Mountains of love for Hotham couple

AFTER almost eight years together, Jordyn Kaston and Toshi Pander got engaged by the light of August’s first super moon on top of Mt Hotham, where they had met for the first in 2015.

The couple have both worked nine winter seasons at Hotham and Jordyn said they met through mutual friends all those years ago.

“We got pretty close right from the start but we did go separate ways after the 2015 season,” she said.

“I went back to my hometown in Perth and he went to work another snow season in Japan.

“Toshi is from Christchurch, New Zealand, but he has also spent a lot of his life in Japan.

“We re-connected in 2016 back at Mount Hotham and the relationship took off from there.

“I loved Toshi's drive and passion for skiing and photography, he is also a great cook and I was always impressed by his skiing ability.

“He says he loves that I put up with him and let him play a lot of golf.”

The pair love the Hotham community and said they’ve both made some life-long friends on the mountain, so it was a fitting venue for the engagement.

“I love the cruisey village loops and Toshi’s personal favourite would be the summit park,” Jordyn said.

“We also enjoy working here, I’m in the retail department and Toshi is the Terrain Parks manager.

“Toshi knew it was going to be a great sunset on the day; the weather that day was really nice.

“It wasn't until we got to the top of the summit we realised how full and beautiful the moon was.

“Toshi is a photographer for the Mount Hotham Resort Management Board so when he asked me to help him take some sunset photos with a bottle of champagne to advertise the sunset tours I didn't think much of it as we have done a photoshoot like this before.

“I was very surprised when he got down on one knee.

“Afterwards we were both feeling very happy and loved.”

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