Orienteering Victoria celebrates 50 years

WORDS RON FREDERICK

2020 marks 50 years since the establishment of OV (originally known as the Victorian Orienteering Association).

David Hogg, a Victorian by birth, but now a resident of the ACT for many years, is in the process of writing a detailed history of Orienteering in Australia. The following information is taken from David’s draft.

Tom Andrews, Mike Hubbert, Ron Frederick and David Hogg formed a group to prepare a draft Victorian constitution. At the same time they took the advice of the International Orienteering Federation (IOF), for a proposed Orienteering Federation of Australia (OFA). John Disley’s book, simply entitled Orienteering, first published in 1967, played a part, as it contained the constitution of the English Orienteering Association. Both the VOA and OFA constitutions were based on that of the English Orienteering Association. A public meeting at the Melbourne University Sports Union offices on 21 April 1970 formally constituted both bodies. David Hogg was elected VOA President and Ron Frederick Treasurer. The logical choice for Secretary, Mike Hubbert, was about to depart for an extended period overseas, so that position was filled by Bruce Caldwell, who was a member of both Richmond Harriers (Tom and Mikes’ athletics club) and MUMC. Tom Andrews, at his own request, was co-opted as publicly officer. The initial VOA executive also formed the inaugural executive of the OFA (now OA).

An excellent summary of the first 50 years of Orienteering in Victoria, by Belinda Dale, can be found on the Orienteering Victoria website. It is located at the foot of the home page, in the section headed About Orienteering Victoria.

Happy half century Orienteering Victoria.