Thredbo ski patrol co-founder Tommy Tomasi dies aged 100
Tomasi co-founded Thredbo Ski Patrol and shaped the mountain's safety culture for seven decades.
Tommy Tomasi, who celebrated his 100th birthday at Thredbo in July, died earlier this month. Born in Italy in 1929, he survived World War II as a partisan and concentration camp prisoner, then came to Australia seeking a fresh start.
Tommy Tomasi discovered Australia had snow, drove straight to the slopes, and never left. Tomasi co-founded the Thredbo Ski Patrol with Danny Coleman, recruiting skilled paramedics and teaching them to ski.
He worked on the original Snowy Hydro project and worked at a ski shop, importing skis. Even in retirement, he returned to Thredbo for coffee and to watch over the mountain he shaped.
His family said his July birthday felt like both celebration and farewell.
Why it mattersTomasi's death marks the end of an era for Thredbo and Australia's skiing community. He was the link between post-war migration and the modern alpine industry.
AustraliaFor Australians who ski at Thredbo or the Snowy Mountains, Tomasi's legacy lives in the ski patrol that keeps visitors safe on the slopes he loved.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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