Award to a person or persons who have made significant contributions to the Mount Hotham community. The presentation is made at the HSA season opening function held at The Genny on the Sunday of the KBW every year.
This year the award went to ARV Deputy Chair Helen Moran in recognition of her huge contribution to Mount Hotham and the Alpine industry over many decades.
The Silver Shovel was presented to Helen by the 2023 recipient Len Dobell along with Lachlan Castran, HSA President Greg Price and past recipient Peter Zirknitzer.
Congratulations Helen.
HSA Silver Shovel Award 2023
On the Sunday of the QBW we all came together to honour Lendo on his last working season at Hotham over a long and incredible journey.
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The Hotham community thank you Len for all that you have done over your time on Hotham and we are looking forward to future chairlift rides with you mate.
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We now look forward to seeing you every year on stage with last year’s winner Peter Zirknitzer doing a bootie with next year’s winner of the HSA Silver Shovel.
HSA Silver Shovel Award 2022
Hotham Stakeholder’s Association opening was made super special by not only our metre of snow but by the opportunity to honour and recognise the huge contribution made to our Alpine Community by The Zirknitzer family. After 59 years of service to our mountain the family have sold the iconic Zirkys and Peter at 88 has promised Heather he will retire ))).