‍Helena
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When did you start orienteering?
Wayne introduced me to orienteering in 2001. I remember my first event at Knocklofty, feeling lost in the beginning, but then I started reading the map and making sense of it. I was wondering why people have to go into the bush searching for the controls while there are so many nice bushwalks available. Â
What attracted you to the sport?
Soon enough the orienteering bug hit me and I became fascinated with finding controls hidden in the bush. I was most impressed with huge boulders and deep crevices in former mining areas. Â
What do you like most about orienteering?
Orienteering events lead you to a variety of different areas and sometimes of unimaginable beauty you would normally not go to. National and international events can be a fascinating and rewarding challenge. Orienteering gives you an incentive to train during the week in the hope of being better at the next event, especially when you get older and long for an easy chair.
What achievements in orienteering are you proudest of?
I’ve had some satisfying runs without mistakes, but more when one could say “oh, you got your money's worth'', meaning trouble at one or two controls and more time in the forest.Â
Are there any particularly disastrous events you can remember?
One disastrous event was when I went off the map and got into really difficult terrain. "No, that can't be right", I turned around but felt a bit lost, but then saw an orienteer in the distance and headed towards that area, and there was my control! What a relief! But there were other mistakes, e.g. with a parallel error, when I was in an adjacent gully, not realising that I needed to be in the next one!
Any advice for beginners?
Don’t get discouraged, mistakes do happen. But the joy of being in nature and achieving your goal is very rewarding. Â
What positions have you held and what tasks have you completed in your long association with orienteering?
Wayne and I enjoyed putting out controls for events, especially in St. Helens for junior camps. We got a reward in 2020 in recognition of our efforts. We loved going out into the bush taking time to investigate the terrain, making sure to find the right location.Â
Wayne
When did you start orienteering?
I started in 1973 from a bushwalking background and being keen on running, so orienteering came naturally. I was coached by Clive Roper when we taught together at Rosny College, Clive being the national coach at the time.Â
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What achievements in orienteering are you proudest of?
In 1977 I remember doing well at M35 and was second to Alex Tarr (a very good Victorian) at The Lea and third at M21 at Conningham in the same year (we had veterans on a different day in those days to keep organising easier).
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Are there any particularly disastrous events you can remember?
At the 1985 WOC in Victoria (my first national event), I was disqualified after handing in my control card at a control check but forgot to punch that control. A good learning experience.
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What positions have you held and what tasks have you completed in your long association with orienteering?
In the early days of orienteering I organised many events including schools and a scout jamboree at The Lea. In addition to the 1988 APOC held in St Helens, we had the Lake Augusta Mountain Marathon. This was a 2-day event and a challenge in course-setting. The start was at Lake Ada with about 20 controls on small lakes around Pillans, Daisy Lakes, Mt Jerusalem, Lake Sally and an overnight sleep near Talinah Lagoon. We enlisted SES people for safety. I had the late Craig Saunders as vetter (controller) and Di Batten helped place controls.
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As Helena has said we helped at junior training when Mark West was the coach and sometimes for Jon McComb by placing 100s of controls over the years. A memorable incident was a large tree falling at the Transit Flat map while we watched a junior pass seconds before. So we won't set controls on recently burnt forests! In administration, I was 10 years OT secretary or treasurer and Australopers treasurer for a time.
