Latest ONSW News
- Introduced to orienteering in primary school and loved it!
- Grew up in rural Queensland on an avocado farm, we were members of a then tiny club (Range Runners), so I did lots of course setting, vetting and event organisation with my older sister while I was still a junior.
- Represented Australia at JWOC 3 years in Belgium, France and Bulgaria, World Ski-O champs in Finland and some World Cup MTBO races (Poland, Italy).
- Ended up with a stress fracture my first year in seniors, drifted away from orienteering but returned when Ryan was tiny (it’s a great sport for families!)
- Married to Richard Pattison and proud mum to Ryan, who has recently started running very easy courses by himself (if you see him out on a course remind him his compass works best when he holds it flat!).
- Medical research scientist by profession, have worked in both academia and industry; predominantly in epigenetics and development of cancer biomarkers.
- I love the challenge of long courses in tough technical terrain – still running W21A so I don’t have to admit how I old I am!
- Joined the ONSW Board as I hope my diverse experiences (pressures on members of small rural clubs, schools orienteering, elite orienteering, MTBO, ski-o, orienteering with family (juggling priorities)) would provide unique perspective to decision making. Excited to be part of a great team!
Photo: Tony Hill
Sheralee Bailey became ONSW's new President at the ONSW Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 28 April. Barbara Dawson, Ian McKenzie and Melissa Thomas also joined ONSW as directors, while Robyn Pallas and Jamie Kennedy have retired from the Board. ONSW wishes to thank Robyn and Jamie for their tremendous contribution to ONSW and orienteering over the past six years.
Sheralee's profile is below:
- Previous ONSW Board member 2022-2024.
- Started orienteering in 1984 on the Central Coast. Now a member of Waggaroos.
- Selected in the Australian orienteering team twice as a junior in the 1980s.
- Multiple podiums/victories from 1985-2025 as a junior, elite and master at State and National events in Australia.
- Bachelor of Economics, Macquarie University.
- Moved from Sydney to the UK after being head-hunted from London in 2006, returning permanently to Australia in 2021.
- 20+ year career in regulatory compliance, including as Group Head of Compliance Australian Stock Exchange, multiple international investment banks and ultimately as Global Head of Equities Compliance, Macquarie Bank. Retired at 45.
- Selected in the England orienteering team 4 times as a W40/45.
- Multiple podiums/victories at UK regional, state and national events, and in European races.
- Orienteered in 23 countries, with podiums in 11 countries.
- Now unfortunately too injured to be competitive (but still trying!).
- Organiser/planner/controller of events up to national level for 25 years here in NSW and in England.
- Married to Dave Dorling, an enthusiastic orienteer and an internationally competitive road cyclist.
- Focus as President will be on quality events, increasing participation and improving the volunteer experience.
Profiles of ONSW's other new Board members - Barbara Dawson, Ian McKenzie and Melissa Thomas - will be published soon.
School athletes wishing to nominate for the NSW Schools Team to the 2026 Australian Schools Orienteering Championships (ASOC) need to nominate by 20 March.
ASOC is to be held in conjunction with the Oceania Championships, in the ACT, from 26th September to 4th October. The team will consist of a maximum of 20 athletes, with a maximum of 6 athletes permitted in any of the four classes. The four classes are Junior Boys and Girls (athletes aged 12 to 15 on December 31, 2026) and Senior Boys and Girls (athletes 19 and under on 31 December 2026). We expect positions within the team to be highly contested.
It is possible to attend as an independent athlete and either stay at the independent camp or separately or as part of a Schools team (if selected). Students who nominate and are successful in being selected in a Schools Team will be part of the Schools team group and camp with their State team for the full carnival.
Nominations close on Friday 20 March. The Team will be announced mid-June.
The 2026 NSW Schools Team Selection Policy can be found on the ONSW website at https://www.onsw.asn.au/resources/onsw-manual (scroll down to 8.5 NSW Schools Team Selection) or use this link. Please read the Selection policy carefully before nominating to make sure you are aware of the commitment involved (clauses 5.1, 6.1, 9.3 and 9.4) including the cost, mandatory selection races and post-selection requirements of team members, summarised below.
Please note that it is expected that participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodation to all State League events. There will be co-ordinated accommodation and transport for Independent Camp athletes and Schools Team athletes but note that the cost can be $1,000 to $1,500 per student (we aim to lower this where possible with fundraising - where it is expected eligible juniors will assist on stalls etc. and donations). The full NSW Schools Team uniform cost is about $500 payable by the athlete.
The mandatory selection races are:
- The three days of competition held in NSW over the King's Birthday long weekend (State Leagues 7, 8 and 9), 6-8 June 2026
- The NSW Sprint Championships and the Sunday Long event (State Leagues 3 and 4), 18 and 19 April 2026
- Plus a choice of either of the following 2 day State League competitions:
o NSW State Leagues 1(Middle) and 2 (Long) 21-22 March 2026 (entries close 15 March); or
o NSW State Leagues 5 (Middle) and 6 (Long) 16-17 May 2026.
Post-selection - it is expected that those selected in the team will:
- Have continued fitness;
- Satisfactorily participate in camps (often in April and July) with attendance at the July camp compulsory unless extenuating circumstances approved by the selectors;
- Satisfactorily participate in NSW State League events after KBIII up to ASOC and in particular attendance at the Schools Champ two day event State Leagues 11 (Middle) and 12 (Sprint) on 15-16 August and Middle/Long Champs State Leagues 13 (Middle) and 14 (Long) are compulsory unless extenuating circumstances approved by the selectors; and
- Team members will attend the full ASOC carnival 26 September to 4 October 2026 with possible early departure (after ASOC) for Year 12 student which must be advised to the Team Manager at least 1 month before the carnival.
Nominations for the 2026 NSW Schools Team are now open in Eventor here (https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events/Show/24015).
Nominations close midnight 20 March.
This year's Team Manager is Saffron Sweeney. Once you have nominated on Eventor, provide the following information to
- Full name
- Date of birth
- School name, year of study
- Schools Championships class (Male/Female, Senior/Junior)
- Name, email address and phone number of at least one parent/guardian
LEVEL 1 & 2 CONTROLLERS WORKSHOP - SUNDAY 15 MARCH - REGISTRATION CLOSING MONDAY 9TH MARCH
A Controllers Workshop will be held in Sydney on Sunday 15th March 2026.
Purpose:
This L1/ L2 Controllers workshop is for all ONSW (and other state association) members, particularly those who are seeking L1 accreditation, or who are already accredited as a L1 or L2 Controller as it will contribute towards re-accreditation. It will also be relevant to those who intend to organise/set/control an event in 2026/2027.
Target Groups:
- Any orienteer interested in being a L1 Controller;
- Current L1 Controllers wanting to refresh their knowledge and/or progress to L2;
- Current L2 Controllers wanting to refresh their knowledge and/or maintain their accreditation; and
- Any orienteer wanting to improve their knowledge of orienteering to help their performances improve.
Date: Sunday 15th March 2026 from 9:30am- 4:00pm
Location: Sports House, Level 2, 2B Figtree Drive, Sydney Olympic Park. Lunch and morning tea provided.
Cost: $25 per attendee. Clubs are encouraged to cover the cost of attendance for their members. Registration are open via Eventor.
Facilitators: Rodney Parkin and Sheralee Bailey
Program: The course will cover technical standards for controlling orienteering events (as per the L1 Controller syllabus):
- Role of the Controller;
- Course Planning;
- Event Organisation;
- Orienteering Mapping and Map Production;
- What makes a good Controller;
- Fairness and Equity;
- and Controller Accreditation Process.
The workshop will be a slide presentation as well as practical exercises to reinforce knowledge. For any more information please contact Sheralee Bailey at
