Membership at record levels
- Last Updated: Sunday, 05 January 2020 15:38
We are proud to announce that membership of ONSW has jumped nearly 10 per cent in 2019 to a record 1,386.
Add in some schools and partner members and we are up over 1,400 for the first time - compared with 1,288 at the end of 2018.
Five clubs enjoyed double-digit growth for the calendar year.
Please renew for 2020, if you are already a member of ONSW and familiar with the membership arrangements you may go straight to the Eventor login page to renew your membership and continue all membership benefits and fees including access to redeem your Active Kids vouchers.
And our Facebook page is the most popular of all the states, sitting on 1447 likes - a whopping increase of 40% this year!
Thanks to everyone for their support in 2019 - we look forward to a great 2020 highlighted by Easter in the rock at Gumble.
Getting a 'feel' for orienteering
- Last Updated: Wednesday, 18 December 2019 11:52
This story proves two great statements: “Never say never” and “Orienteering is truly a sport for all.” Barbara Hill and her Bold Horizons team spent time recently with a truly inspirational and adventurous group of people.
Vision-impaired adventurers from Blind Citizens Australia, with guide dogs and carers, navigated a course through the Chatswood Mall and shopping district using a map created especially for them.
Printed in 3D, the map provided a basic idea of the area with activity bases and instructions provided in braille. Touch, smell, sound, taste, games and other activities, combined with visits to T2 Tea, the Chatswood Library and Gelatissimo along the way made for an extremely entertaining day.
Barbara reports: "I worked closely with Blind Citizens Australia to develop the event. It was designed as an enjoyable team-based activity with the primary object of having some fun but also to build confidence and mobility skills in the Chatswood area.
"There were activity bases spread around the Chatswood CBD that teams of visually impaired participants could navigate to.
"We were able to have all the directions printed in braille and the map transferred to a 3D print with braille labels. Of course all the activities relied on non-visual skills: sound, taste, touch, smell and lots of laughs.
"It was a highly enjoyable, inspiring, yet humbling day that was terrific to be involved in. Overwhelmingly positive feedback has been received on the event."
Participant Graeme Innes (pictured, far left) was Australia's Disability Discrimination Commissioner from December 2005 to July 2014.
To view all the photos, see the Facebook article about the event. We also have a small Braille permanent course at Hughes Park in Lane Cove. See here for details.
Seven NSW orienteers named in OA HP squads
- Last Updated: Monday, 16 December 2019 17:06
Newcastle prodigy Alvin Craig has capped a stellar year with a promotion in the 2020 Orienteering Australia High Performance Squads.
Alvin, 15, won all three races at the 2019 Australian Schools Champs to help NSW regain the trophy for the first time in 17 years.
He jumps from the Targeted Talent level to the Junior Development Squad to join Garingal's Duncan Currie and Big Foot pair Ewan Shingler and Alastair George.
NSW junior squad coach Rob Bennett (NC) is in the second-tier National Development Squad with Toby Wilson (GO).
Duncan's sister Ellen enters the program at the Targeted Talent level.
Garingal has three representatives, Newcastle two and Big Foot two. Congratulations to these seven orienteers on their selections.
2019 BF Sprints entries open
- Last Updated: Monday, 09 December 2019 14:10
Entries are open for the annual Big Foot Sprints which this year are on Sunday December 22 at Callan Park in Rozelle.
This is a unique two-race event, with the first starts from 9-10am and a chasing start from 11am for the second run.
If you don't fancy the idea of doing the chasing start, just enter the Short course.
Entries are open via Eventor, where you will also find the event briefing notes.
Entries close on Thursday, 19th December at Midnight.
