30 years of Goldseekers
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- Last Updated: Sunday, 23 June 2024 14:30
30 YEARS ANNIVERSARY
Goldseekers Orienteers is celebrating its 30th Anniversary this year.
Please join us for a celebratory BBQ immediately after the event at Charles Sturt Uni Campus, Orange on Sunday, 23rd June.
History of the Club:
Goldseekers Orienteers were formed in May 1994, following a course on orienteering that was run by the Baldwins at the local Community College. Lake Canobolas was the first area to be mapped, followed by Gosling Creek. These were the venues for the first Goldseekers events in September and October 1994. Our first bush map was made at Rocky Falls in the Mullion Range.
In November 1994, we organised a Spring Classic, 2-day event at Lake Canobolas and Rocky Falls. 70 Sydney people and 30 locals came to the first Spring Classic.
We were also asked to organise orienteering for the Eight Day Games in November 1994 and have continued to do this each year.
1996 was a big year as the national Easter 3-Day Carnival was held in Orange with around 800 people attending. Macquarie Woods, Ophir Diggings, Lookout Rock (Mullion State Forest) and Khalis Rocks were mapped for this event. Goldseekers provided breakfasts at $3 per head for the 400 campers at Canobolas High School.
The summer evening events were started in 1999 and continue to be very popular attracting up to 100 people to the parks and streets of Orange during daylight saving time of January/February. Then later we started the Park Series during Friday evenings of November/December period. We have managed a series of State League events over the years at many of our maps including Ophir, Macquarie Woods, Khali's Rocks, Rocky Falls, CSU with hundreds of entrants from throughout the state. Training and mini-events have been held at many of the schools in Orange which has lead to a series of School Gala Days with hundreds of school children enjoying orienteering in parks.
Goldseekers were the instigators of the Great Volcanic Mountain Challenge in 2007 - the 11km mountain trail run to the top of Mt Canobolas, and organised it for many years.
The club has produced over 30 maps of areas near Orange, forest, parkland, suburbs and schools.
Key achievements by club members include Matt Parton representing Australia in the Junior World Championships. Rob and Bridget Bennett and this year Matt Slater representing NSW in interstate school challenges and Jean and Basil Baldwin representing Australia in senior classes in Australia vs New Zealand challenges. Rob Bennett was coach of the NSW Junior squad. Anna Fitzgerald representing NSW.
Jean Baldwin (Revised)
