Latest ONSW News

For those of us in Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Central Coast commencing our 2 week stay at home period a reminder that our Permanent Orienteering courses are still available for use. The Government Health orders do not allow organised community sport in this period but do allow exercise outdoors in groups of no more than 10 which is perfect for individuals or small groups to utilise these courses.

ONSW have several events being conducted this weekend at East Ryde, Stockrington (Newcastle) and Belanglo. The Uringa event at Double Bay has been cancelled

https://eventor.orienteering.asn.au/Events?startDate=2021-06-26&endDate=2021-06-27&organisations=5

ONSW members and any members of the general public planning on attending any of these ONSW events are reminded of the updated NSW Government Public Health orders now in place and their impact on potential attendance at these events

• Residents of four LGAs – Woollahra, Waverley, Randwick and City of Sydney Councils – must stay at home and are not able to attend any of these events, including the Garingal East Ryde event as there will be more than 10 people participating
• Residents of Canada Bay, Inner West, and Bayside Councils – are not able to travel outside Metropolitan Sydney, which means they are not able to attend either the Stockrington or Belanglo events

 For those who are still eligible to attend the events scheduled for this weekend please adopt the 1 person per 4 square metre approach, wear a face mask while not directly exercising and do not congregate at the start or finish areas, ie “Arrive, Orienteer, Leave”.

Also please do not attend any event this weekend if you have any flu/cold symptoms, have had close contact or attended a defined close contact location or if you have had a COVID test and are awaiting the results.

Congratulations to Basil and Jean Baldwin from Goldseekers who were officially presented with their Sport NSW award last Thursday at Bankwest Stadium for Distinguished Long Service.

Carolyn Campbell, Sport NSW Chairperson, congratulated the finalists and award winners for their exceptional achievements and also emphasised the voluntary dedication that over 500,000 people commit to make NSW community sport the best it can be.

“Community sport has an unrivalled ability to transcend culture, ability and background and to bring people together… NSW would not be able to enjoy the activities they love without the dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers we celebrate tonight,” Ms Campbell mentioned.

“While COVID-19 has impacted our lives in so many ways over the past 12 months, the role of community sport has been more vital than ever, helping restore and uphold the physical and mental health of the NSW community,” added Ms Campbell.

For nearly 50 years, Basil and Jean have organised, coached, course-set and provided club leadership in orienteering. They have been key in establishing orienteering as a community sport for all ages and provide pathways to elite competition. Basil has consistently been the sport’s technical backbone, has won numerous State and National Championships and both Basil and Jean have represented Australia at the Oceania Championships. Jean was awarded an Australia Day medal in 1994 as Senior Sportsperson of the Year and has twice been a finalist in the Orange Sportsperson of the Year awards. 

Students from seven of our NSW Clubs have been named in the NSW 2021 Schools team for the 2021 Australian Championships in Tasmania this September/October.

There are eight new faces in the team this year: Rebecca Craig (Newcastle), Maggie MacKay (Uringa), Lyra Simpson (Big Foot), Savanna Sweeney (Western & Hills) and Lilja Lehtonen (Garingal) all in Junior Girls and in the Juniors Boys Lachlan Coady (Western & Hills), Alex Woolford (Bush n Beach) and Curtis Pepper (Bennelong Northside).

Australian and New Zealand school students will contest the championships organised by Orienteering Tasmania in conjunction with Orienteering Australia. Each Australian State will send a team of up to 20 students competing along with two New Zealand teams of 20 students. 

The team will be travelling with the managers and coaches Jenny Enderby, Damien Enderby and Bjorn Mella.