Orienteering News - 08 September 2025

Brought to you by the SHOC and Australopers this will be a great warm up the Tasmanian Long Distance Championships to be held the next day at Bells Marsh. The terrain is a navigationally tricky mix of tin mining and undulating spur gully with some granite detail. 

More information and pre entry is available on Eventor. Entries close this Wednesday night.

Where is the Assembly Area?

The assembly area is located on Ericksons Road at Goshen. Coordinates are -41.311742, 148.114881. From St Helens proceed north along the Tasman Highway passing the Priory turnoff at 2.5k and the Shop in the Bush at 6.8k. At 11 km from St Helens, turn left onto Terryvale Road, driving south on gravel for 2 km, then bear left onto Ericksons Road and continue a further 2 km to the turnoff to the assembly area. 

When Can I Start? 

Start times will be between 12:00 am and 1:30 pm on Saturday.

The Tasmanian Long-Distance Championship is being held on the fantastic Bells Marsh map. Expect some granite boulders, a few hills, a bit of scrub and some great courses to challenge your orienteering skills! Eight courses are available, of different lengths and navigational difficulty.

More information and pre entry in Eventor. Entries close this Wednesday night.

Please note there will be pre-allocated start times but with a punching start on the day. Start lists will be published in Eventor on the Friday prior to the event.

Where is the Assembly Area? 

From St Helens: Head North West along the Tasman highway towards Scottsdale for approximately 13 km. Turn right onto Hodges Road, and then travel 1 km before turning right. Follow the road for approximately 3km into Bells Marsh Forest Reserve. 2WD access may be a little difficult, so consider car pooling if you can. At this stage organiser’s will be assessing the road access on 30 /31 August and will provide an update to this information following their visit. So please download the latest version of the bulletin closer to the event.

OT is excited to announce that in less than 2 weeks we will welcome Albin, a 20-year-old Swedish orienteer, as our new Coach in Residence. This coaching program is designed to give our members and clubs access to international coaching and insights, while also offering young coaches from overseas a chance to experience life in Tasmania.

To make this program possible, we are seeking host families and/or house-sitting opportunities to accommodate Albin during his stay. Hosts receive a weekly allowance ($200) to contribute to food and board.

We are currently looking for hosts / house-sitting in Launceston and Hobart during the period of 20 September to end of April 2026.

If you are able to host Albin at any time during this period, please contact Alison Stubbs ASAP with details of the dates you can provide this support.

We are also hoping to arrange a vehicle for Albin’s use during his stay - any contacts or suggestions are very welcome.

We are looking forward to having Albin join our Tasmanian orienteering community, and appreciate any support our members can provide to make this possible.

Alison Stubbs

performance@tasorienteering.asn.au

Orienteering has a need for someone with on-line marketing experience who can assist us with the presentation and dissemination of information through social media channels.

Your tasks would include communicating regularly with members and the public through Facebook and Instagram posts.

Please contact Mike if you believe you can assist.

Orienteering clubs are the foundation of our sport worldwide. Tasmania has 4 orienteering clubs – Pathfinders in the north west, EVOC in the Launceston Area, SHOC which operates around St Helens and Australopers in the south. Being a member of a club means you get discounted entry to all events, training opportunities all around the state, access to DIY courses, and of course you’ll be part of a like minded community with the opportunity to get more involved in orienteering at all levels.

It’s always been easy to join a club using Eventor, but now Orienteering Tasmania has made it super easy to join and support a second club if you would like to. The Orienteering Tasmania board has also decided that if you would like to join a 2nd (or third or fourth..) club, it will only cost $10. If you would like to learn more about this decision you can read more details here. Please note that fees for joining your first club have not changed.

The new St Helens Orienteering Club has recently held two hugely successful Come and Try Orienteering events in St Helens using a new map of the foreshore area called The Marina and an updated map of St Helens District School.

Close to 30 family groups found their way around all the courses that were on offer as well as testing their skills on the grid course. All the participants have now been invited to the first Learn to Orienteer session to be held in the area on the 13th of September.

A Level 3 Controller’s Course was held at Kingston recently. Nine people participated and are now positioned to apply/reaccredit for L3 Controller Accreditation. Thank you to those who gave up their time to attend. Knowledge is power.

What is a Controller in orienteering?

The controller is a representative of Orienteering Australia and has ultimate responsibility to ensure that all aspects of event are planned and completed satisfactorily, and that errors are minimized. The controller needs to ensure that:

• Rules are followed
• Mistakes are avoided
• Fairness is paramount

Course planners often get all the glory but they wouldn’t be successful if they didn’t have the rest of the team, the controller!

Did you know that Tasmania has 26 accreditated controllers? Level 1 = 7, Level 2 = 10, Level 3 = 9

Did you know that all events, big or small, need a controller? Most events in Tasmania only need L1 but State Championship events need a L2 controller.

To attain accreditation, remain accreditated or gain a higher accreditation you must attend a Controller’s Course.

A Level 1 Course is planned for 2026, post AOC.

Christine Brown

Director Technical - Orienteering Tasmania

Progress towards the Australian Orienteering Championships in April 2026 is proceeding well.

Here’s some of what’s been happening:

• Mike Morffew and Jon Sutcliffe have been producing the maps for the course planners
• Course planning is underway
• Arena areas are almost finalised
• 3/4 of the site visits have been completed
• Equipment needs are being determined across all aspects of the event
• The techie people are working out how best to bring the forest to the arena
• Entries will open on November 1
• Website is live and needs content. If you have an idea for a story please write it!
• Meisha Austin is coordinating volunteers. There’s lots of opportunity for everyone to be involved albeit a large or small contribution. If you would like to help please contact Meisha on meishaaustin@gmail.com . Some of the areas needing volunteers include: competitor services, finish team, string course, a toilet fairy (that job is really only making sure there’s loo paper. Contractors will do the smelly stuff) and result slat hangers
• There’s a vacancy for doing some Social Media – we have Facebook, Instagram and the website – all need content
• The bunks at the Valley campus are fully booked but there’s lots of camping
• The coffee van is locked in!

That’s only a fraction of what’s been happening or is needed. When I first started in orienteering, my first Tasmanian based Australian/International event was APOC 1988. Helping out was such a buzz. It helped get me hooked. 😊

Christine Brown

Event Director

Australian Orienteering Championships 2026

Orienteering Australia is seeking applicants for SEED FUNDING to launch their own KID-O program!

Please join Orienteering Australia for a meeting on Sunday the 14th September 6pm (AEST) to help launch the KID-O program. We will be discussing how to apply for funding, the new KID-O Facilitator Training on the OLC, what will be required from applicants and what supplies are needed to start your own KID-O program.

OA (using ASC Play Well funding) is supporting the expansion of KID-O nationally through $750 Seed Funding payments to the first 14 geographical areas that want to set up KID-O in their local area.

Find the zoom link on Eventor: https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/22953

Daniel Stott
Manager, Participation
Orienteering Australia
+61481340445
participation@orienteering.asn.au