The (most likely)
last annual Weindorfer Memorial Service will be held next Sunday 1st January 2016, at Gustav Weindorfer's grave site adjacent to his Waldheim Chalet at Cradle Mountain. This memorial service had is beginnings in November 1932, when Gustav’s sister sent a bunch of everlasting flowers and four candles, asking that they be placed on his grave on New Year’s Day, as was the custom in Carinthia. This simple ceremony was continued until the outbreak of World War II and subsequently revived in 1954. The current format of a memorial service on New Year's Day, along with the placing of flowers and lighting of candles, was instituted by the North West Walking Club in the early 1970s. It has become necessary to use local flowers, but candles are still sent from Austria. Due to the increasing ages of the Weindorfer Memorial Committee and the difficulties they have faced of "passing the batton" to the next generation, they have decided that this year's event will most likely be the last one they will be orgainsing.
The service starts at 1.30pm. In past years, there has always been free entry to Waldheim to attend the service, and private vehicles have been permitted by Parks to drive to Waldheim for the service. However this year private vehicles will not be permitted to drive to Waldheim after 9.00am from the boom gate, and people attending the service will need to use the shuttle bus service to Ronnie Creek and walk up to Waldheim, or use a special shuttle bus that will leave the visitor Centre around 1.00pm and go direct to Waldheim.
Look forward to seeing you there!