Liking the design of an "A - frame" office in Pymble, Keith approached the architect, John James, who agreed to design a ski lodge for us in return for some membership rights.
Keith spread the word amongst his other medical students and friends and we were soon getting people together and forming committees etc.
At this time I think it was the Kosciusko Park Trust that was in charge of the area. The Trust at that time had not finalised their lease arrangements, so we only had to pay about four dollars a bed for some years (now our lease costs thousands !)
They said the club had to have so many unrelated members and be a non-profit co-operative society. So, as such, we amended a standard constitution to have a membership of seventy three persons.
Each membership had one hundred £1 (one pound = two dollars $2) shares initially paid up to 12/6 ($1.25). The remaining 7/6 (75¢) was called up a year or so later.
We also had a loan from the bank to make up the difference and Ziggy Tietz (Ziggy's Joinery) from Berridale won the tender and built the lodge for about twelve thousand pounds.
In the early years we had many money-raising functions, cheese tastings, car rallies, wine tasting - bottling - sales, fashion shows etc.
There was no annual fee for the first few years but with rising costs for wood, oil, lease and general maintenance etc, we eventually had to cover these expenses with a fee.
Do-it-ourselves work-parties have been in place since the beginning. I know myself and my family went down for the Easter Work-Party every Easter for the first sixteen years and then about every second one for about another sixteen years. Over later years I'm afraid I have left it mainly up to Sue and Jenn to represent the family. They're younger than me!
Because of my feeling for the lodge I have spent at least one week every year except one since we built it, staying there to ski in Winter as well as some Summer visits for bush-walking.
I'm sure I speak for the other members when I say I have enjoyed being a member of this club with exciting, positive times ahead to be carried on by the members and directors. I have also enjoyed every minute of being down there at the lodge at Guthega.
Being a member of Turnak has been a major part of my life.
HAPPY SKIING ! Ray Kidd."
