Census district manager Barbara Hill and her team of Census collectors were in the ski fields during the week of Census, wearing bright yellow bags making sure every skier and snow boarder was counted. “The ski fields pose a unique set of challenges for the Census every five years.

Luckily I have a great team of Census collectors who worked hard during Census week to get a good count of travellers and are still working hard collecting forms from locals,” Mrs Hill said.

“Sam Spencer, one of my collectors, would get up early and head to the slopes first thing in the morning for a bit of boarding. He would send back daily snow reports by 7am, which I used to plan the strategy for the day.

“If the conditions weren’t good up on the slopes that morning, I’d know that people would be inside their cabins and apartments having hot chocolate so we were able to get to them in daylight hours.”

Mrs Hill, a long-time Monaro resident, is confident that the largest peace-time operation in Australia has gone well so far in the snowfields. However, she is reminding those who haven’t filled out a Census form to make sure they are counted.

“Overall, things have worked out well for us so far. Weather-wise, we have been very lucky,” Mrs Hill said.

“We have also been well received by both locals and visitors to the region. Many collectors are being invited in by wonderful householders to have a quick hot drink before jumping back out into the cold.

“If you haven’t completed your 2011 Census form yet it isn’t too late. Census collectors will be out collecting until the end of the month and the online eCensus option is open until September 5.”

For more information visit: www.abs.gov.au/census or call the Census Inquiry Service on 1300 338 776.