OV 2021 Yearbook

yearbook

Orienteering Victoria/ 2021

Cover photo Julie Flynn at Easter 2021 (Photo by Don Cherry)

President’s Report

Orienteering Victoria President Carl Dalheim

Hi Folks, it would be fair to say that 2021 was a year divided. January kicked off with the Melbourne and Surf Coast Park and Street Summer series, the MFR sprints, and MTBO BikeO75. A certain optimism was in the air.

Throughout February, March, April and May our volunteers provided us with many great events. The MTBO community held several rounds of the BikeO75 Series. . Bendigo OC rolled out the Koolamurt team score events and commenced their excellent Bendigo Bush series. The MFR urban sprint series was completed. MelBushO started with three events in March and continued through to July. In March Victoria hosted a NOL round, coinciding with the commencement of the Autumn –Spring bush series. Thanks to the CHOC, Yarra Valley, Bendigo, and Eureka clubs, a large contingent of interstate and local participants competed in the NOL Sprint, Middle and Long distance events, as well as the first two rounds of the Autumn/ Spring series. In April DROC ran the Melbourne City Race, and in May we all ran the Victorian Secondary School Orienteering Championship. Throughout this period all of the various Park and Street series continued week after week, and Albury Wodonga continued to host a steady stream of foot and MTBO events. Unfortunately, late in May, Victoria got the Covid wobbles, and Melbourne locked down, but the regions stayed open. Melbourne opened up, then shut down again in July, for another long dark winter and spring; all the way to midNovember. Restrictions changed in November, and Victoria reopened for Community Sport. Yarra Valley ran the ‘Unofficial’ Victorian Short Champs, Park and Street was back on, and the Bendigo and Albury Wodonga clubs wrapped up the year with a couple of events.

It was a frustrating year for all. Regardless, our board, event organisers, course planners, and a host of other volunteers were not deterred. Laurie Niven persevered and worked with the clubs to re-schedule and re-negotiate permits; and plan for 2022. Debbie Dodd continued to deliver services to Orienteering Victoria across a large range of activities, not surprisingly resulting in Debbie being the recipient of the 2021 ‘Services to Orienteering Victoria’ award. Wendy Taverna along with her coaching committee, despite the lockdowns,

persevered with many activities and initiatives throughout the year. And we all continued to navigate Covid mandate changes, permit changes and numerous other challenges to provide as much Orienteering as the restrictions would allow. We had some personnel changes in the year. Mel Kent stepped down from the Office Manager role; and Brodie Nankervis stepped down from the Schools Officer role. Richard Goonan joined us as Schools Officer in May, and Ricky Thackray as OV Bookkeeper in September. A big thanks to Mel and Brodie for their service; it was greatly appreciated.

Planning continued throughout the year for the 2022 Australian Orienteering Carnival. Warwick Williams, Warren Key, Fredrik Johansson, and I continued to visit various event locations, while David Jaffe commenced a range of other activities including the financial side of the carnival.

Unfortunately, in a repeat of 2020, our elites and our school team again missed out on several opportunities in 2021. The cancellation of the Australian Orienteering Carnival meant that our schools team again did not travel to Tasmania. Great work

from Bruce Arthur, Clare Brownridge and Patrick Jaffe to organise and prepare the schools team was in vain, and the team themselves missed a great opportunity to compete against and have fun with old and new friends. I note on Eventor, Orienteering Tasmania refer to the event as ‘Carnival That Never Will Be’. Fortunately, their work is not wasted, as it will be transferred to the Oceania 2023 carnival.

Despite Australia not sending teams to JWOC or WOC, Victorians were named in the JWOC Honour team – Jensen Key, and the WOC Merit team – Aston Key, Patrick Jaffe, and

recommend you take some time to reflect on what we all did last year; be grateful for your efforts and the efforts of others, and consider what we can do in the future to re-establish and grow Orienteering in Victoria, cheers Carl.

Vic Autumn series

Shortened but sweet

WORDS DEBBIE DODD

The plan in 2021 had been to combine the VIC Autumn and VIC Spring series into one, but for the first seven events referenced the Autumn series only and the “Spring” part of the bush program ended up being a no goer as Melbourne moved into its series of lockdowns. So for most people this series remained the VIC Autumn series. Originally seven Autumn events were scheduled into Eventor and four actually took place. That is pretty good given all the mobility restrictions that were in force during the year.

The series this year commenced on the March long weekend, as part of a NOL weekend, which incorporated a sprint, middle and a long event and the two bush events also being VIC Autumn 1 & 2 for the non-elites. The NOL sprint was held on the Saturday morning prior to the included course options for everyone. Run jointly by CHOC & YVOC at Gisborne High, the courses tested navigation techniques taking in the cemetery, a small forest area and the college.

Mt Alexander

After the sprint it was a quick move to Mount Alexander for the first event of the series run by Bendigo Orienteers, with Jim Russell as course planner. Jim had planned courses from a “high” remote start. For the period where it was fine – the views were fantastic. These were tough courses, made tougher when a band of wet and cold weather settled over the mountain from early in the event. Being a NOL weekend there were lots of interstaters, some taking out the top positions in the VIC Autumn series competition. Local winners were: C 1M:

Petticoat Gully

Event two followed on the Sunday with Eureka’s event at Petticoat Gully in Creswick, with Ian Lawford as course planner. Well what a contrast - the weather behaved and the courses did not involve a huge amount of climb which was most

Geoff Lawford; C2W: Carolyn Jackson; C2M: Tim Hatley; C5W: Lydia Stott.

appreciated by the competitors. Again some top places went to the interstaters with local winners being: C2W: Moria Kuffer; C2M: Warren Key; C5M: Neo Kozma.

Boundary Creek

The third event followed in early May at Boundary Creek, after the AUS 3-Day event in NSW. Russell Bulman and Dennis Trewin were joint course planners and the day was organised by Yarra Valley Orienteers. It was a great turnout with great courses to match, including the score course. Unfortunately people did not feel comfortable staying around for the prize giving, with lots of people leaving as soon as they had completed their course. The winners today were: C1M: Richard Goonan; C1W: Aislinn Prendergast; C2M: Mason Arthur; C2W: Moria Kuffer; C3M: Rob Lewis; C3W: Natasha Key; C4M: Greg Palmer C4W: Ella Lang; C5M: Rory Nankervis; C5W: Amelia Nankervis; Score: Rod Gray.

Mt Tarrengower

This event hosted by NE with courses planned by Rex Niven just squeaked in before “Lockdown” reared its head again the following week. For most this was a fun event amongst the rock with the shorter courses staying on the lower slopes. Unluckily a misplaced control, plus one missing one meant that C1 had to be made non-competitive. But the day was fine, people could get together and socialise and enjoy their time out in the bush. The winners today were: C2M: Tim Hatley; C2W: Clare Brownridge; C3M: Carl Dalheim; C3W: Georgina Macken; C4M: Alexander Rowlands C4W: Sammy Love; C5M: Joshua Layton; C5W: Angelina Kozma; Score: Rod Gray.

Park Street 2021

The 2021 Park Street orienteering year had a real sense of déjà vu about it, with half the winter season lost to lockdowns and restrictions. The good news was that once we were allowed to start up again, we had an uninterrupted summer season. We also ran a very successful “Summer Anytime Series” (SAS) which got people match-fit before the return of competition.

Winter Series (April-September 2021)

Australia was mostly covid free for a few months in the first half of 2021, and we started hoping for a return to “normal”. Alas, it was not to be. After several short lockdowns in June and July, covid took off and we were confined to home, with our 5 km travel limit, for most of the next 3 months. We managed to hold half the fixtured winter events this time – a considerable improvement over 2020, but still a disappointing time.

Participation:

49 events were held, with a total of 2607 participants. Numbers per event were similar to 2020. There was no Geelong Winter Series held.

week. Mark Besley kept a tally of the scores. The Summer Anytime Series was an enormous success, and it was great fun to actually see, and wave to, fellow orienteers. Total participation was over 1100, an average of 32 per day; it was not uncommon to attract 60-65 people on the busiest days. The most popular maps drew 75-85 participants. This was a fantastic way to re-engage with the Park Street community, and prepare everyone for Summer Series to resume, which it did in early November.

Summer Anytime Series (October 2021)

As Melbourne made its slow and painful way through the vaccination milestones, our travel limits eventually expanded sufficiently to make a virtual pre-season competition feasible. Thanks to MapLink and MapRun, we were able to create and publish 4 new maps per week, for 5 weeks. Entry was free, and participants could complete a course any time within that

Summer Series (November 2021-March 2022)

The same covid safe measures that had served us so well in 2020, were used again in 2021 and into 2022. Guidelines are under continuous review, and the 2022-23 Summer Series may see a return of some pre-covid processes such as mass starts.

We held our usual Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday series in Melbourne, and regional series in Geelong, the Surf Coast, and Mornington Peninsula, which has developed a small but loyal following. Numbers gradually built, but we have been unable to match pre-covid attendances; something which the Park Street Committee will be focusing on for next Summer.

The Macedon Ranges series is no longer part of the Park Street program, and is running its own short summer series independently.

In February, our Schools competitions resumed and numbers were swelled by 30-40 students on Wednesdays. Unfortunately, the International School which has competed on Tuesdays for many years, was unable to attend after a change of staff. On Wednesdays, Scotch College and Camberwell Grammar competed fiercely for the Slade-Wilson Trophy, which went to CGS once again.

We finished the Summer Season at the end of March, with an informal, outdoor Awards Night.

Participation:

The Monday and Wednesday series both drew similar attendances to the previous year. However the Tuesday,

Thursday, Geelong and Surf Coast series all saw reductions in numbers, which will need to be evaluated and addressed.

5255 participants competed in 97 events. A further 20 maps were provided as part of the Summer Anytime Series, with 1120 participants over 5 weeks.

Park Street Championships

The Championship Final was undoubtedly a highlight, with a suitably challenging event held in Ascot Vale on the newly expanded “Jacks Magazine” map. The course planner was Judi Herkes (BKV). The night was jointly hosted by Bayside Kangaroos and Tuckonie Orienteers, with particular thanks to Ken Moore, Warwick Davis, Edward Bucknall, and Jenny

Sheahan. The map tested every skill, requiring strong legs for the climbs, and a sharp mind and close attention to detail, to pick the best route. The Final was contested by 47 participants.

Champions:

Mens Open Bruce Arthur (MFV)

Mens Senior Paul Monks (YVV)

Mens Veteran Steven O’Connell (BKV)

Mens Supervet Tim Hatley (BKV)

Mens Ultravet Tony Bird (DRV)

Womens Open Victoria Greenhan (NEV)

Womens Veteran Martine Barrot (NEV)

Womens Supervet Debbie Dodd (DRV)

Junior Boy Aeon Greenhan (NEV)

Junior Girl No finalist

Mens PW Open Dave Stillwell (NEV)

Mens PW Supervet Ian Greenwood (DRV)

Mens PW Ultravet Ron Frederick (NEV)

Womens PW Open Sue Collard (BKV)

Womens PW Supervet Maria Main (BKV)

Womens PW Ultravet Lauris Stirling (NEV)

Award Winners

Course Setter of the Year – Don Fell (NEV), Tuesday Summer Series

Don Fell was recognised for his outstanding contribution to the Tuesday Summer Series over many years. Last season alone, Don set no less than 5 courses! Don always puts in a tremendous effort to ensure his courses are interesting and challenging for everyone.

Other nominees were:

● Lauris Stirling – Westgarth

● Henk de Jong – Camberwell Central

● Merv Trease – Mullum Mullum

● Peter Grover – Moorabbin

● Aaron de Buhr – Footscray Central

● Bruce Paterson – Highbury Hill

● Pam King – Lynbrook Gums

● Peter Beggs – Taylors Park (Torquay)

● Stuart McWilliam – High Hampton

● Russell Bulman – Norris Bank

MEFTY (Most Events for the Year)

Stuart McWillam (DRV) and Steven O’Connell (BKV), tied on 129 events each.

The Millennium Club

It was a huge year for The Millennium Club, with 8 new Legends inducted, and several other significant milestones achieved. These were:

500 Events – Associate Member

● Prue Dobbin, Christine Palmer, Rosie Salvaris

750 Events – Companion Member

● Tim Hatley, Philippa Lohmeyer-Collins, Stuart McWilliam, David Prentice, Suzy Speirs

1000 Events – Legend Member

● Geoff Adams, Warwick Davis, Judi Herkes, Peter Mallen, Newbury Navigators, Suzanne O’Callaghan. Merv Trease, Greg Tamblyn

1500 Events – Touring Legend

● Bryan Ackerley, Ian Greenwood

2000 Events – Vintage Legend

● Mark Besley, Vic Sedunary, Lauris Stirling

Thanks

Particular thanks to the following people in a challenging and constantly changing situation:

Robert Hudson, Ken Moore, Ewen Templeton, Alan Cooke, Jenny Chapman, Mel Smith, Mike Hubbert, Jenelle Templeton, Heather Leslie, Edward Bucknall, Mark Besley, Lauris Stirling, Geoff Hudson, Warwick Davis, David Knight, Vic Sedunary, Ian Dodd, Ray Howe.

We were delighted to present Ray Howe with a special “Mini MEFTY” Trophy, in appreciation of all the work he does keeping track of our statistics, and organising The Millennium Club and MEFTY awards.

We also recognise and applaud the Geelong Series organisers, Alan Cooke, John Gavens and Heather Leslie, who are all “retiring” after many years running this successful regional Series. We are delighted to have Jenny Chapman take on the series coordinator role.

Anytime Orienteering

Keeping the flame burning

During the long lockdown period in 2021, Warwick Davis and Debbie Dodd came up with a new project – to provide a series of colour park maps, each with three Line courses, using features that could be identified with MapRun. The idea was to provide a set of “Anytime” maps, which anyone could use whenever they wished, to try orienteering in a local park. With a Short/Easy, Medium/Moderate, and Long/Hard course for each venue, newcomers could make repeat visits, and progress from one stage to the next, without the pressure of competition. This initiative also gave regular orienteers another training outlet while events were not permitted. The project took several months, as we needed people who lived close enough to each park to do the course checking, without being fined for breaching the travel restrictions! We also wanted to present the set of maps consistently, which took some coordination. Eventually maps for 10 parks were published online, along with instructions for using MapRun6, adding to the already extensive MapLink Library. Anytime Park Map Library

The parks are:

• Brimbank Park

• Cardinia Reservoir

• Darebin Parklands

• Jells Park

• Nortons Park

• Police Paddocks

• Royal Park

• Ruffey Lake

• Westerfolds Park

• Woodlands Historic Park

Some parks have permanent markers (ie physical posts); a MapRun pin was placed on each of these, and courses were designed using them. At other parks, the controls are virtual, but the features are readily identifiable. Several of the courses were used for group training sessions as restrictions were gradually being lifted. The maps and courses are still available

WORDS DEBBIE DODD

Vic MTBO 2021

Mountain Bike Orienteering thrives despite restrictions

WORDS PETER CUSWORTH

It was another year where many of our scheduled events had to be cancelled due to the COVID19 pandemic.

The year started off well and we were able to complete some Bike-O 75 events during the summer and unlike 2020, we were able to run the Victorian MTBO Championships before lockdowns struck again with restrictions for much of the rest of the year.

Bike-O 75 Series

The first Bike-O 75 was at Woodlands Historic Park in late January, organised by Bayside Kangaroos with 68 competitors eager to get out and compete in a MTBO event again. All of the Bike-O 75 events used the MapRun technology with competitors using their phones, or Garmin watches, to record visits to the virtual control locations - a great system to allow non-contact competition in these times. Pre-entry was encouraged for minimal on-the-day contact for officials.

The second Bike-O 75 was due to run at Lysterfield but had to be postponed due to a 5-day lockdown, so the next event was at Westerfolds Park later in February. A fantastic 87 competitors attended this event, which was organised by Yarra Valley OC.

The Lysterfield event was rescheduled to early March with 49 riders taking part - a lower number than usual at Lysterfield, but people were getting a bit wary of heading out from home to attend any activity.

A fourth Bike-O 75 event was held out of the city at Muckleford on a Saturday in April, in conjunction with a Foot score event using the same map the next day. Organised by Nillumbik Emus, Rob Edmonds was the key organiser and John Gavens and Heather Leslie set the course. The event again used the MapRun technology and around 40 competitors took part, enjoying the challenge with many more than the usual 20 controls on offer.

The Vic MTBO Series

The first round of the series was able to run on the Bells Reef map near Daylesford. This event had been cancelled in 2020 so it was good to get it completed this time. Unfortunately it

turned out to be the only event in the series for the year. Anthony Jones set the courses with Peter Cusworth assisting, and a good turnout of 46 riders attended. This event saw the first use of the new SportIdent BS11 control units that allow a 1.5 metre range for registering control visits with the SI AIR technology. Victoria had purchased a set of these units along with a larger set purchased by Orienteering Australia. Some other states had also bought sets so this technology can now be used at all major MTBO events held in Australia.

The 2021 Victorian MTBO Championships

The Victorian Championships were held in May re-using the maps created for the 2019 Australian Championships at Maryborough and Dunolly. Much of the event planning had been done in 2020 but at least this time the Sprint, Middle and Long events were able to run. The Championships were jointly organised by the Eureka, Bayside Kangaroos and Nillumbik clubs with assistance from members from Yarra Valley and other clubs. It was the first round of the 2021

National MTBO Series, so we did have some interstate entries, but unfortunately our Championships turned out to be the only round that was able to run in 2021.

There were between 70 and 80 competitors in each event, which was quite promising given the trying times we were experiencing. A big thanks to the key personnel for organising

these events.

Sprint: Mark Valentine, Blake Gordon and Ian Chennell. Middle: Rob Edmonds and Peter Hill. Long: Tash Thackray, John Gavens and Tim Hatley.

With the exception of some AlburyWodonga club events, there were no other MTBO events held in Victoria in 2021. For the second year running the Australian MTBO Championships due to be held in NSW had to be cancelled again, actually several times during the year. No Australians travelled overseas to World Championships. Let's hope 2022 will be a better year to report on.

Peter Cusworth

Victorian MTBO Co-ordinator

2021 Victorian MTBO Champs – Maryborough

Victoria

Victorian podium placings were:

SPRINT Distance: Bristol Hill, Maryborough, Saturday 15 May

1st – Aeon Greenhan M14 (NE), Maya Bennette W14 (YV), James Robertson M21 (BG), Tom Lothian M40 (BK), Jayne Sales W40 (MF), Tim Hatley M60 (BK), Heather Leslie W60 (BK), Leigh Privett M70 (AW), Peta Whitford W70 (YV), Keith Wade M80 (TK), Helen Alexander W80 (BK)

2nd – Carolyn Jackson W21 (BK), Gavin Bennette M40 (YV), Melissa Biviano W40 (BK), Sofie Van Gunsteren W50 (BK), Carolyn Cusworth W60 (BK), Rick Armstrong M70 (AW), Kathy Liley W70 (YV)

3rd – Tash Thackray W21 (BK), Anthony Jones M40 (BK), Ed Steenbergen M50 (CH), Peter Cusworth M60 (BK), Prue Dobbin W60 (BK), Ralph Koch M70 (YV)

MIDDLE Distance: Tullaroop Forest, Maryborough, Saturday 15 May

1st – Aeon Greenhan M14 (NE), Maya Bennette W14 (YV), Dion Keech M40 (MF), Jayne Sales W40 (MF), Ed Steenbergen M50 (CH), Heather Leslie W60 (BK), Rick Armstrong M70 (AW), Keith Wade M80 (TK), Helen Alexander W80 (BK)

2nd – Carolyn Jackson W21 (BK), Anthony Jones M40 (BK), Melissa Biviano W40 (BK), Sofie Van Gunsteren W50 (BK), Leigh Privett M70 (AW), Peta Whitford W70 (YV)

3rd – Tom Lothian M40 (BK), Stephen Hanlon M50 (CH), Monica Dickson W50 (EU), Steven Law M60 (BK), Carolyn Cusworth W60 (BK), Blake Gordon M70 (EU), Kathy Liley W70 (YV)

LONG Distance: Dunolly Forest, Dunolly Sunday 16 May

1st – Maya Bennette W14 (YV), Carolyn Jackson W21 (BK), Dion Keech M40 (MF), Jayne Sales W40 (MF), Ed Steenbergen M50 (CH), Steven Law M60 (BK), Rick Armstrong M70 (AW), Peta Whitford W70 (YV), Keith Wade M80 (TK), Helen Alexander W80 (BK)

2nd – Luke Haines M21 (BK), Anthony Jones M40 (BK), Melissa Biviano W40 (BK), Sofie Van Gunsteren W50 (BK), Carolyn Cusworth W60 (BK), Graham Wallis M70 (DR),

3rd – Gavin Bennette M40 (YV), Monica Dickson W50 (EU), Prue Dobbin W60 (BK), Ralph Koch M70 (YV), Kathy Liley W70 (YV)

Schools Orienteering

Schools Orienteering Program in 2021

WORDS BRODIE NANKERVIS

Amidst the ‘on again, off again’ year that was 2021 our schools orienteering program continued to adapt and meet the challenges. A variety of activities were undertaken that included Sporting Schools coach and teacher delivered programs, the Secondary Schools Championship, as well as various other one-off sessions.

Sporting Schools

Throughout 2021, schools conducted lengthy periods of remote learning. Despite this, coach and teacher delivered programs continued during the few short windows when onsite schooling resumed. During term 1 some sessions were even delivered via remote coaching. Toward the end of the year as schools reopened, a flurry of bookings saw a busy end to term 4.

Large intra-school event at Haileybury

In June, Brodie Nankervis coordinated an intra-school orienteering event for over 300 students at Haileybury in Keysborough. This was a fantastic opportunity to develop orienteering in the school and also led to a new update of a fantastic sprint orienteering area. Many thanks to the schools coaches who assisted on the day, including Pam King who also updated the map.

Secondary Schools Championship

Under the organisation of Carl Dalheim and Brodie Nankervis, the Secondary Schools Championship went ahead during a short reprieve from lockdown early in term 2. Patrick Jaffe’s course setting made good use of the Hawkstowe map, and with a pivot to online results the event was very successful with 18 schools represented.

New delivery materials

During 2020 David Jaffe and Brodie Nankervis contributed to an Orienteering Australia project developing a new delivery guide for the Sporting Schools program. The guide was released for use early in 2021 and has proved to be an excellent resource.

New Schools Officer

Brodie Nankervis stepped down from the Schools Officer role during term 2 and handed over to Richard Goonan. A smooth transition and quick learning curve enabled Richard to take up the role in earnest from June. While much planning went on for term three activities, the ever changing Covid situation abruptly ended most of the planned activities. Uncertainty prevailed until seemingly overnight mid-way through term four when school programs were on again with strong interest from schools for orienteering.

Vic Secondary Schools

2021 Victorian Secondary Schools Orienteering Championships

WORDS BRODIE NANKERVIS & PATRICK JAFFE

overall points score beating Braemar College (85 points). Regardless, it was tremendous to see a large turnout from many schools. The kilometre rates from various competitors were impressive, e.g. Jensen Key 5:20, Milla Key 5:32, Callum White 5:42, Torren Arthur 5:48 and Lucas Kent 5:52. Not to be outdone, Jesse Smith and Harry Luxmore running as a pair for Braemar College clocked 5:22 per km - very quick.

The organising team had some innovative ideas to improve the events atmosphere, and ensure the students had a great orienteering experience. There was commentating throughout the day, the arena was set up so that students could cheer their students running into the finish, and Jim Russell had live results up and running. A fun addition this year was the winner’s “wreath” for the current leader of fastest split in the finish chute in each age category, generating a lot of interest and healthy competition throughout the day.

Thank you to the large army of volunteers who helped make this event a success.

Victorian Secondary Schools Orienteering Championships held on Friday 7 May at Hawkstowe Park, South Morang. conveniently timed during term 2 when kids were actually at school, and people from Melbourne could venture further than 5km from home! Expertly set courses from Patrick Jaffe saw students traversing the west side of Plenty Gorge, offering interesting routes around the lakes and parklands, combined with some bush sections. The two longest courses featured some long legs with four different route choice options, which provided a different kind of challenge to what is usually experienced at the Schools Championships. This was challenging enough for the experienced students, but also friendly for the beginner students.

We had concerns that VSSOC would not attract many competitors, but we need not have worried. Entries were received from 18 schools, 256 students in total. As expected our young club orienteers excelled in their respective classes, but unexpectedly Kew High School (106 points) won the

Vic Schools teams

The future of orienteering is bright

WORDS BRUCE ARTHUR

Victoria’s 3 Squads

A restructure in 2021

WORDS BRODIE NANKERVIS

Following on from a restructure of the national orienteering squads in 2021, Orienteering Victoria established three squads. The squads were designed to allow orienteers of all ages and experience develop their orienteering and are aligned with the participant pathway in Victoria.

The three squads are:

VIC Rebels: Novice/beginner squad

For orienteers of all ages with entire families encouraged to join and participate together. This squad focuses on learning fundamental orienteering skills in a fun, game-sense environment. More information about this squad follows in the “Vic Rebels in action in 2021!” article.

VIC Raiders: Junior talent squad

For young orienteers at high school (Year 7-12). This squad focuses on further development of fundamentalsl and

Vic Rebels

The Victorian Rebels name has been reborn after almost a decade. This time the primary age squad takes the name… we are a

group rebelling against technology taking over childhood! We are developing a group of kids and their families that love to get outdoors with a compass on their thumb and run through beautiful nature.

30 kids from 20 families have shown interest in being involved in the group. It was a bit of a slow start due to lockdowns, but we managed a first gathering at Darebin Parklands in December. We started with a fun competitive

introduction of advanced orienteering skills, with squad members aiming for selection in the Victorian Schools Orienteering Team and transition into the senior state squad.

VIC Vikings: Senior state squad

For orienteers of all ages aiming to represent Victoria at the National Orienteering League and Australian Championships. This squad focuses on refinement of advanced orienteering skills and physical training whilst also having a strong social component and involvement in coaching and event organisation.

If you are interested in being a part of one of Orienteering Victoria’s training squads, then please reach out to Wendy Taverna, OV’s Coaching Coordinator, at coaching@vicorienteering.asn.au

warm up using mini cone courses first introduced to us by Fredo in 2020. This gave us a chance to catch up with friends and meet new ones. Next came a pairs relay that saw some exciting head-to-head racing. And to finish off we worked together navigating along a corridor map to reach a tree covered in candy canes and small presents. Enthusiasm was high, participation was keen and further activities like this one were deemed necessary!

There seems to be two levels within the Victorian Rebels. The kids who are the familiar faces at orienteering events are ready to move onto moderate navigation. We need to help them be confident orienteering off the handrails. The other kids have just started exploring orienteering and are beginning to get the hang of what to do... and are discovering how exciting it is! We need to encourage and assist these families to attend as many of the wonderful events we have in Victoria.

National O league

One of Victoria's best ever seasons

WORDS BRUCE ARTHUR

In 2021, Victoria had one of its best ever National League seasons! After all the disappointment and frustration of 2020, Victoria took out the Senior Men and Junior Men titles, and were runners up in Senior Women.

After NOL rounds in Victoria in March, at Easter in NSW, then Renmark in SA, the 2021 competition concluded with an exciting final weekend, including the deciding Relay, in the sand dune terrain at Broulee, NSW. The Senior Men were unbackable favourites, but the Junior Men needed to beat NSW in the Relay to take the title. It was a three way race for the Senior Women’s title going into the Relay, with Canberra emerging the winners.

Individual NOL winners included Aston Key taking out the Senior Men’s title with 8 wins from 10 rounds! Patrick Jaffe and Brodie Nankervis made it a clean sweep for the Vics in this class. They were strongly supported throughout the series by Bruce Arthur, David Brownridge and Simon Rouse. The Senior Women were well represented by Asha Steer, Aislinn Prendergast, Clare Brownridge and Kathryn Preston. Jensen Key finished 3rd in the Junior Men’s rankings, with Mason Arthur, Callum White, Brody McCarthy and Torren Arthur all contributing to a fantastic team effort. Milla Key and Sophie Taverna both had some really strong performances in the Junior Women.

On the back of their NOL performances, Aston, Patrick, Brodie and Jensen were all named in Australia’s two Merit Squads, which is the highest honour of representation in 2021, with no teams being sent to WOC or JWOC due to travel restrictions. Congratulations to everyone that was part of the outstanding Vic team in 2021!

Vic Vikings photo gallery

Learn to Orienteer

An introduction to "O" for juniors and parents

WORDS DANIEL STOTT

Netball has NetSetGo, hockey has Hookin2Hockey, AFL has Auskick... what about orienteering? How can we help newcomers and juniors learn the core skills of orienteering?

These questions stimulated the concept of the Learn to Orienteer program that was trialled in 2021. We wanted to create something that:

- has a specific learning environment

- is for people interested in orienteering and those just starting out

- uses clear explanations of the orienteering skills followed by specific practice

- offers a chance to race and implement the new skills

- and essentially, facilitates making links with each other and having an enjoyable time.

So we advertised the Learn to Orienteer program:

∙         5 Saturday afternoons

∙         Learn the core orienteering skills

∙         Fun navigational games

∙         Using electronic timing for mini courses

∙         Make friends and have fun

We decided to focus on children and their families. 18 people from 8 families joined at Croxton School for the launch. One third were new to orienteering. Over the 5 weeks (with an unfortunate lockdown gap in the middle) we also visited Darebin Parklands, Princes Park and two parts of Royal Park. During the celebratory afternoon tea in the last week, we were inspired by seeing how participants were confidently running through the bush, along the tracks and around the billabong. Each week started with a warmup to get the body and brain going. After a quick explanation of the two skills to learn, short practice legs were completed. The last 40 mins saw

participants apply their new skills in an orienteering course which followed a different style each week: star, score, cloverleaf, line. Reflection and sharing of further opportunities concluded the day.

Learning started with the very basics of orienteering: the map colours and symbols and orienating it. The middle weeks covered topics to help with navigating: handrails, attack points, contours, collecting and catching features, bearings, visualisation and simplification and the navigational process (here, where, there). The last week looked at rough vs precision (traffic lights) and error recovery (relocation).

Activities were designed to be fun; eg. learning about the map colours and symbols involved having a relay and completing a puzzle. They needed to be engaging; eg. understanding the map represents real world objects required groups to tell an imaginary story of having an adventure through the map puzzle they just made. And the activities needed to keep the participants moving; to practice reading the map, pairs placed a flag about 100m away and then described the location so another pair could find it.

Feedback from the participants showed the usefulness of specifically learning some of the orienteering skills. Having dedicated learning time away from competition was also valued. There have been enquiries about another Learn to Orienteer program and a modified online version was delivered to some students who were home schooling. It has been encouraging to see the participants continue their orienteering journey through club events, Vic Schools and Vic Champs.

The hope is to create a package of this program so it can be delivered easily by clubs throughout Australia. It would be nice to equip and pay the coaches so they can help flow more people into club membership while building up our juniors’ and newcomers’ skills.

A junior’s take on the program

by Joel Crothers

The Learn to Orienteer Program taught me many new skills. I began orienteering in 2019 after Pam King did a program at school. I loved it straight away as I have always had an interest in maps and asked my parents if I could join an orienteering club.

I went to many park street events and did my second bush event as a 10 year old at the Creswick Victorian Championships. I also planned my first park street course when I was 10.

With Covid disrupting everything over the last couple of years, it has been challenging to go from the very easy courses I did as a 10 year old, to the more difficult longer courses I am doing now. Being an orienteer whose parents have never done orienteering before is also a challenge, as they don't know the correct way to teach me.

The Learn to Orienteer Program was a great help to me. It went right back to the basics, such as knowing how to orientate your map and included fun games such as running to north, east, south and west.

We learned about attack points and catching features as well as the basics on contours and gullies.

Each week we practiced the skills and got the opportunity to run around a course. It was all done in a fun, supportive environment and I got to meet many new people. I enjoyed every minute of the program.

MFR Sprints

A highlight of the summer season

WORDS PATRICK JAFFE

A highlight of the summer season was the debut of Melbourne Forest Racers’ sprint series, held with an innovative format on some iconic central Melbourne areas. Victorians were keen to be back sprint orienteering after the extended 2020 lockdowns, and they turned up in droves for this series, with an average of over 100 participants per event. The four maps had only previously been used for club training sessions and participants loved the ‘mini-mass start’ format, which gave orienteers of all ages a taste of knock-out sprint orienteering. The new format was designed to fit around social distancing requirements but ended up being a big hit with participants. Competitors were allocated into groups of 8-10 people, who started together in a mass start. For simplicity, there was just the one course, although we introduced a range of forking methods to split the mass-start runners up. This included multiple butterfly loops as well as a ‘mini-scatter’. The latter course setting technique involved participants having to collect three out of the first five controls, in any order. This format ended up being highly successful, with the groups of 8-10 tending to split up immediately, which of course led to plenty of post-event analysis.

We made use of a number of other small innovations, which helped to simplify the organisation and enhance the experience of these low-key events. A single course was offered each week, of approximately 3km, which suited orienteers of all ages. The mini-mass starts helped us get through starters nice and quickly, and results were done through the SI Droid tablet app which greatly reduced the workload for the organisers. Many thanks to Ian Dodd who helped program people’s details into their SI sticks, which sped things even more.

The low-key nature of the events meant we could make the courses more interesting by marking extra impassable barriers on the map. While these weren’t actually fenced off in reality, an honour system proved effective, and people enjoyed the challenge of the interesting route choice legs that we created around these fake barriers. Given it was a summer event, we also brought icy poles for every finisher which proved very popular!

Things kicked off at the beautiful Carlton Gardens, where Mason Arthur set a rapid-fast course that took us looping through the maze of garden beds, with some longer route choice legs around the iconic Royal Exhibition Building and Melbourne Museum. The following week’s event was at Commonwealth Village in Parkville, a residential area used as the Athletes’ Village for the 2006 Games. Patrick Jaffe’s courses made use of the mini-scatter format for the first time, which tested people right from the start. Event 3 was at Princes Park, with Jensen Key as course setter. There was plenty of variety at this event: detailed cobbled laneways, Princes Hill Primary School and the stunning Princes Park itself, including Ikon Park, Carlton Football Club’s home ground.

We had to relocate our final event at short notice, so we returned to the same event arena in Carlton Gardens, but this time made use of the laneways to the north of the park. Jensen’s brother Aston set an excellent course for this event,

which included plenty of fake fences and a labyrinth section, created by taping gaps between trees near the finish. The other memorable aspect of this event was the start of the courses, which involved turning immediately down an alleyway only about 50cm wide, much to everyone’s surprise as they reached the start triangle.

MFR Sprints 2021 were a lot of fun and it felt great to be back orienteering again on some high quality courses. The innovations were well received and our club learnt a lot about putting on low-key events, which we then applied to the 2022 MFR Sprints series, making it even more suited to newcomers.

Bendi-Go To-Day

2021 Bendi-Go “Getting into Autumn” To-Day

RUSSELL

The Bendi-Go To-Day was back after a break last year, the first one in the 13 year history of the event. The event consists of two races, a sprint on the Saturday and a mass start Hagaby the following Sunday morning with three courses on offer. The combined time of both events determines the winners.

This event is run by Jim Russell (BGV) more often than not – as a one man team.

This year the sprint was a bush sprint at Eaglehawk North. At first glance the courses looked easy, but looks are always deceptive, with some competitors getting thrown off their line and others getting confused with the sudden direction changes along the track network. The Hagaby was held on the Fiddlers green map, a fast area with subtle contours. Speed, good compass work and accurate map reading were the key ingredients for this event.

Bendi-Go To-Day is timed as the opening bush event of the season and is a great low key way to ease back into the bush.

2021 overall winners:

WORDS MARGI FREEMANTLE AND JIM

Bendigo bush series

Lots of disruption

WORRDS CRAIG FEUERHERDT

The Bendigo Bush season started out well with a “rock” event on the fabulous Mt Korong map. The weather behaved and Melbournians were still allowed to travel, lifting numbers to a high of 70. All felt good. The season continued with a mix of venues from the rocks of Mt Kooyoora, the mining and tracks at Royal George, to the classic Bendigo spur gully maps of Sedgewick etc.

Then phase ‘whatever’ of Covid 19 lockdowns and moveability rules came back into force. A few events had to be cancelled, one at extremely short notice. The lockdowns ended for Bendigo – everyone sighed with relief – then they were back on again. Finally new rules came out for the regions.

Melbournians still were not allowed to travel to the regions,

Lockdown starts at 1pm

by Margi Freemantle

That was the message that was sent out around 11am, via twitter and a Dan announcement, which most people had stopped listening to. Bendigo would enter another round of Lockdown in 2 hours’ time. Of course not everyone heard it and people were already travelling to the Bendigo event at Kangaroo Gully from around the region. A lot of people arrived at 12 noon to hear the news and the fact the event could no longer be run as a competitive event. Very quickly people decided to run their courses anyway. The rules allowed for an hour leeway to get home, and for those who lived within 5km they could use their hour of exercise time. The SI units were already out there, so the start and finish units were placed on rocks so everyone could still have the sensation of running a course properly. It all felt a little weird actually. Everybody got home okay, no one was stopped and questioned, and for those of us that have a download unit at home, we could still calculate our split times.

MelbushO 2021

WORDS DEBBIE DODD

One series that wasn’t too decimated by lockdowns in 2021 was MelbushO, with 7 out of the 10 events able to take place –the others were postponed until 2022.

The MelBushO season started early in 2021, with the Woodlands Historic Park event being held in early March, tucked between events 3 and 4 of the MFR Sprints. It was a warm day for dressing up in bushO clothes but the seasonal long grass and swathes of Pattersons Curse across most of the course made leg covering the most sensible choice. Warwick’s courses featured long legs across the park, dodging groups of (rather large) kangaroos, controls located within the vague forest area near the Vicparks office, then finally into the detailed area near the finish. It was a good way to remind ourselves of what bush orienteering is all about.

Next up was Police Paddocks, making its MelbushO debut. The map is very varied, with forested slopes in the north and east, a network of intricate tracks and tiny watercourses, plus the sporting fields with their buildings and fences providing more sprint-style terrain. A dose of summer rain had greened up many areas, and the consensus was that the longer track routes were a time saver, thanks to the undergrowth in the offtrack areas.

Maroondah Reservoir Park was another new map for MelbushO. The day was another unseasonably cold and damp one, but the beautiful tall trees with their autumn foliage made a picturesque setting, and running over the dam wall was a definite highlight!

We managed to squeeze in another four events in the two months before lockdown. At Banksia Park we had a taste of European-type terrain, with controls hidden in small depressions; while at Westerfolds, it was more “Aussie” forest amongst the eucalypts. Both these events were popular and we started to see participation increase again while we were in the “covid zero” phase.

You Yangs was a trip down the Princes Highway, with nicely set courses which showed off the spectacular granite, and kept us (mostly) clear of the thick vegetation. It was a glorious sunny winter day. Wellington Chase was the last event before we bid

We almost made it!

Melbourne City Race

Melbourne City Race Weekend 2021

WORDS DEBBIE DODD

until I went for a hugely enjoyable Lockdown run in Cremorne, that I knew I’d found the right place. The area was unfamiliar to many. The multiple levels along the Yarra River added an extra degree of complexity to an already detailed map, which at 1:7500 was just the right size for a Prologue. Our starting point, Barkly Gardens, is a typical English “Pleasure Garden” in the midst of a bustling inner urban industrial and commercial district; it features spreading trees, beds of rose bushes, grassed picnic areas, rotundas, statues and memorials. It contrasts beautifully with its surrounds.

After two false starts (one caused by Victoria’s extended lockdown, the other by a potential clash with the Formula One Grand Prix), the 2021 Melbourne City Race Weekend went ahead on April 17 and 18; two days of the perfect late Autumn weather that Melbourne is famous for. As it turns out, it was one of the few major events held in Victoria last year.

The venue for the City Race was chosen almost immediately after the inaugural 2019 Docklands version; the Port Melbourne area is well known amongst locals for offering a dense and irregular street network, and a fascinating mix of tiny stone cottages and old pubs, rubbing shoulders with multi million dollar waterside mansions. Add the famous beachfront, the lighthouses, Station Pier, Gasworks Art Park, and the bustle of the Bay Street cafes, and you have the perfect venue for a City Race. Readily accessible by public transport, and not too busy with traffic on a Sunday morning, it ticked all the boxes. Mapping began in late 2019.

The Prologue location took longer to settle on. We wanted somewhere that was inner urban, with good public transport links, but that hadn’t been used overly much for previous events. I spent weeks mulling over possibilities, but it wasn’t

To retain our “low risk public event” status, interstate promotion was very restricted, and we relied mainly on word of mouth. We switched our attention to lunchtime/weekend running groups, and with some well-placed Facebook posts, were delighted when over a third of participants were new to orienteering. Many of these were in that elusive 30-40 age group; they were certainly fit and capable of covering the distance. We were also excited to welcome orienteers from New South Wales, ACT, Queensland (the very first eager entrants, despite the uncertainties of sudden border closures), Tasmania, and WA – a bigger interstate contingent than we’d expected, and a promising sign for future MCRs when interstate travel is less fraught. And of course local support was strong. Overall, participation in the main race was only slightly lower than in 2019, which under the circumstances, was very pleasing.

City Races differ from sprints; while short legs and frequent changes of direction are part of the fun, there should also be some longer legs. Route choice should feature heavily. Courses should take advantage of any particular highlights of the area. Competitors can expect road and rail crossings, and potentially busy pedestrian and bike traffic in places. Both races were planned in true City Race style, with winning times of approx. 35-40 minutes, and distances between 3 and 10 kms, for the main race.

CREMORNE PROLOGUE

Course Planner: Bill Borrie (EUV). Map provided by Bayside Kangaroos.

Bill set three courses – Long Hard, Medium Hard, and Short Easy. Each was structured similarly. Beginning with a tricky short leg which required close map reading from the minute you turned over your map, we then headed towards the river with a great route choice leg, and fine detail in the circle. The famous Yarra bike trail featured next, with more tough route choices (how to avoid the dreaded heart pumping stair climb?) before tackling the Richmond streets. Zig zagging through numerous lanes, and negotiating the double railway line as we made our way east once again, the final leg showcased the gardens as we sprinted furiously for the line.

James Robertson, Ricky Thackray and Toby Cooper were the top three on an exciting Long course, with just 6 seconds separating first and second. Fastest women on this course were Jayne Sales and Helen Walpole, who were only 12 seconds apart. It was a Tassie invasion on the Medium course, with Euan and Sussan Best taking first and second, pipping local Ian Dodd who was third. Junior Maya Bennette held off JWOC honours team member Arabella Phillips, as the girls took fourth and fifth respectively. On the Short course, John

Gavens finished ahead of junior Joel Crothers by another tiny margin of 13 seconds, with Judi Herkes claiming third.

MELBOURNE CITY RACE, PORT MELBOURNE

Course planner: Stuart McWilliam (DRV); Mapper Peter Dalwood (DRV)

Peter produced another of his beautiful and highly readable full colour maps, this time at 1:6000. While not as threedimensional as the Docklands area, Port Melbourne and Beacon Cove have plenty of traps to offer. Stuart ensured that the maritime history of the area featured front and centre; the start flag was hung on the door of the northern Beacon Cove lighthouse, and we were lined up directly facing the southern lighthouse and the bay beyond. There was no doubting the theme of today’s race!

There were five courses to choose from. Every course featured a waterfront leg between the two iconic piers – quiet these days without any cruise ships, but plenty of obstacles to negotiate. Harder courses had a couple of gut busting long legs, interspersed with a sprint style loop of the Gasworks park, which caught out many with its change of pace and focus. There was great route choice on many legs, and following the red line was often no indication of the shortest option. Map contact, reading the detail and planning ahead were all requisite throughout the race – even the final control was no giveaway.

Congratulations to category winners Callum White, Tim Hatley, Alan Kuffer, Ashley White, Joel Crothers, Heather O’Donnell, Sarah Love, Sussan Best, Sonoka Miyake, and Lydia Stott. Closest results were Tim Hatley over Euan Best (19 seconds), Ashley White over Dale Atwell (35 seconds), and Sarah Love over Jayne Sales (23 seconds).

The moment of the day for me was hearing two passers-by, who stopped to chat. “You all look so happy!” they said. They were right – we were.

Muckleford Maxi

The Maxi has become a regular event on the OV calendar. The first Maxi was held in 1991 on the Crocodile Reservoir map near Castlemaine. Since then, it has been held every year with a break in 2014 and 2020, the latter due to COVID. The Maxi started out as a team event held over 3 hours and has since incorporated individual entry. It has always been a score event with a mass start. This has been a key characteristic of the event, as people gather at the end of the event for a social get together, often around a fire and a late lunch, provided by the hash house crew.

In 2021, we were fortunate to stage the event between lockdowns. Derek Morris has set quite a few Maxi events. For the 2021 event he decided to set a 6-hour course alongside the 3 hour and the 90-minute courses. The 90 minute was introduced for the 2019 event at Glenluce. A BikeO-75 MapRun was run on Saturday. Heather Leslie and John Gavens looked after the administration of the event on a course previously set by Rob Edmonds in 2017, using a revised MTBO map. 40 riders took part with Carolyn Jackson and Steven Law scoring the most points.

We were given permission to use a paddock in the Muckleford Forest by local landowners, Robyn and Michael Ruggles. Many camped overnight at the assembly area. We were also fortunate that the local burn off that was to be held in the Muckleford Forest was held off till the day after the event. We were blessed with a fine day. 28 tackled the 6-hour, 61 the 3 hour and 21 the 90-minute variations.

We also raised $150 from a gold coin donation to assist in the crowd funding of a sacred tree and its surrounding land. The sacred "grandmother tree" and culturally significant land in Central Victoria will be protected for future generations after the local Indigenous group bought back the land from its private owners. The "grandmother tree", a towering river red gum named Me-Mandook Galk, is estimated to be up to 400 years old and is sacred to the Dja Dja Wurrung people.

Paul Monks and Alester Meehan were the winning men’s team in the 6-hour. Shelley Bambrook and Elizabeth Dornom were the winning women’s team and second overall.

In the 3-hour, the first 3 placings went to Warwick Williams with 930 points and a time of 2:40:34. On the same points were Elyse Cripps and Todd Lakeman in 2:57:53 with Craig Feuerherdt and Leah Wells 3:00:04 third.

The 90-minute event was won by Shayne Hil with 790 points, 2nd Hania Lada with 540 points and 3rd Georgina Macken with 520 points.

Previous winners of the Maxi can be found on the Nillumbik Emus website.

https://emuorienteers.com/club-history/maxi-winners-hall-offame/

WORDS ROB EDMONDS

Derek worked his magic - again

Not the Vic Short Champs

Bringing back the double header shorts

Until about 30 years ago, most orienteering events were long and only in the forest. Then in the early 1990s clubs in Australia and New Zealand began organising short distance orienteering events. These usually comprised two races on the same day, each with a 20 – 25 minute winning time. Sometimes the afternoon race was a chasing start with the morning’s winners starting first. In an alternative format the afternoon race was a final and only the top half from the morning race ran in the A final. The 1990 Hovell Tour had two Short-O events, the first at “Tharwa Tor” in ACT and the second at “Triptera” in the Warby Range state park near Wangaratta. About ten years later middle and sprint distance formats took over from Short-Os.

The idea of organising a double header short event began to form after Melbourne Sprint Weekend 2020. The MSW sprint race at Granite Hill Park (South Morang) had been a great success and demonstrated the technical quality of the area, so the question was what next to use this map for. It seemed a bit early to open it up for general training and club events. A double header short distance event was proposed and included in the 2021 event calendar for 14 November.

In the original calendar the event was simply 2 x Shorts –Granite Hills. In mid-2021 it was put to the OV Board that the Shorts be called the (unofficial) Vic Short Champs – which was approved. The Short Champs is probably the only event on the Victorian calendar after May that actually went ahead on its originally scheduled date, apart from some Bendigo events. When Ted started planning, the metro/regional travel ban was still in place so he could not travel from Bendigo to check the viability of the courses. Dandenong Ranges member Damian Spencer, who lives within 5km of the park, came to the rescue proactively offering to help with control site checking. Damian also found a much shorter route to the morning start than the one Ted had anticipated. Competitors may have got their feet wet early – but it was much shorter. Ted was finally able to visit the park a fortnight before the event, so planning was definitely just-in-time.

the road between the races.

In the days leading up to the event the weather forecast seemed to get worse each time we looked. The weather stayed dry for the placing of controls on Saturday afternoon but by Sunday a cycle of sun – rain – wind – hail – sun every hour or so had set in for the day. In the afternoon, a few unlucky people experienced the hail while out on their courses. One squall created particular havoc at the download tent, sweeping the

WORDS TED VAN GELDERMALSEN

computer off the desk. Only quick work stopped the tent disintegrating. SportIdent download was moved into the back of Kathy’s Subaru, which was relocated up to the finish area. For the morning race people could choose their own start time between 10.00 and 11.15am. Their afternoon start time was 2.00pm plus however long they took for the morning race. So, for example, someone who ran the morning race in 22 minutes started the chasing start race at 2.22pm. The new ALGE digital countdown start clock that had been purchased for Victorian clubs with part of the MSW 2020 surplus was used for the chasing start. It was programmed to count down for each competitor’s start. This helped the start of competitors if there was a reasonable gap between starters but needed careful attention when two competitors had start times very close to each other.

Four courses were offered: Hard Long, Medium, and Short, plus a Moderate navigation course for novices. Course lengths ranged from 3.6 to 1.3km in the morning and from 2.9 to 1.1km in the afternoon, resulting in winning times of around 20 minutes. Courses had constant changes of direction and lots of controls. The afternoon long course had 30 controls in 2.9km. Map scales were 1:4000 and 1:3000.

The first few controls of the afternoon courses were set in an area of lower visibility to provide front runners who ran accurately an opportunity to get away rather than immediately be chased down by following starters. The chasing start was a success and the hopes of seeing some tight racing was achieved when Brodie, Pat and Aston raced down the chute with less than a second separating them. There were numerous other head to head races and close down the field and in the other races too.

(Unofficial) Vic Short-O Champions:

Hard Long: Women Natasha Key, Men Brodie Nankervis

Hard Medium: Women Carolyn Jackson, Men Cormac McCarthy

Hard Short: Women Eleanor Williams, Men Alexander Rowlands

Moderate: Women Lydia Stott, Men Frankie Shin

Cold climate training

When the regions were allowed out to... train

WORDS WARWICK WILLIAMS

not much further afield. It’s quick and easy to get out there and set some great courses. And so we did.

11 September 2021 we were back in the bush with only two days lead time. It felt a bit subversive! Scan the QR code. Masks on when you are not running. Get in, play, and get out. How quickly we forget! Nevertheless, we got out there and played, even if we might have been a bit relaxed about getting out again. Nothing on Eventor. Just emailed around EU, BG and CH, and a few Melbourne refugees, like the Jaffes. Pass it on to anyone else who can come and manage the 10 at a time rule. It was only training, but we got out the stands, kites and the SI boxes, to make it feel more like the real thing. The weather played its part with a perfect spring day. Looking back, there were only a dozen or so of us, mostly Ballarat locals, with a few from Bendigo, but it was so good to be out in the bush with a map.

We ran a couple more training sessions at Nerrina and Mt Beckworth, and Bendigo joined in too, before life started to return to something more like normal. Let’s hope we never have to go through that again!

purposes. Masks on. Life under day-to-day control by government proclamation.

I don’t want to think about it again. But nevertheless, the time came when the “health advice” said that outdoor sport could restart - training only mind you. And no more than 10 people were allowed together! Well this was for the regional areas anyway. The majority of our members in Melbourne were still in lockdown, but at least those of us in the bush and the provincial cities could sample orienteering again. It was a case of “Don’t wait. Get something happening while we can!”

Here in Ballarat, we are fortunate in having the Nerrina/White Swan/Chapel Flat/Petticoat Gully map group starting just on the edge of town, taking in some of Australia’s best gold mining terrain, and the high quality granite of Mt Beckworth

OA Hall of Fame

Jim Russell inducted into the OA Hall of Fame

Jim’s contribution to Orienteering:

Achievements as a Coach

Jim is one of Orienteering’s accredited Level 3 Coaches and he has had an enormously successful coaching record over many years.

With the Australian JWOC teams

● 1996 (Romania)

● 1997 (Belgium)

● 1998 (France)

● 1999 (Bulgaria)

Highlights of this period were top results for Jo Allison and a bronze medal for Troy de Haas

● 2007 joint coach of the Australian JWOC team in Dubbo, coaching Simon Uppill and Vanessa Round to outstanding results

With the Australian WOC teams

● Australian WOC team coach 2017 & 2018

● Australian WOC team Assistant Coach / Manager 2019

With the Australian Bushrangers test match team

● Team Manager / Coach 2016, 2017 & 2019

With the Victorian Schools Team

● In 2000 and 2002

With Senior Australian Women’s WOC Team

● 2004 (Sweden)

● 2005 (Japan) - where Hanny Allston broke through for a podium finish in the long distance race

With Orienteering Victoria National Orienteering League team

● 2007 winning the Senior Men, Senior Women and Junior Men divisions and second in the Junior Women division

● 2021 commenced position as Orienteering Victoria High Performance coach & Victoria’s NOL team manager

Orienteering Australia Head Coach

● 2016 – 2020

● During his time as Head Coach has organized multiple National Training Camps

Long Term State Coordinator of Coaching

● Developing and implementing the process for accreditation of orienteering coaches.

Jim has also coached the New Zealand JWOC team in 2001 in Hungary and then Spain in 2002.

Achievements as an Organiser

Jim has been involved in orienteering for about 40 years and apart from the first 5 when he was heavily involved in competition, he has been involved on the organisation side consistently. Jim has been organiser and controller for countless events in Victoria and has supported many Australian events.

Jim served on the VOA (Committee of Management) Board for many years, and as VOA Vice President from 1995 to 1998. Similarly Jim has consistently participated on the Bendigo Orienteers committee (including 3 years as president). Jim is currently Vice President of Bendigo Orienteers, a position he commenced in 2020.

As then president of Bendigo Orienteers, Peter Creely, noted “Jim barely ran a race, because he liked to make sure everyone was welcomed and looked after. Then there was making sure the technology was all good. Then there was the effort to provide consistent information on the club website. He knew that it was good to make the club ‘look’ active to outside eyes”. This continues to hold true and not just at club level.

Jim has been involved in running countless events at national, state and local scale. There are even events known as Jim’s, particularly the BendiGo ToDay event at the start of each season. 2019 marked 13 years of the BendiGo ToDay events. Jim has organised every single one (note: 2020 BendiGo

WORDS PETER SEARLE (with adaptions by the OV Board)

ToDay event could not proceed as planned due to the strict rules introduced. The 2021 event is planned to proceed).

One particularly large organisational feat was his role as

Then there is Pretex paper - yes it’s his business now, but there may have been no Pretex paper in Australia if Jim didn’t do something about what he saw was happening in Europe.

In 2006, Jim took on a role to be the VicHealth Project Officer for a 4 year project to increase participation. Through this position Jim learnt how to handle the bureaucracy and he’s shown a wonderful ability to work with school aged students to inspire them, their teachers and parents.

The outcome has been the increased participation of people in Central Victoria to Orienteering through the development of Space Racing and the success of ‘his’ schools and students at the Victorian Primary Schools Championship - it is a great credit to him.

Everyone’s Helper

High profile contributions get their own recognition but the behind the scenes things often do not.

And this is what everyone remarks on when they’re asked about Jim. It is all the unsung organising, mentoring, and stepping into gaps, often without needing to be asked, that make him worthy of induction.

Warwick Williams gives an example. “What comes to mind for me is when he has helped me (usually without being asked, and I mean that in a good way): Handling all the entries and setting up the events in OE for the 2008 Christmas 5-Days; Setting up and printing all the maps for the 2012 Christmas 5Days; and Printing maps, and setting up and running the finish for the Warm-Up for Tassie events at the end of 2014”.

Carnival Director for the Bushrangers 09 Australian Orienteering Champs.

Jim has always wanted to put on the best event possible for the competitors and spectators, from his super straight finish chute at the 2003 Vic Long Champs at Sedgwick, to personally buying OLynx radio controls for Easter 2013 because no one else would.

Jim has helped to develop orienteering in Victoria and Australia with the sport’s use of technology, promoting the use of Sportident and OLlynx Touch, having screens displaying real time results at the Melbourne Sprint & Autumn Bush series, plus every MSW carnival that has been run. Jim has played a significant role in the introduction of the technology behind commentary at major events.

In 2020 Jim played a major role in setting up events in a covid safe manner that met the Victorian Government requirements, including using an online live results system.

Jim is often the invisible hand behind the things that get done, without being asked to, and without other people being aware of what he is doing. The things that need to get done, will be done, ready for an event.

OA Hall of Fame

Warren Key inducted into the OA Hall of Fame

Congratulations to Warren Key on his induction to the Orienteering Australia Hall of Fame for his achievements as an athlete, with an extraordinary career at both an elite and masters level. Warren has represented Australia at six world championships, from 1979-83 and from 1993-1997, with his best results being 23rd in the Long Distance and 6th in the relay in 1981. Warren had an extraordinarily long career at the top of the domestic elite fields, with highlights being his Australian Long Distance Championships title for M21E in 1995 and 2nd in 2004 (while eligible to run M45), as well as being winner of the inaugural National Orienteering League in 1993.

Renowned for his technical skills, Warren has been dominant in his age classes over the past 20 years and has won numerous World Masters Championships titles. Alongside this, Warren has been the Australian WOC coach for many years, is a regular organiser and course setter for major championships and has recently launched his own compass and orienteering shoe brands.

Silva Award

Mike Hubbert awarded for Services to Orienteering

Mike Hubbert has made significant contributions to Australian orienteering at the national level over three periods. The first period was in 1969-70 when orienteering began its path towards becoming a national sport in Australia. Mike was the event secretary for the Upper Beaconsfield event in August 1969 that began this path, and competed in the event, finishing eighth out of 33 starters. In early 1970, he was involved with Tom Andrews, David Hogg and Ron Frederick in establishing the Victorian Orienteering Association and the Orienteering Federation of Australia. Had he not been heading overseas shortly after the inaugural meeting of those bodies, he would have been the logical choice for Secretary.

Returning to Australia around the end of 1972, Mike resumed an active role in Victorian orienteering. His second period of involvement at the national level began in June 1975 when he was elected Secretary of the Orienteering Federation of Australia, holding that position until 1981. That period covered the years when state associations were being established throughout Australia and were affiliating with the OFA. One of Mike’s challenges, on behalf of the OFA Executive, was liaising with all of the state associations, which was managed largely through a series of OFA Council Bulletins. During that period, he worked with the OFA President, David Hogg, in starting work on the first OFA Development Plan. In 1976, he was Australia’s first non-competing manager for a World Championships team, when the Championships were held in Scotland.

It was Mike’s initiative earlier that year that started action on the bid to host the 1985 World Orienteering Championships in Australia. He worked with Tom Andrews, Ted Wester and Alex Tarr to develop the bid documentation and, in July 1980, attended the IOF Congress in Germany when the bid was accepted. The hosting of WOC85 proved to be one of the most important events in the development of Australian orienteering.

Mike’s third period of significant contribution began in mid-2004 when he took over the role of Editor of the Australian Orienteer from Ian Baker. Continuing to work with Peter Cusworth, Mike maintained the high quality of the magazine in a role which has continued to the present time.

Throughout Mike’s orienteering career, spanning more than 50 years, he has also been an important contributor at the state association and club level. As a member of Victoria’s first specialist orienteering club, Red Kangaroos, in December 1974 he organised an evening event at Blackburn Lake in the east of Melbourne that was to set the pattern for Melbourne’s series of park/street orienteering events. He was the cartographer for the first coloured map used for an Australian Championships in Victoria (Tallarook State Forest in 1975). These are just a couple of further examples of Mike’s ongoing commitment to orienteering in Australia at all levels.

Awards & results

Victorians achieve great things in 2021

Orienteering Victoria Awards 2021

Services to Orienteering in Victoria Debbie Dodd

Event Management of the Year

(Not the) Vic Short Champs – Yarra Valley Orienteering Club

Rockhopper Junior Awards

Jensen Key; Sophie Taverna

Rockhopper Club Trophy

No award due to covid-19

Course Setter of the Year Awards

Bush – Ted van Geldermalsen, (Not the) Vic Short Champs, Granite Hills

MTBO – Mark Valentine, Vic MTBO Sprint Championship, Bristol Hill

Park Street – Don Fell, outstanding contribution to the Western Summer Series

Victorian teams or clubs achieved the following results in national team competitions in 2021:

Champion Club Trophy

Melbourne Forest Racers 2nd

Bendigo 5th

Top-ten individual performances

The following Victorians achieved top-ten individual performances in the 2021 National Orienteering League:

Senior men

Aston Key 1st

Patrick Jaffe 2nd

Brodie Nankervis 3rd

Senior women

Asha Steer 4th

Aislinn Prendergast 5th

Kathryn Preston 10th

Junior men

Jensen Key 3rd

National Orienteering League

Senior men 1st

Senior women 2nd

Junior men 1st

Junior women 4th

Mason Arthur 7th

Junior women

Milla Key 4th

Sophie Taverna 7th

Australian 3-Days (Molong, NSW)

Milla Key W16A Torren Arthur M18E Jensen Key M20E

Gary Buchan M21A Brodie Nankervis M21E Patrick Jaffe M21E

Warren Key M60A Melissa Gangemi W40A Sophie Arthur W16A

Ted van Geldermalsen M65A Bruce Arthur M45A Leigh Privett M75A

Sue Key W65A Geoff Lawford M55A Elizabeth Hatley W Open B

Alison Radford W70A Jim Russell M60A

Alex Tarr M75A Carolyn Jackson W60A

Helen Alexander W80A Rod Gray M65A

Philippa Lohmeyer-Collins W55-64AS Peter Prime M80A

Alan Küffer M35-44AS

Ryan Cates M Junior B

Victorian Orienteering Association

Financial report for the year ended 31 December 2020

VICTORIANORIL\TEEfGASSOCIATION

ABN85554 483914

co�nilTTEEREPORT

Your committee memers submit the fnancial repo1t of Victorian Orienteeri ng Association for th fcial year end d 31 Decemer 2021.

Committee �lembers

The nams of committee members throughout the ya and at the date of this report are:

Carl Daleim (President)

Aislinn Prendergast (Secretar)

Stephen Collins (Trea surer)

Mgi F reemntle (Vice-President)

D avid Jafe 0'ice President)

Prncipal Acthites

Te principal activiti es of the association dng the fnancial year were to fcilitate the p roviion ofsporing activi ties to memers of the associaton.throug afliated clubs, and promotion ofthe spor in the comunity

Significaut Changes

No signfkat change i te nature of tese actvites occurred dm·ing the ya

Operatng Result

Te defcit beore providing fr income tax amounted to $2,586 (last yea proft $4,290)

Siged i accordace with a resoluton of the memers ofthe colrtee

Carl Dalheim

President

Stephen Collins

Treasurer

Dated ths I 0th Day ofl\fay 2022

Gains and losses on disposals are determined by comparing proceeds with the carrying amount. These gains and losses are included in the income statement. When revalued assets are sold, amounts included in the revaluation reserve relating to that asset are transferred to retained earnings.

Leases & Hire Purchases

Leases of fixed assets, where substantially all the risks and benefits incidental to the ownership of the asset, but not legal ownership, are transferred to the association are classified as finance leases.

Finance leases are capitalised by recording an asset and a liability at the lower of the amount equal to the fair value of the leased property or the present value of the minimum lease payments, including any guaranteed residual values.

Lease payments are allocated between the reduction of the lease liability and the lease interest expense for the period. Hire purchases are treated in the same way.

Leased assets are depreciated on a straight line basis over their estimated useful lives where it is likely that the association will obtain ownership of the asset or ownership over the term of the lease.

Lease payments under operating leases, where substantially all the risks and benefits remain with the leaser, are charged as expenses in the periods in which they are incurred.

Lease incentives under operating leases are recognised as a liability and amortised on a straight - line basis over the life of the lease term.

Impairment of Assets

At each reporting date, the Board of Management reviews the carrying values of its tangible and intangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have been impaired. If such an indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset, being the higher of the asset's fair value less costs to sell and value-in-use, is compared to the asset's carrying value. Any excess of the asset's carrying value over its recoverable amount is expensed to the income statement.

Where it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, the association estimates the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs.

Employee Benefits

Provision is made for the liability for employee benefits arising from services rendered by employees to balance date.

Employee benefits that are expected to be settled within one year have been measured at the amount expected to be paid when the liability is settled, plus related on-costs. Employee entitlements payable later than one year have been measured at the present value of the estimated future cash out flows to be made for those benefits.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents include cash on hand, deposits held at call with banks or financial institutions, other short term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within short term borrowings in current liabilities on the balance sheet.

VICTORIAN ORIENTEERING ASSOCIATION

ABN 85 554 483 914

Note 1: Statement of Significant Accounting Policies

The financial statements are special purpose financial statements prepared in order to satisfy the financial reporting requirements of the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 VIC. The committee has determined that the association is not a reporting entity.

The following significant accounting policies, which are consistent with the previous period unless stated otherwise, have been adopted in the preparation of these financial statements.

(A)Basis of Preparation Reporting Basis and Conventions

The financial report has been prepared on an cash basis and does not take into account changing money values or, except where specifically stated, current valuations of non-current assets. Cost is based on the fair values of the consideration given in exchange for assets.

(B)Accounting Policies Income tax

The association is exempt from income tax. Plant and Equipment Each class of plant and equipment is carried at cost less, where applicable, any accumulated depreciation and impairment losses.

The carrying amount of each class of plant and equipment is reviewed annually to ensure it is not in excess of the recoverable amount from those assets. The recoverable amount is assessed on the basis of the expected net cash flows that will be received from the assets' employment and subsequent disposal. The expected net cash flows have not been discounted to present values in determining the recoverable amounts.

Subsequent costs are included in the asset's carrying amount recognised as a separate asset, as appropriate, only when it is probable that the future economic benefits associated with the item will flow to the association and the cost of the item can be measured reliably. All other repairs and maintenance are charged to the income statement during the financial period in which they are incurred.

Depreciation

The depreciable amount of all plant & equipment including buildings and capitalised leased assets, is depreciated on a straight-line basis over their useful lives to the association commencing from the time the asset is held ready for use. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of either the unexpired period of the lease or the estimated useful lives of the improvements.

The depreciation rates used for each class of depreciable assets are:

interest rates applicable to the financial assets. All revenue is stated net of the amount of goods and services tax (GST). Goods and Services Tax (GST) Revenues, expenses and assets are recognised net of the amount of GST, except where the amount of GST incurred is not recoverable from the Australian Tax Office. In these circumstances, the GST is recognised as part of the cost of acquisition of the asset or as part of an item of the expense. Receivables and payables in the balance sheet are shown inclusive of GST.

Cash flows are presented in the cash flow statement on a gross basis, except for the GST component of investing and financing activities, which are disclosed as operating cash flows.

Comparative Figures When required by Accounting Standards comparative figures have been adjusted to conform to changes in presentation for the current financial year.

(C)Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgements

The Board of Management evaluates estimates and judgments incorporated into the financial report based on historical knowledge and best available current information. Estimates assume a reasonable expectation of future events and are based on current trends and economic data, obtained both externally and within the association.

Key estimates - Impairment: The association assesses impairment at each reporting date by evaluating conditions specific to the group that may lead to impairment of assets. Where an impairment trigger exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is determined. Value-in-use calculations performed in assessing recoverable amounts incorporate a number of key estimates.

Key judgments - Doubtful debts provision: No doubtful dept provision has been made at 31 December 2021, as there are only $2,633 accounts receivable as at 31 December 2021. Page 10

9

Responsibilities of Management and Members of the Committee for the Financial Report

The directors are responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the special purpose financial report in accordance with the accounting policies described in Note 1 of the financial statements and for such internal control as management determines is necessary to enable the preparation of the financial report that is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the special purpose financial report, management is responsible for assessing the Association’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless management either intend to liquidate the Association or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Report

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial report as a whole is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of the financial report.

As part of an audit in accordance with the Australian Auditing Standards, we exercise professional judgement and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also:

• Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial report, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.

• Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Association’s internal control.

• Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by the directors.

• Conclude on the appropriateness of the directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Association’s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the financial report or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’s report. However, future events or conditions may cause the Association to cease to continue as a going concern.

Independent Auditor’s Report To the Director of Victorian Orienteering Association Inc.

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Victorian Orienteering Association Inc. (“the Association”) which comprises the statement of financial position as at 31 December 2021, the statement of comprehensive income, the statement of changes in equity and the statement of cash flows for the year then ended, and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies, and the declaration by members of the committee

In our opinion, the accompanying financial report presents fairly, in all material aspects, the financial position of the Association as at 31 December 2021, its statement of comprehensive income and its statement of cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012

Basis for Opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Report section of our report. We are independent of the Association in accordance with the ethical requirements of the Accounting Professional and Ethical Standards Board’s APES 110 Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (“the Code”) that are relevant to our audit of the financial report in Australia. We have also fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with the Code. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Emphasis of Matter – Basis of Accounting

We draw attention to Note 1 to the special purpose financial report, which describes the basis of accounting. The special purpose financial report has been prepared to assist the Association meet the requirements of Note 1. As a result, the financial report may not be suitable for another purpose. Our opinion is not modified in respect of this matter.

Other Information

The management of the Association are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Association’s annual report for the year ended 31 December 2021 but does not include the financial report and our auditor’s report thereon.

Our opinion on the special purpose financial report does not cover the other information and accordingly we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

• Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial report, including the disclosures, and whether the financial report represents the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.

We communicate with the directors regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.

We also provide the directors with a statement that we have complied with relevant ethical requirements regarding independence, and to communicate with them all relationships and other matters that may reasonably be thought to bear on our independence, and where applicable, related safeguards.

Yours faithfully

Mizael Auditors Pty Ltd

Ryan Mizael, CA Director Dated this 07th day of June 2022

Orienteering Victoria Officers 2021

Board

President Carl Dalheim

Vice President David Jaffe

Vice President Margi Freemantle

Secretary Aislinn Prendergast

Treasurer Stephen Collins

Administration

Office/ Bookkeeper

Mel Kent (to July 2021)

Ricky Thackray (from Aug 2021)

Eventor Administrator

Debbie Dodd

Membership Officer

Debbie Dodd

Member Protection Officer

Laurie Niven

Newsletter Editor

Patrick Jaffe

Competition

Bush Fixtures Coordinator

Laurie Niven

MelBushO Coordinator

Ruth Goddard

MTBO Coordinator

Peter Cusworth

Park Street Committee Co-Chairs

Debbie Dodd

Margi Freemantle

Sprint Coordinator (Joint)

Debbie Dodd

Margi Freemantle

Sportident and Timing Systems Coordinator

Ian Dodd

Sport Development Coaching Coordinator

Wendy Taverna

Mapping Liaison

Warwick Davis

Park Street Statistician and Millennium Club Coordinator

Ray Howe Schools Officer

Brodie Nankervis / Richard Goonan

Victorian Schools Team Manager

Bruce Arthur

Victorian Schools Team Coach

Clare Brownridge

Victorian NOL Squad Managers

Bruce Arthur & Jim Russell

Orienteering Victoria would like to thank the following sponsors for their support