Highest PZS Awards a Tribute to Dedicated...

PZS Highest Awards a Tribute to Dedicated Mountaineering Volunteers.

The Mountaineering Association of Slovenia (PZS) expresses its respect every year to recipients with its highest awards for their long-term tireless and dedicated volunteer work in mountaineering. At the solemn ceremony in Medvode on December 4, it awarded PZS solemn certificates to 10 deserving individuals, PZS commemorative plaques to 15 mountaineers on life anniversaries, and three awards from the PZS management for special achievements.

The highest PZS awards are an expression of respect and a modest tribute to individuals for their long-term dedicated volunteer work in various fields of mountaineering activities, both in the local and broader social environment. "Dear recipients of the highest awards, we are building on foundations into which a great deal of your volunteer work, many bold plans, and successful implementations are incorporated. You have achieved them together, in numerous successful partnerships, in a comradely atmosphere that has often grown into lasting friendships. Today's awards should be a thank you for what has been achieved; they come from the hands of those who appreciate your work. We are volunteers, but for our work we are richly rewarded - with personal satisfaction from a job well done, as well as with the bonds that have been woven among us in the process," emphasized PZS President Jože Rovan. At the somewhat curtailed award ceremony due to current circumstances, organized by the mountaineering association together with the Medvode Mountaineering Association (PD Medvode) and the Municipality of Medvode, on the slopes of the Polhograjske Dolomites, also spoke MP Mateja Udovč, Head of the PZS Membership Committee Tone Jesenko, Mayor of the Municipality of Medvode Nejc Smole, and President of PD Medvode Gorazd Šturm. The cultural event was enriched with a mountaineering song by the Medvode Hunting Choir, and on behalf of all recipients of the awards, local resident Dušan Brekič, recipient of a solemn certificate, proudly expressed thanks.


Recipients of the Highest Awards of the Mountaineering Association of Slovenia for 2021

Recipients of PZS SOLEMN CERTIFICATES, the highest awards of the Mountaineering Association of Slovenia, for 2021 are:

Alojzij Pristavnik (PD Ravne na Koroškem) for long-term work in PD Ravne na Koroškem, especially for work with youth in mountaineering and orienteering; in addition to hiking, he also imparted knowledge of natural and cultural heritage to the young,
Marija Erlah (PD Križe) for long-term versatile work in PD Križe; she contributed greatly to the operation of both mountain huts managed by the association and to work with youth,
Vladimir Ivan Hlede (PD Jesenice) for long-term leadership work in PD Jesenice and for work in GRS Jesenice,
Dušan Brekič (PD Medvode) for long-term work in guiding and for a great deal of good work done in PD Medvode,
Peter Kolenc (PD Rečica ob Savinji) for versatile work in various fields in PD Rečica ob Savinji and for work with youth,
Martin Pšeničnik (PD Slovenske Konjice) for long-term volunteer work in PD Slovenske Konjice and in the broader Savinja region, especially in trail marking,
Jožef Dajnko (PD Ptuj) for long-term work in PD Ptuj, especially in guiding, orienteering, and in the creation of the Haloška and Slovenjgorica Trail,
Ivan Kosi (PD Maribor-Matica) for extensive work in PD Maribor-Matica, for work in guiding and work with youth,
Peter Suhadolc (SPD Trst) for long-term versatile work in SPD Trst, for work in trail marking, guiding, alpinism, and orienteering,
Danica Padjan (PD Vrelec Rogaška Slatina) for long-term work in PD Vrelec Rogaška Slatina, especially in nature conservation and work in the Polžki section.

PZS COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUES, which the Mountaineering Association of Slovenia awards on life anniversaries to its most deserving members for their long-term loyal and exceptionally successful work, were received by:

For 75 years: Franc Janež (PD Kočevje) for long-term presidency of PD Kočevje and responsible work as a trail marker on the Kočevje Mountaineering Trail.

For 70 years:

Peter Zupanc (PD Mislinja) for diverse work in PD Mislinja, connecting with other associations in the Šaleška Valley and leading the Guides Committee of MDO PD Koroške,
Ivan Hartman (PD Slovenj Gradec) for extensive guiding work in PD Slovenj Gradec, assistance in hut work, and work as standard bearer,
Boris Pervanja (PD Jesenice), alpinist and mountain rescuer, for recognizable work on mountaineering trails and mountaineering posts of PD Jesenice,
Stane Sova (PD Križe) for active work in PD Križe, assistance to trail markers, and passing on knowledge about mountains, especially from a safety perspective,
Franci Maršnjak (PD Velenje) for diverse work in PD Velenje in association leadership, guiding, and training both adults and youth,
Miroslav Jegrišnik (PD Polzela) for versatile work in PD Polzela in association leadership, guiding, mountaineering orienteering, mountaineering camps, and care for the Planinski dom na Gori Oljki,
Nikola Guid (PD Ruše) for diverse work in PD Ruše in mountain guarding and guiding, and chairing the Committee for Mountaineering Circuits and activities in this field.
For 65 years:

Marjan Kregar (PD Kamnik), alpinist, mountain guide, and mountain rescuer, for passing on knowledge and rich experiences in PD Kamnik to course participants, aspiring alpinists, and others,
Anica Tavčar (PD Cerkno) for long-term work as secretary in PD Cerkno, activity in excursion activities, events, and duty shifts at the hut on Porezen,
Janko Kovačič (PD Poljčane) for long-term presidency of PD Poljčane and versatile work - from leading excursions and renovating the mountaineering home and tower on Boč to trail marking work and administrative matters,
Bogomil Polavder (PD Zabukovica) for long-term active work in PD Zabukovica in mountain guarding, orienteering, and organization of youth camps and work with youth,
Silva Čulk (PD Zabukovica) for diverse work in PD Zabukovica as a member of the Executive Board, association treasurer, mountaineering guide, organizer of excursions and mountaineering camps,
Dušan Vedenik (PD Prebold) for chairing the association and dedicated work as a trail marker in PD Prebold,
Jožica Podkrajnik (PD Luče) for activity in building the Koča na Loki after the fire, work in various committees, and education of young mountaineers.


Awards from the Management of the Mountaineering Association of Slovenia for Special Achievements in 2021, awarded by the PZS Presidency, were received by:

Gorazd Hren (ŠAO Velenje) - PZS gold honorary badge for exceptionally good coaching work in sport climbing, making Slovenia one of the world's leading countries in this sport,
Gregor Milčinski - PZS gold honorary badge for long-term maintenance and enhancement of the Geopedia mountaineering trails system,
Jure Tičar - PZS praise for the doctoral thesis titled Contamination of Karst Caves in Selected Slovenian Regions: Study of Influential Spatial Factors and Plan for Priority Remediation.

At the event, the Mountaineering Association of Slovenia and its deserving members Franci Ekar, Janez Duhovnik, and Slavica Tovšak also received plaques from the Avgušt Delavec Foundation for their contribution to the construction of the Slovenian Mountaineering Museum.


We sincerely thank all recipients of the awards for their dedicated work in the mountaineering organization and congratulate them from the heart!