Victorian Minister LOst on Mt Feathertop

Astrobserver99 (Rob) · #1 31-08-2009, 06:36 PM

This caught my eye today. One of our ministers here in Victoria went for a hike on his own on Mt Feathertop - one of our most dangerous mountains in the middle of winter

. Somehow he lost his way and there is still no sign of him unfortunately. I feel sorry for his family. Lets hope he is found soon.

dannat (Daniel) · #2 31-08-2009, 06:39 PM

i heard the news - i just thought Wan&er

apparently he went by himself - stupid thing todo even if you're a good climber- whats slightly amusing is he's the water minister lost in the snow

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #3 31-08-2009, 06:40 PM

I hope he was properly prepared for his hike. If so he has a good chance of being found safe and well tomorrow.

CometGuy · #4 31-08-2009, 07:03 PM

Hope he is properly prepared to spend a night in alpine conditions (if he had any sense he should be). Looking at the automated weather station on nearby Mt Hotham it still looks like its snowing but luckily with very little wind:

http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDV60...01.94906.shtml

T

pgc hunter · #5 31-08-2009, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CometGuy

Hope he is properly prepared to spend a night in alpine conditions (if he had any sense he should be). Looking at the automated weather station on nearby Mt Hotham it still looks like its snowing but luckily with very little wind:

http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDV60...01.94906.shtml

T

Actually the wind instrument on Mt Hotham has been malfunctioning for some time now.

Falls creek is recording wind properly:
http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDV60...01.94903.shtml

Hagar (Doug) · #6 31-08-2009, 08:02 PM

Living in the area for some time now I can assure you it is snowing quite hard at the moment and did so last night as well. The whole area above the snowline has suffered a total whiteout for 2 days now. By all reports he was quite well prepared for some time in the snow and with luck he has dug in for an extended stay until the weather clears. May be tomorrow by all reports. Our staff who work above the snow line are finding the going quite dificult and only go out in pairs when the weather turns like this.

GeoffW1 (Geoff) · #7 01-09-2009, 01:19 AM

Hi,

Sympathies to his family from me also.

I was talking about it to a friend today and he reckoned it was very a appropriate place to get lost like that, hiking alone.

A feathertop lost on Mt Feathertop.

I told my friend he was a heartless cynic. Apparently this chap is very well equipped though. It is to be hoped he is holed up in a snow cave or something.

Cheers

Alchemy (Clive) · #8 01-09-2009, 06:05 AM

i heard he was seen by another party prior to the loss, but in icy conditions, if hes stuck (lost or twisted an ankle) and well prepared he should be OK ,i have done overnighters in tents in the snow and well prepared its easy, we take GPS and good maps in case of poor conditions, (i say we as in those conditions 2 is much better), i wouldnt head out if i knew it was going to be whiteout type stuff.

if he has slipped in the icy conditions and knocked out or a really serious injury, being alone it could be a tragic outcome.

Walking alone can be a great experience, it just may prove fatal though under such conditions..... i hope not for all involved

stephenb (Stephen) · #9 01-09-2009, 08:47 AM

I am amazed at the immediate, wide-spread coverage this is getting in the media. Army personnel being used, AC of VicPol taking control over the search. mmm...

pgc hunter · #10 01-09-2009, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glenluceskies

I am amazed at the immediate, wide-spread coverage this is getting in the media. Army personnel being used, AC of VicPol taking control over the search. mmm...

last nite channel 10 news spent about half an hour on this, if a 747 went down with 300 souls it wouldn't have attracted so much attention

if it was a "regular" person, I'm sure it would've gotten no more than 2 minutes in the news, with a search party consisting of 5 SES personal

matt · #11 01-09-2009, 09:33 AM

Bloody media! Boo ....hiss!!!!!

And you know what? I bet they pushed him over a ledge just so they'd have a story.

Evil. Pure evil, I tells ya!!

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #12 01-09-2009, 09:40 AM

These media peeps will do anything for a story.
Matt, I hear you've just returned from your trip down to Mt Feathertop.......

matt · #13 01-09-2009, 09:45 AM

Yeah...JJJ....

And I can tell ya I'm pretty happy with the way things are panning out.

After the necessary shove was given, the media is now well and truly dictating terms. It's forced the Army into the frame, and it's given the Victorian Police a real shake-up. The Acting Commissioner kindly obliged their onerous terms, and the media's now looking to see if it can put together a 1-hour special on the event anchored by Barack Obama and featuring the Maggie Thatcher Rockettes!

Should be quite a show. Hopefully it'll generate plenty of ratings. Maybe they could put it on right after Dancing With the Stars or Idol?

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #14 01-09-2009, 09:52 AM

And the sponsors? I imagine Anaconda, BFC and Mars are fighting it out for the prime spots?

matt · #15 01-09-2009, 09:54 AM

JJJ - They're fighting them off with a stick, I'm told. Which they'll hopefully also find a naming rights sponsor for: "This stick...proudly brought to you by...."

Bloody media!

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #16 01-09-2009, 09:58 AM

Anyways, I do hope they find him soon. Safe.

astroron (Ron) · #17 01-09-2009, 10:03 AM

One pollie getting lost and one pollie resigning for for indiscretions

takes the spotlight of more pressing matters

matt · #18 01-09-2009, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

Anyways, I do hope they find him soon. Safe.

Yes...but not too soon. Gotta milk it for all it's worth...

Dirty rascal media!

matt · #19 01-09-2009, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astroron

One pollie getting lost and one pollie resigning for for indiscretions

takes the spotlight of more pressing matters

One pollie getting lost....and potentially dead...is possibly of interest to a broad range of people, certainly his family, friends and his constituents?

One resigning for indiscretions. Again, maybe of some news value to those who vote for that individual and those with an interest in justice being seen to be done?

I dunno....just guessing. Who can tell what drives those wacky folk in the media?

taminga16 (Greg) · #20 01-09-2009, 10:25 AM

10.05am 1.9.09

Tim Holding found alive on mountain.

Greg.