JWOC 2007

Promoting JWOC in Dubbo

Ron Pallas

Photos: Paul Prudhoe Paul Prudhoe and Western Plains Zoo’s Life Sciences Manager Maria Finnigan announcing the Western Plains Zoo as the location for the JWOC Sprint Distance event.

Organisers visit May ‘06. Basil Baldwin and Julian Dent (JWOC Long Distance Course Setter) in the foreground, David Shepherd and David Meyer (Sprint Distance course Setter) in the background.

IT was way back in 2002 when I walked into the Dubbo Tourism Building one September afternoon and first chatted about JWOC and Dubbo. Whilst Dubbo has a pretty proud record for attracting State and Australian championships in a variety of sports, including touch football, Golden Oldies rugby and the like, Matthew Colohan, Manager Dubbo Tourist Services, believes that JWOC will be the largest, longest carnival to come to town. So how do you promote JWOC in a town where the sport of Orienteering is unknown? As with many rural regional centres Dubbo is covered by local print, television and radio and they are playing a crucial role in taking the event to the public. Then OA President John Brammell fronted the press in December 2003 to announce that JWOC 2007 was coming to Dubbo. This announcement was extensively covered by all media. From that initial announcement Marketing Director, Paul Prudhoe, has ensured that the Carnival is kept in the news. Each milestone is celebrated – Presentation of the JWOC Program to the Mayor (in Jan ‘06), Visit of the International Events Advisor (in May ’06), The Sprint Venue in The Western Plains Zoo (in Oct ’06); all have been important in keeping JWOC in all forms of the news – print, radio and TV. Local radio station, 2DU, has been fantastic in providing airtime for interviews with JWOC Committee members. Radio works! Paul and I have been approached in the streets, as people have recognised our JWOC 2007 shirts, to find out a little more. For Dubbo it has been a two-way street. At JWOC 2006, in Lithuania, a large swag of Australians wore “I ❤ Dubbo” T-Shirts to events (Oct’06 Edition, The Australian Orienteer). Dubbo Tourism brochures, postcards and posters promoting Dubbo and JWOC2007 were also distributed to overseas teams and to interested spectators and team supporters. Those orienteers who attended this year’s national championships in Western Australia would have found copies of the Dubbo City tourism brochure and promotional material created for the event in their registration bags, with further material on display at the events. Dubbo City Council, as well as providing financial support for the event, has provided a Liaison Officer who is working with the Committee providing local focus and contacts. Dubbo has two organisations that support local businesses. The Chamber of Commerce is complemented by the Dubbo City Development Corporation. These two organisations have been great supporters. From our initial discussions they have been very positive in providing assistance to get the word out. At a recent “Business before Breakfast” meeting run by the Dubbo City Development Corporation Paul Prudhoe and myself addressed a crowd of 50 local business owners. The interest generated and contacts made during this meeting certainly made the ten hour round trip invaluable. A similar roll up is expected at the next meeting of the Dubbo Chamber of Commerce at the end of November where Paul and I will again present JWOC and Orienteering to local businesses. In addition to the aim of ensuring that the Dubbo community becomes familiar with JWOC and all that it will bring to Dubbo in July next year, OANSW also has the objective of establishing a viable Orienteering club in Dubbo. Approaches have been made to schools in Dubbo and it is anticipated that early in 2007 “Come and Try It” events will be held for school students and for the public. For up to date information of the progress and latest news of JWOC 2007 the event website can be found at www.jwoc2007.orienteering.asn.au while information on the associated “public events” (NSW Championships, Australian Schools Championships, Western Plains Challenge, Australian Individual Championships and the Australian Relay Championships) can be found at

www.westernplainscarnival.asn.au

Candidates for AUS Team

2007 Junior World Orienteering Championships – call for nominations

Orienteers interested in being candidates for selection for the 2007 Junior World Orienteering Championships are asked to express their interest. This year there will be two sets of selection trials: the Australian 3-Days in South Australia (including the prologue), and the National League events on 19-20 May in New South Wales. Candidates for selection will be expected to attend both sets of selection trials. Nominations should be sent to the Chair of the Junior Selection Panel, Blair Trewin, at b.trewin@bom.gov.au or 2/53 Darebin St, Heidelberg VIC 3084.

INVITATION TO ATTEND MAPPING WORKSHOP BEFORE JWOC

A mapping workshop will be conducted by Queensland mapper, Eric Andrews, near Molong in central NSW on the 4-6 July 2007. The first day will be devoted to GPS mapping including a practical exercise. The final two days will be practical fieldwork in the field on photogrammetry of the “Gumble Pinnacles”, which is a granite area of medium complexity. Nominations and Inquiries: Nominations should be made direct to Eric Andrews at 07-4683 6374, at PO Box 863, Stanthorpe, Qld. 4380, or by email to batmaps@halenet.com.au before 1st June 2007.