G'day [FIRST_NAME] [LAST_NAME],
END-OF-YEAR WRAP
A quick review of the year and a sneak-peak of what's on next year for Rogaining in NSW.
Done and Dusted - The 2023 Set List
It's been a big year ... event participation is up and there's been a few notable achievements along the way.
We kicked off with the Minigaine on a warm day in February down at Little Bay down near Randwick - it was Jordan Barta's first go at setting (and organising) an event and it attracted a record 532 participants.
Next was Steve Ryan's Metrogaine on a wet day in April and despite being a scenic romp around Manly Dam and Bantry Bay will be remembered for the blood, sweat and tears caused by our friends, the leeches.
Steve Ryan (The event orgniser), Ted Woodley and Julian Ledger.
The Autumngaine took us north to Stroud and another first time setter Mat Collin giving us a run through the jungle, then Salome and Stu's Paddy Pallin at Currambene, south of Nowra, reminded us that diamonds are forever with a special 60 th anniversary appearance and after-dinner talks and reminiscences with Robert Pallin and our own Julian Ledger.
The Nightgaine was at South Turramurra and was brought to us once more by Tristan White. True to form, he pulled a few sneaky night-moves with an embedded orienteering challenge for a quick 200 points if you got the lot.
Our old favourite Lake Macquarie from the Newcastle crew under Rob Vincent's guidance had a bit of a tart-up with a fresh new map by Hamish Mackie. The traditional favourites – Lawyer Vine and thick, off-track nav were still there in abundance, so the essence of the event was in the air that night.
The main event for the year .. the Australian Championships at Goobang National Park was set by the formidable team David Williams and Ronnie Taib, expertly managed by previous President Trev and a band on the run of willing volunteers. The bush was thick and the competition fierce, but NSW (and ACT... but they are really in NSW) taking out the Interstate Challenge.
The Werakata Surprise rogaine by Anita & Bert indeed took us by surprise and proved that there was more than Lawyer Vine on offer up that neck of the woods.
The Rogaine year was capped off with Ted Woodley's Socialgaine , the penultimate Lane Cove Rivergaine V. Cries of ‘take me to the river' went unheeded as we took in million-dollar views of Sydney Harbour and the lower north shire real-estate. Ted threw in a few of his renowned bonus-point twists, adding a few route-planning brain-teasers into the challenge.
Add Navshield and a bunch of ACT Rogaines into the mix and we've had a pretty good selection of events this year in NSW.
Strategic Review and Plan
On a hot afternoon in early December, 20 luminaries of our sport had a strategy session aimed at building a Strategic Plan for Rogaining in NSW for the next few years. The group captured a cross section of experience and ages and sought to explore the reasons that we are bound to this sport and how we should be adapting to the changing social and recreational landscape.
There were lots of fruitful discussions and the themes that are emerging from the analysis of the day include:
- Staying true to the core ethic of the sport - map and compass navigation using our wits (and bodies of course)
- Setting a high standard of event quality in course location, design, vetting and catering.
- Having longer planning cycles and build skilled event teams through training and mentoring.
- Marketing to a wider base by better utilising social media and improving our relationships with complementary organisations.
We'll pull all the threads together into a coherent Strategic Plan over the next few weeks and throw it out to wider audience for review and discussion before its finalised.
This is not just a Committee exercise – all members can have a say on the final plan.
During the Summer
You don't have to completely veg out once the weather gets a bit warmer and there's no real Rogaines about. Aside from the plethora of MapRun events available that recreate some of the great past events, we've added a one-off MapRun LCRV Challenge.
We've set up a 2hr Maprun Event utilising Ted's latest Lane Cove Rivergaine V course.
- The event will be open for 4 weeks only, starting 01/Jan/2024
- There will be fabulous prizes for the best individual and team, to be awarded at the Minigaine in Feb.
- The whole course is up for grabs – but there's a few changes to make it an even contest.
- You must start and finish at the original HH location in North Sydney.
- There are no bonus points for the special harborside controls.
- The 120 pointer at Mosman oval is available all the time.
Check out the MapRun page for more details.
If that's not enough, the Sydney Summer Series Orienteering offers a great way to bone up on your route planning skills, keep your brain and body fitness up and have a run or walk in the cool afternoon.
- Events are held every Wednesday evening between October and March - 26 in all.
- Events are scattered around urban parks and bushland, normally north of the harbour, with a few events in the inner west and eastern suburbs.
- Each event is 45mins long and you can start anytime between 4.30pm and 6.30pm. You'll need an SI stick (you can rent one for the day) and you'll get a fresh map when you check in. Pre-entry is via Eventor (links are on the SSS page for the event).
- There are 30 controls on a map typically at 1:7500 or 1:10000 – 600 points up for grabs.
- You can download the map on the night before and plan your route and strategy well in advance.
- You'll be surprised how many familiar faces you'll see – it's a great friendly atmosphere.
Check out the SSS Page here for all the details.
What's planned for 2024
Planning is well under way for many of the events in the first half of 2024.
- The Minigaine will take a leaf out of Ted Woodley's book and have the second instalment of the Head-to-Head Trilogy up around Newport. Martin Dearnley is Setting the course.
- The Metrogaine is being planned for the Lower Blue Mountains, north of the highway around Riverview - Stephen McKay is looking after this one.
- Robin Cameron - our Volunteer Coordinator is showing us how it's done by taking on the Autumngaine up around Kariong and the Central Coast – remember the 2010 Paddy Pallin .. it's near there, but bigger!
- The NSW Champs might be held out near Capertee … there's a few
- Ted Woodley will bring the Final Lane Cove Rivergaine to life, Is there any more River? I hear you ask ... Ted reckons there is.
- The Lake Macquarie will be back … see if you can outsmart it this time.
- We'd also like to slip in a Navigation and/or Event Planning workshop - we'll canvas interest for these in the New Year.
- AND .. for all the Volunteers in the past couple of years, we're bringing back the Volunteer Picnic - it will happen on Saturday 3 rd Feb 2024. We'll let you know where exactly early in the New Year.
The 2019 volunteer's picinic
Join a bushwalking club!
If you love exploring new places you'll discover more, learn more, and meet more people with a bushwalking/hiking club! Bushwalking NSW has affiliated clubs located across NSW & ACT and get out hiking/bushwalking, cycling, paddling, canyoning and cross-country skiing all year round. Club members are friendly and have a tonne of knowledge and experience to share. Check out the clubs near you on our map or contact Bushwalking NSW for guidance.
Robyn at Bantry Bay
2023 Year End Quiz
Many contestants have braved their skills by completing the Rogaining Year End Quiz. One bright navigator got 100% but the average has been around 14 or 15 answers correct out of 20.
Can you do better? Enter today! Try it Here:
Go west for the Championships
What better excuse to make a visit to Western Australia than for the 2024 Australian Rogaining Championships on 7/8 September. The details are already up on the WARA website: 2024 Australasian Rogaine Champs . All are welcome and a very social event can be expected. Bus transport from Perth airport will be available. For some of the many reasons why go to WA at this time of year including expected amazing wildflowers check out Julian Ledger's blog here: Go West for the Australian Rogaining Championships - 7/8 September 2024 - NSW Rogaining
We need you in '24
If you check out the Events Calendar for 2024, you'll see lots of 'we need you' in the mix.
'You', in the first instance, means Event Organisers and Course Setters. These are the driving force behind all events and you may have noticed that the same names and faces keep popping up year after year. A key strategy that has emerged is that we need to share and spread the expertise to new event managers through a mentoring program.
'You' in the second instance means everyone else who volunteers to bring events to fruition. Vetters, Flag Hangers, Flag Collectors, On the day helpers - there's always space for more.
Rogaining depends on Volunteers to exist. NSW is fortunate to have a strong volunteering contingent, but we need to keep this momentum rolling.
Thanks again for all your support during 2023 and looking forward to seeing you all again in 2024 for another special year of Rogaining.
Graham and all the team at the NSW Rogaining Association.
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