The Highest PZS Awards Honor Tireless Mountaineering Volunteers...

The Highest PZS Awards Honor Tireless Mountaineering Volunteers.

The Alpine Association of Slovenia (PZS) expresses respect to recipients every year with its highest awards for their long-term tireless and dedicated volunteer work in mountaineering, which is the foundation of the mountaineering organization celebrating its 130th anniversary this year. At the ceremonial presentation in Ljubno on December 2, 2023, it awarded PZS ceremonial certificates to 11 deserving individuals, PZS commemorative plaques to 22 mountaineers on life milestones, and three PZS gold honorary badges.





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—for their foundation of mountaineering and the mountaineering organization—as highlighted by the keynote speaker Dušan Škodič, member of the editorial board of Planinski vestnik and author of the book Triglav je naš: "Slovenian mountaineering would not have grown into what it is, and above all, lasted 130 years, without a solid foundation. Thousands of mountaineers who venture into our mountains are its visible image. You, dear ladies and gentlemen, have built a solid foundation for it with your dedicated mountaineering work. I sincerely congratulate all this year's recipients of the highest awards of the Alpine Association of Slovenia."

After the rain—and also after storms and floods—the sun shines, and on the first December Saturday, in the place world-famous for its rafting tradition and ski jumping, a ray of hope was brought by sacrificial mountaineers from near and far. "A day like today is a holiday for all of us. Dear recipients of the highest PZS awards, with these awards we thank you for the work done—we build on your foundations and will strive to continue in this direction," paid tribute to the dedicated mountaineers the president of PZS Jože Rovan. At the presentation, which the alpine association organized together with the Mountaineering Association (PD) Ljubno ob Savinji and the Municipality of Ljubno, the attendees in the Upper Savinja Valley were warmly addressed by the head of the PZS Membership Committee Tone Jesenko, a heartfelt welcome was wished to them by the mayor of the Municipality of Ljubno Franjo Naraločnik, that the recipients of the highest awards are the cherry on top of our mountaineering, for which they have sacrificed their ideas, time, and effort, was highlighted by Bernard Štiglic, president of PD Ljubno ob Savinji, which celebrated its 70th anniversary last year. The cultural event was enriched with a mountaineering song by Kvartet Štiglic and the Men's Choir Zarja, and on behalf of all recipients of the awards, the recipient of the ceremonial certificate Viktor Furman proudly thanked, emphasizing that working in mountaineering means a mission for them.

Recipients of the Highest Awards of the Alpine Association of Slovenia for 2023

The recipients of PZS CEREMONIAL CERTIFICATES, the highest awards of the Alpine Association of Slovenia, for 2023 are:

Marjan Grosman (PD Zreče) for long-term work in PD Zreče, especially for work with youth and for great contribution to the functioning of mountaineering in the municipality of Zreče,
Viktor Furman (PD Galicija) for long-term versatile work in the mountaineering section Galicija within PD Žalec and later in the newly established association PD Galicija,
Mirko Tovšak (PD Mislinja) for long-term, versatile work in PD Slovenj Gradec and PD Mislinja, MDO PD Koroške and in PZS bodies,
Marijana Pančur (PD Gorje) for long-term dedicated work in PD Gorje, especially in the field of management, nature protection and work with youth,
Anton Progar (PD Krka Novo mesto) for long-term versatile work in PD Krka Novo mesto and in the broader area of Dolenjska and Bela krajina,
Katarina Filipič (PD Cerkno) for long-term, versatile dedicated work in PD Cerkno, for work with youth and passing on the love of mountains to the young generation,
Anton Paulič (PD Dol pri Hrastniku) for long-term work in PD Dol pri Hrastniku, especially for work with youth and spreading mountaineering in the broader Zasavje area,
Marko Dakskobler (PD Podbrdo) for long-term, versatile work in PD Podbrdo and in the broader Baška grapa area,
Aleš Arih (PD Maribor Matica) for long-term versatile activity in PD Maribor Matica, for work with youth and for preserving cultural heritage,
Mirjam Frankovič Franetič (PD Sežana) for long-term work in PD Sežana, for work with youth, for arranging thematic trails and for collaboration in publishing mountaineering guides,
Boris Lazar (PD PT Ljubljana) for long-term work in PD Pošte in Telekoma Ljubljana, for work in the field of guiding and mountaineering management—maintenance of the Poštarski dom on Vršič.

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

For 85 years: Ivo Arnič (PD Ljubno ob Savinji) for long-term work in the management board and honorary tribunal of PD, contribution to the expansion of Antejev bivak and construction of the Koča na Travniku.

For 80 years: Jože Krašovec (PD Krim) for more than 30 years of work in the association and beyond, especially as a marker and leader of markers.

For 75 years:

Marjan Kobav (PD Kamnik) for long-term leading of mountaineers of PD Kamnik and PD Polet, activity in the inPlaninec program and assistance in management projects,
Marija Pralija (PD Ptuj) for long-term work in the association, in management and financial advising and implementation of annual mass association hikes,
Srečko Pungartnik (PD Maribor Matica) for 52 years of active work in PD as head of the youth section, active guide, association president, head of mountaineering schools and courses and president of MDO PD Podravje,
Benjamin Jug (PD Ruše) for long-term work as vice-president and mountaineering guide of PD Ruše and in the management section of MDO PD Podravje,
Marjan Kurtalj (PD Kočevje) for long-term work in PD Kočevje as member of the MB and vice-president and manager and caretaker of the Koča pri Jelenovem studencu.
For 70 years:

Brane Česen (PD Križe) for long-term volunteer work in the association—as a standard-bearer, cableway operator, helped in the construction of huts on Kriška gora and in Gozd,
Jožef Dobnik (PD Bricnik Muta) for long-term work as a mountaineering guide and participation in youth camps, is also a mountain rescuer,
Marjan Epšek (PD Dravograd) for long-term work as vice-president and president of PD Dravograd, vice-president of MDO PD Koroške, mountaineering guide and marker,
Rado Krpač (PD Dravograd) for work as vice-president and president of the association and participation in the renovation of the former guardhouse on Košenjak,
Dušan Gimpelj (PD Dravograd) for long-term volunteer work in the association, in the construction and maintenance of the mountaineering home on Košenjak and in the association's management section,
Silvester Tavčar (PD Cerkno) for long-term participation in the implementation of the winter hike to Porezen and in the renovation and maintenance of the Koča na Poreznu,
Ivan Borovnik (PD Poljčane) for the work done as a mountain guard and guardian of mountain nature and leading excursions and hikes,
Franci Fortuna (PD Gorenja vas) for multi-year presidency of the association, work as a mountaineering guide and organization of the hike to Blegoš and arrangement and work as manager at the Zavetišče gorske straže on Jelenci,
Anton Žižmond (PD Velenje) for work in the mountaineering section of Premogovnik, presidency of PD Velenje and activity in Savinjsko MDO, for guiding and marking work,
Danijel Jelen (PD Žalec) for long-term work in the mountaineering section Ponikva, from leading and initiative for setting up three bivouacs to arranging the mountaineering trail and mountaineering orienteering,
Stane Golob (PD Rečica ob Savinji) for long-term activity in the association, both on hikes and in marker actions, setting up bonfires, maypoles or camps for young mountaineers.
For 65 years:

Jože Erjavec (PD Boč Kostrivnica) for long-term presidency of PD Boč Kostrivnica, for leading excursions and work in the management committee and in the construction of the koča Velikonočnice,
Stanka Vobič (PD Fram) for leading PD, work as a mountaineering guide, with youth and veterans and implementation of the association's traditional hikes,
Simon Ograjenšek (PD Polzela) for the establishment of the Andraška pot and its maintenance, work as a mountaineering guide and organizer of hikes,
Ivana Leskovar (PD Slovenska Bistrica) for extensive work in PD, from the youth section to guiding—both at the association and all-Slovenian (Blind and Visually Impaired along SPP) and international (She Leads) level.

Awards from the leadership of the Alpine Association of Slovenia for special achievements in 2023, awarded by the PZS presidency, were received by:

Andrej Šter—PZS gold honorary badge for his contribution to rescues on expeditions abroad; with diplomatic experience and positive attitude, he indeed opened doors of international diplomacy;
Silvo Karo (PD Domžale)—PZS gold honorary badge for his contribution to alpinism at the highest level and for promoting mountain culture, which has been the mission of the Mountain Film Festival since its founding;
Marta Krejan Čokl (AK Ravne na Koroškem)—PZS gold honorary badge for her contribution to alpinism and for long-term recognizable work at Planinski vestnik.

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