History
Since 2016 – in conjunction with the Victorian High Country Huts Association and DELWP, MJOC has been maintaining Keppel’s Hut near Marysville – we have been doing 6 to 12 month visits to, cut grass, fill the wood bin, lime the toilet and clean and stock the hut itself. So now we manage Keppel’s hut, 15 Mile Hut and Ryan’s Spur Hut. These are all in the Marysville hut zone and the only ones left due to others being destroyed by vandals or fire.
Planning and Donations
After Approaching Victorian High Country Huts, they have assisted in us getting approval to maintain 15 mile hut and try and make it as usable as Keppel’s Hut. So after a lengthy approval process we got approval to fix 15 mile hut and add a camping area to the front of the hut.
After discussion with Wayne Peterken from Victorian High Country Huts. The Sub-committee went about looking at options. After presenting at club meeting it was clear that MJOC were up for the challenge of Hut Maintenance. The club allocate $1000 this year to help maintain, many other members volunteered time and resources.
So the sub-committee would like to thank the following people who donated resources to the 15 Mile Hut restoration:
Robert Frew – who donated tin and nails
Kathryn Marmara- Stewart – for water donation
Ross Daws – for Refreshments during construction
David Chudasko – for over 1000 Nails, pots and pans.
Ronald Maskell– for tin sheets, broom, fire metals and cleaning equipment
Peter Sharp – for a new fireplace, concrete and Tools
Robert Sharp – for supplying lunch both days, bracing and nails.
MJOC for supplying – $500 for timber, nails and other building supplies.
Jim Hutchinson – for the bringing all the tools and concrete.
Andrew Panozzo – for Tools, Concrete and Sleepers.
Ross Kaigg – for Tools and equipment.
Frank De Angelis – for donation of parking signs.
Reconstruction and Camping
Friday night Ronnie Maskell and Kyle Mackechnie camped up at Big river camping ground, it happened to get over 20mm of rain, sleet and snow. The rest of the crew meet up at Beechworth Bakery on Saturday morning and meet them up at Camp at 9am. The Saturday crew consisted of:
Robert Sharp
Kathryn Marmara- Stewart
Peter Sharp (registered Builder)
Jim Hutchinson
Ross Kraigg and Kathy
Greg Lawson
Andrew Panozzo
Ronnie Maskell
Kyle Mackecknie
Ross Daws – came prepared with Coffee machine
After getting to the Hut at approx. 10.15 the team split up into group by the end of the day we had
Raise the roof of the hut – this was done by inch by inch raising it up 1.3 metres
Made an outside fire pit
Made steps down to the river
Cleared Drains and filled mud holes
Cut fire wood
Made bench seats for outdoor area
This was all achieved in the rain, hail and snow so well done for all braving the weather and achieving so much
Saturday night camping was enjoyed by a few brave souls as the rain didn’t ease up until 9am the next morning.
Sunday morning we had the following additional people turn up camp.
John Metcalf – and his wiper sniper
Michael Haworth with Tyler and Logan Haworth
Together with Robert, Kathryn, Jim, Kyle, Ronnie, Ross and Kathy we all headed to the hut and got there to be meet by Shez and Warren – our HMO (Huts Maintenance Officer) from High Country Huts.
Again we split up into groups and completed the following:
Blocked Road off to make camping area in front of hut
Completed drainage in front of hut
Put in 4 bollards to mark out the camping area and attach signage
Concreted in camping seats
Cut and cleaned up garden around the hut – including clearing car park area
Made and filled fire bin – approx. 1 cubic metre bin
Cleaned up inside hut – benches, sink, fireplace, floor
Left water, food, cleaning gear and cooking pots &utensils
Put in visitors book with pen in waterproof satchel
Re hinged front door
Made sleeper floor at entrance of hut – 6 sleeper wide
Finalised inside roof with cross beams
Completed ridge cap on roof
Cleaned out fireplace and added new fireplace and utensils
Stabilised outside walls and added posts for future stabilising
SUMMARY
So we now have a weatherproof hut and a great camping area around the 15 mile hut.
The satisfaction and reward for effort in doing this will change our club in many ways, in least we now are recognised as a community contributor within key authorities including, 4wd Victoria, Victorian High Country Huts Association and government DELWP.
The hut committee hope that our club also bases trips from our huts and use then for base camp.
A big thank you to the club for being the main financial contributor to this project without those funds it could not happened.
Thank you to everyone who came to help – we made a great team and have achieved so much.
Look forward to finishing 15 mile hut and making even better.
MJOC Huts Committee