Latest ONSW News
Following the massive working bee last month, the new water tank has now been installed at Belanglo House thanks to our Friends of the Hut.
Luke Wilmott, Kev Curby and Dave Lotty performed an array of maintenance tasks to have the Hut looking better than ever for when we resume events.
Importantly, the power cable to the pump for the showers and campers sink was rerouted to the new tank. The cut-out device that monitors the water level and prevents the tank running dry was also connected.
Water from the old tank was decanted into the new tank which is now at 50% capacity. This is a big saving. If water wasn't transferred it would have meant water would have to be transported to the Hut and it is very expensive.
Among the other work done was:
* lots of digging to accommodate new pipes required to join new to old water pipes
* main drain pipe connecting the bathroom and campers sink extended to allow the waste water to run further from the Hut
* drain pipe from the shower restored to its original condition with genuine replacement parts
* new pavers laid under the sink to ensure the area doesn't get muddy
* chipping out most of the scotch thistles in the area around the Hut (so many wheelbarrow loads they took 2 days to burn!)
All orienteers say a huge thank you to Luke, Kevin and Dave for this effort.
It is with sadness we have learnt of the passing of Christine Darby (née Curtin) - a very caring and creative person, always with a smile.
Christine joined Bennelong Northside in 1999 and was a much-loved club member bringing brightness, warmth and camaraderie to all club activities. She was a regular participant in Sydney Summer Series as well as club events, Metro and State Leagues plus travelled to Australian Championships with club members. The spirit and warmth that she contributed are fondly remembered (along with the chocolate cakes and brownies that were freshly baked and shared at Metro Leagues).
After meeting Stephen (Garingal), their relationship grew through many orienteering adventures. Marriage and the World Rogaining Champs were highlights in 2006. Along with their two beautiful girls, Joanna and Angela, the family joined Garingal and have been regulars at the SOS in recent years. Christine could be seen on many Saturdays encouraging, teaching and patiently following one of the girls around their course. Most recently the family also came to the Garingal Christmas Party held on a very hot 40°+ day early February, in order that the girls could meet other Garingal juniors.
Stephen tells how Christine fought a four-year long battle with ovarian cancer with determination, dignity and compassion. It was hard for even him to know how much she was suffering because she was always thinking of others first, and just wanted to be treated as normal. For as long as she could, Christine volunteered each week with Hornsby Connect, a charity that provides food and support for those in need.
Just last year, Christine was also volunteering to help with the orienteering program at her girl’s school. She was generous with her time and energy and a wonderful, caring role model as well as advocate for orienteering in the community that will be missed by many.
Stephen is keen that if you have any photos or special memories of Christine, you please send them to Barbara Hill (
Our hearts go out to Stephen, Joanna and Angela at this most difficult time for them personally. With limitations on social gatherings, Stephen says a time to meet and remember will be organised at a later date. In the meantime, Stephen suggests that donations to Hornsby Connect would be preferred rather than flowers if people are of that mind.
Our thanks to Barbara Junghans, Wayne Pepper and Barbara Hill for this beautiful tribute.
NSW orienteers Greg Bacon (Newcastle), Paula Shingler (Big Foot) and Andrew Lumsden (BF) have taken out major service awards from Orienteering Australia.
Greg (top left) received the Silva Award for Services to Orienteering. He has been a stalwart - and driver - of the MTBO scene in Newcastle and NSW for many years. Greg also started the DuO concept which has returned to the calendar after a short break.
A tireless worker dedicated to getting people onto bikes for a different take on orienteering, Greg has seen the Newcastle BOSS series grow in recent years and his promotional efforts resulted in a total rookie (Tim Doman) riding for Australia at the 2019 world champs.
He will also be heavily involved in the 2020 Australian MTBO champs in Newcastle, and has lately taken to e-bikes (another avenue for growth) with great gusto.
Paula received the Silva Award for Services to Orienteering Coaching.
For the past 6 years Paula has run a weekly, informal interval session mainly aimed at juniors, although seniors (including parents) do come along. Attendance is usually 10-20.
Currently Paula coaches 12 orienteers, 8 of which are juniors, and co-ordinates with expert technical coaches to deliver learnings appropriate to the level of student. As a fully qualified physio, Paula provides all her ‘students' with a tailor made, monthly schedule, specially geared towards their age, ability and goals. The success of these individual programs can be seen in the low number of injuries suffered.
In her coaching capacity Paula also acts as a listening board for a whole range of problems her team might be experiencing. She regularly arranges other training sessions (both bush and sprint) and is invariably available at events for that last minute taping and treatment.
Some of Paula’s recent successes include: Alastair George (JWOC 2018 & 2019), Michele Dawson (WUOC 2018), Aidan Dawson (WUOC 2018), Toby Wilson (JWOC 2017 and WUOC 2018), Emily Sorensen (JWOC 2019 Irish team) and Georgia Jones (JWOC reserve 2017).
Andrew, the ONSW Technical Director, won the David Hogg Award for Services to Event Management. A Level 3 controller, Andrew has overseen a raft of international and national events.
Andrew started in orienteering in the early 1970s in Victoria. Since then he has worked countless hours on orienteering including controlling major carnivals, course setting and mapping, negotiating landowner access and creating the technical framework that ensures the quality of NSW events.
Andrew was National Controller for the Australian Championships Carnival at Bathurst in September 2017, however his services to Orienteering go far beyond that. He is also innovative and challenges the status quo. Andrew has given decades of outstanding service to orienteering in Australia.
As ONSW Technical Director he is also the backbone of NSW technical standards and accreditation, constantly working on a range of fronts. He shoulders much of the detailed technical work for ONSW.
The COVID-19 situation has given us some time to reflect on how we run many of our smaller events.
ONSW would like now to start up a working group of volunteers experienced in running computers and registration at minor events.
The immediate aim of the working group would be to develop and implement procedures to ensure events can be held safely once the COVID-19 restrictions are eased. This includes:
* minimising contact with shared surfaces
* ensuring safe distancing
* each event having a list of attendees so contact tracing can occur quickly if needed
The working group could move onto more general improvements to help orienteering efficiency and to encourage greater participation. This could include freeing up volunteers, using the same procedures for registration at enter-on-day events and improving our marketing information for people new to orienteering.
If you are interested in leading or being part of this working group please contact Andrew Lumsden (
