Alpine Opinion

Holding found alive & well

Posted in Uncategorized by Ray Dixon on 1 September, 2009
Channel 7 & 9 news crews await Tim Holding's partner to emerge after news broke that he had been found alive & well. (Click on photo to enlarge)

Channel 7 & 9 await Tim Holding's partner to emerge after news broke that he had been found ~ Click on photo to enlarge.

Victorian Government Minister Tim Holding has just landed in Bright by helicopter after being found this morning, apparently in good health despite spending two nights lost in freezing conditions on Mt Feathertop. Holding’s partner, parents & other family members (who I can now reveal have been staying here @ GG since yesterday morning) rushed to the footy oval to be reconciled with him.

I took some other photos after Ms Whinett emerged but I’ll just leave it at the one above. It’s been high drama around here for the past 24 hours with police, Government ministers & officials coming and going. Somehow, early this morning, the media worked out that the family was staying here (under police guard) and started camping out the front around 9 am. Anyway – it’s all good news.

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  1. jr said, on 1 September, 2009 at 12:03 pm

    Good news!

  2. Ray Dixon said, on 1 September, 2009 at 12:08 pm

    Indeed. The family has just returned and will probably check out soon, but I believe Holding’s partner is flying down to Melbourne with him in the helicopter. The S.I.G. police also stayed here to shield the family from the media while he was still lost.

  3. Ray Dixon said, on 1 September, 2009 at 12:56 pm

    The family, police, etc. have left but Tim Holding’s car (which was at Harrietville) is now parked at GG. If no one claims it soon, it’s mine!

  4. Rox said, on 1 September, 2009 at 1:39 pm

    I love Ellen Whinett. She used to be a journo down here, and helped me get publicity for a health system failiure that saw a friend of mine die.

    I hope they didn’t ruin your garden Ray. It’s good news, but I still think he was a bit of a dolt to go off like that. Not worth the death penalty though.

  5. Ray Dixon said, on 1 September, 2009 at 1:47 pm

    I think she worked for The Mercury before moving to the real world mainland, Rox. Her sister flew in from Launceston and stayed with her @ GG. The whole family was ecstatic with the news, as you could imagine, and have said Tim will be in touch to thank us for ‘minding them’ and for helping keep the media away while he was lost and they were stressed (we fobbed off the TV stations a few times).

    But all I want is his car.

  6. Rox said, on 1 September, 2009 at 2:05 pm

    You deserve it. Have a word with Mr Brumby.

  7. Ray Dixon said, on 1 September, 2009 at 2:42 pm

    Quote of week. From the Herald Sun article describing how a plane spotted Holding’s torch light coming from his tent last night:

    It is understood the Petzl brand torch that saved Mr Holding was bought at Paddy Pallin.

    WTF is Paddy Pallin? Anyway, at least we know that important fact.

  8. clubwah said, on 1 September, 2009 at 2:55 pm

    How excitement for you Ray. A great ending to the story.
    Can you at least charge Mr Holding for car parking?

  9. Benji said, on 1 September, 2009 at 2:57 pm

    An outdoors equipment shop (a bit over priced in my experience)

    http://www.paddypallin.com.au/

  10. Ray Dixon said, on 1 September, 2009 at 3:19 pm

    It was kind of exciting, Wah. Unfortunately though his media adviser has picked up the car – thanking us profusely. I said I didn’t want any thanks just get your Tourism Minister boss to promote Bright from now on for Christ’s sake. Btw, sorry about the comment going into moderation – I’ve buggered up some of the settings … fixed now.

    Thanks for that info, Benji. So the H/S was just giving the store a free plug? Unbelievable.

  11. Ray Dixon said, on 1 September, 2009 at 3:59 pm

    I wonder if the Bright UnObserver, which comes out on a Wednesday, will have the story of the rescue in tomorrow’s edition?

  12. clubwah said, on 1 September, 2009 at 4:10 pm

    I’d be stunned if the local paper doesn’t at least have a news page open until Tuesday – I suppose it depends where they get it printed.

  13. Ray Dixon said, on 1 September, 2009 at 4:18 pm

    They’ve been known to miss major news stories that break within the 24 hours prior to the weekly publication.

  14. Stuart said, on 1 September, 2009 at 4:32 pm

    Great news Ray. Bright has been constantly mentioned on national tv as headquarters for the rescue parties and it has ended up a good news story. Well done.

  15. Benji said, on 1 September, 2009 at 4:40 pm

    I thought this is footage of his arrival in Bright is interesting (from the ABC’s website):

    http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200909/r428065_2042605.asx

    Is it no wonder the media is held in such contempt by most people. I understand it’s a big story and they want footage for their newscasts, but seriously the guy has just been reunited with his family and is being escorted to an ambulance and those vultures can’t even get back a respectable distance.

  16. Ray Dixon said, on 1 September, 2009 at 4:47 pm

    I think my latest & exclusive footage is far more respectful.

  17. Baldrick said, on 1 September, 2009 at 6:15 pm

    Shameless advertising Raymond.

  18. Rox said, on 1 September, 2009 at 6:53 pm

    What’s with the “bringing Bright down tag”? Did you run out of hot water or something?

  19. Ray Dixon said, on 1 September, 2009 at 7:08 pm

    It’s irony, Rox. Do you have irony down there?

    Yes, it’s blatantly and shamelessly advertorialising on my part, Baldrick. I even made the Channel 7 News in Melbourne.

  20. jr said, on 1 September, 2009 at 7:31 pm

    I bet there was a bit of gnashing of teeth from the band of Bright half wits that tried to muscle you out, Ray.

  21. Rox said, on 1 September, 2009 at 7:32 pm

    Yes, we usually do the irony at the weekend ready for the work week.

    More Bright on the news down here this evening.

  22. Ray Dixon said, on 1 September, 2009 at 7:50 pm

    I hope it got right up their craws, JR.

    You do the ironying at the weekend, Rox? When do you do the washying?

    And did you see Gee Gee on the Tee Vee? I only saw it on Channel 7’s Today Tonight (briefly!)

  23. Baldrick said, on 1 September, 2009 at 8:24 pm

    The Governor General was on the TV or was it one of our SES personnel? If the latter, he is a colleague of mine. God bless the SES.

  24. jr said, on 2 September, 2009 at 7:31 am

    I saw GG, Ray. NATIONAL EXPOSURE!

    Right folks, when you come into Bright, it’s the first on right.

    Next step, 5 star status, Raymond. Then we’ll leave their craw alone and hit their jugular.

  25. Rox said, on 2 September, 2009 at 9:44 am

    Saw it briefly. However, it wasn’t in its full spring glory, but I don’t suppose that was their focus this time around.

  26. Ray Dixon said, on 2 September, 2009 at 11:55 am

    Yes, it was but a fleeting shot. Anyway, the ’spring glory’ doesn’t start for about another month or so. Early October is actually when Bright looks its best – and sadly it’s a rather quiet time around here and in fact the real Spring is incredibly underpromoted … maybe I can get Tim to do something about that?

  27. Baldrick said, on 2 September, 2009 at 4:05 pm

    and he can fix the colour of the grass

  28. Ray Dixon said, on 2 September, 2009 at 4:41 pm

    Nature will take care of that (and a good cut & some fertiliser … watch!)

  29. ralph said, on 2 September, 2009 at 6:22 pm

    It appears to me Holding’s family picked the first motel coming in to Bright. When you are distraught by impending tragedy you don’t think straight nor care where you chose to stay. Don’t flatter yourself.

  30. Ray Dixon said, on 2 September, 2009 at 6:56 pm

    Careful Ralph, your nasty streak is showing. It’s no wonder I have you on moderation control just in case you go too far. I let that one through so as to set you straight:

    The Holding group did indeed “pick (one of) the first motels coming in to Bright”, but it wasn’t this one. It was one that didn’t suit their needs, being modern & self-contained (they did not want to have to go outside for anything). The proprietor of the other place was kind enough to recommend them to GG and on inspection they decided to take it.

    For your information TV crews from 7 & 9 both tried to book in too, but we knocked them back out of concern for the Holding group’s privacy at a time when they were deeply stressed.

    Why do you even bother to comment on issues you know nothing about?


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