On a sunny Wednesday, both Year 11 and Year 12 Vocational Major (VM) classes embarked on an organised tour focused on the major businesses operating at Mount Buller.

The excursion was expertly coordinated by Jonathon Steele, a VM teacher from Mansfield Secondary College, in collaboration with Mount Buller’s Buller Ski Lifts (BSL) Human Resources team.

The 17 September visit proved to be highly educational and informative, showcasing a variety of mountain-related enterprises.

As a result, many students gained valuable insight into the diverse work opportunities available at Mount Buller.

Among the highlights was a tour of the Snow Factory, a stand-out business responsible for producing artificial snow and maintaining a strong snow base for skiers and snowboarders.

The technology behind their operation is impressive.

Workers monitor snow depth across the mountain digitally, using data relayed from transponders installed on the snow and moving machinery.

This information is transmitted back to the Snow Factory, where instructions are then sent to machinery operators.

These commands help optimise snow usage by directing the large snow guns or guiding machinery to areas where additional snow is needed.

Weather data from 50 weather stations placed around the mountain also plays a critical role.

This real time information allows the factory to make precise decisions about snow gun operations based on strict weather conditions, making it a highly technical and efficient process.

Interestingly, despite a decrease in natural snowfall, the number of days Mount Buller remains open each season has increased.

This growth is likely attributed to the advanced snowmaking technology the mountain has invested in over recent years.

Another fascinating business on Mount Buller is the mechanical workshop, which is responsible for the maintenance and servicing of all the skidoos and snow moving machinery on the mountain.

This workshop carries a significant level of responsibility in ensuring that all equipment remains in good working order.

Major engine rebuilds and extensive maintenance take place during the warmer summer months, while the focus during winter is on keeping everything operational.

The students also had the opportunity to visit some of the hospitality businesses on the mountain, including Mount Buller Chalet and Buller Sports.

Buller Sports operates 10 outlets both on and off the mountain and employs dozens of staff during the peak season to fit skis and chains for visitors.

Naturally, staffing levels rise and fall significantly depending on the time of year and snow conditions.

At Mount Buller Chalet, the students observed the complexities and challenges involved in staffing a high quality mountain accommodation business.

One of the largest employers on the mountain is Buller Ski School, which employs hundreds of qualified and skilled ski instructors, alongside an equally large number of lift operators.

Both roles are essential to keeping the mountain running smoothly.

As with all other businesses on the mountain, staff numbers vary greatly with the seasons.

Notably, many of these employees are former students of Mansfield Secondary College.

The informative day concluded with a free hour on the toboggan slopes which was seen to be plenty of fun.

All of the different students got involved in the fun before the group boarded the bus and returned to school, arriving around 4pm.