How Aspen outcasts could become Covid heroes

A bunch of ski bunnies garnered unwanted attention when they brought coronavirus back to Melbourne from Aspen, but they could now hold the key to understanding the virus.

Redemption could be on the cards for members of the Aspen cluster.

Last year the Aspen cluster became the outcasts of Melbourne, with the pitchforks coming out as the virus spread.

The COVID-carrying rich listers were considered some of the first to contract the virus and bring it into Victoria.

But now the ski-loving Aspen cluster could hold the answers to the virus, helping the University of Melbourne in its research into COVID vaccines and antibodies.

The University of Melbourne took blood samples from some in the cluster, including former real estate king Andrew Stuart of Hocking Stuart. On Friday, the university released its findings.

Andrew and Wendy Stuart. Picture: Facebook.

While the samples were not identified by name, the former real-estate king has told Page 13 the Aspen cluster were part of the sample group.

“They took three blood tests from the Aspen group as we have been called,” Stuart said from his luxury home in Mornington.

“Then they wanted a piece of our tonsils. So they took a bit of our tonsils and we haven’t heard back since.”

More than a dozen Australians are reported to have contracted the virus in Aspen with the virus spreading rapidly in Melbourne, affecting potentially hundreds of people.

A woman who was on the yearly ski trip to the Colorado ski resort said:

“We are the responsible ones in this. People have nothing better to do than be nasty. If we lived in Box Hill and I’d been to Bali, no one would care, would they?’’