Emus Online - 1st November 2006

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Member News

Welcome to new-members David and Khayen Prentice. Khayen is a street-orienteer of long-standing and runs in B-grade or C-grade in the Summer Series. David, a lecturer in economics at Latrobe University is a keen power-walker and has recently taken part in the Monday Night Training Series. David was kind enough to set one event for us - a tough course on BK's Bulleen Ups and Down's map. Not many got all controls that night! David and Khayen have a daughter Lauren - approaching schools age and take it in turns to look after her while the other goes out to a street-O event.
Welcome also to Jim Taylor. Jim first took part in our Saturday event at Westgarth and has been a keen participant in A grade ever since - now that he's settled in and has got the hang of score events, he's moving to the summer series scatter events - an entirely new experience....but probably easier to get the hang of. Please look for Jim at events and introduce yourself - he's the cheerful, tall guy wearing his new NE running top.
The Hudson's recently spent a week in the Margaret River area South of Perth - article below. Geoff, a computer contractor, completed his work in Internet Security for NAB's internet banking system and has now moved to a project at Telstra.
Bruce Paterson recently produced a working paper on some of the risks associated with running street-O events in extreme weather conditions. It's good to see that the Park-Street organisers are thinking ahead and minimising the risks associated with situations like this. See the notes below from Bruce's paper. If you have any comments or suggestions, please return them to me via email and I'll forward them to Bruce.
The Fells have got approval from the VOA to work with the Sunleys to provide a Werribee Park-Street Series next year. This series will consist of 4 events running on Saturday afternoon/evening in the Werribee/Hoppers Crossing area. More details as they become available.
Bill Johnson has been having issues with wildly varying blood pressure in recent times and write "I rebelled against medications and cut all in HALF some 7 weeks ago -- since then my BP has been very much better ---- approaching normal. A very sudden drop after exercise a fortnight ago is now seen to have been a heart attack". Take care of yourself Bill!

NE Training Activity - 11th November

Rob Edmonds puts a lot of effort into inter-schools competitions and training juniors - and is running a training exercise at Brimbank Park next Saturday afternoon (11th November) at 2pm. While it is essentially for families from Glen Katherine Primary School he has invited club members to come for a run and help out.

He plans to set out a scatter course with 20 controls. Please let Rob know via email at redm4896@bigpond.net.au or by phone on 9438 3378 if you'd like to come along and are willing to help.

Nillumbik Emus - Weekend Away - 25/26 November

If you haven't called Fiona to let her know that you're coming to the Milgrove weekend, do it now! Come along for a few hours or stay overnight and take part in both days - Milgrove is only about an hour's drive from Melbourne, so it's closer than the average bush event.
	This is planned to be a social weekend where street O, bush O and Bike O club members can mingle. Several organized activities are offered, orienteering on Sunday is intended to be very low key, non threatening and enjoyable (and not too much cheating). WHEN: Nov. 25th – 26th (Sat.-Sun) WHERE: Milgrove Outdoor Education Centre (at the base of Mt. Donna Buang, Dee Rd., Milgrove. Melways 289A2) Limited accommodation is available in 4 – 6 bed bunkrooms - cost $12 per person. If numbers requiring beds exceeds bed availability, then people may camp. The club will provide Saturday evening main meal - and we've asked people to bring a contribution along for dessert, nibbles etc.
Go for a walk/run - or just get to know other members
As part of our Oxfam training, we walked the Victoria track up to the top of Donna Buang. While the bottom half of the track can be a little challenging, the upper half is beautiful terrain for running through - so much so, that when I reached the top, I took the opportunity to turn around and run back to the midway point. For a more pleasant and easier walk, there are lots of walking tracks along the valley - we'll have maps of the area available for perusal. --- oOo --- If you would like to come along, grab the entry form from our website - the Emus Home Page. Please forward completed form (with cheque for accommodation if staying overnight) to Fiona Shaw, Box 4012, Hoppers Crossing 3029,by November 9^th, 2006. If you have any queries email fiona.shaw@bigpond.com or phone 9749 4941

Nillumbik Emus win the RockHopper Award Again!

As a result of representation at all age-groups and keen participation from so many of our members, our club once again wins the Rockhopper Trophy for best bush-orienteering club in Victoria. While we may not be the strongest street-O club in the area, our bush experience is second to none!

Congratulations to everybody that took part in bush events this year. The scores achieved in each event are shown below.

					2006 ROCKHOPPER TROPHY


Event	AR	AW	BG	BK	CH	DR	EU	MF	NE	TK	YV	Total

1	0	0	60	55	18	17	103	48	135	78	97	611
2	4	0	79	136	10	22	91	19	73	133	75	642
3	10	0	125	129	0	30	84	80	125	123	145	851
4	0	63	45	14	5	14	25	38	33	51	44	332
5	0	40	63	62	5	20	46	34	109	78	67	524
6	12	0	27	86	18	55	80	49	160	115	73	675
7	0	8	115	100	15	24	124	76	184	79	80	805
8	0	0	122	94	0	14	135	58	117	71	69	680
9	0	0	160	71	14	10	108	94	100	85	112	754
10	0	0	112	144	36	26	160	63	116	45	59	761
11	10	10	138	93	19	18	85	78	111	62	64	688
12 (Vic Mid)	10	10	118	128	13	39	109	94	109	63	122	815
13 (Vic Long)	8	15	131	124	23	26	116	127	150	50	147	917

TOTAL	54	146	1295	1236	176	315	1266	858	1522	1033	1154

Position	11	10	2	4	9	8	3	7	1	6	5

Street-Orienteering

Well, the 2006-2007 Summer Series started this week! While numbers at the Southern and Northern series were conservative, Wednesday night attendance sprung instantly to 188 entries. The Tuesday Series traditionally starts the week after cup day - this year it will start 2 weeks after the other series. Park-Street news:

Rick Bailes & Peter Kempster discuss strategy before a street run

Costs have gone up - although this was expected. As a result of increased VOA levies, the Park-Street organisers have had to put entry fees up. They've absorbed the last few increases in VOA fees, but can no longer afford to do so this year.

It was good to see so many Emus come out of hibernation to take part in the Summer Series. The transition from running in the dark with a headlamp to running in daylight (but now with a sweat-band) is always pleasant. It was good to see Michael Horn and family - wife Rosemarie and daughters Rachel and Freya run with the family's labrador (Michael - what is the dog's name - and how come he doesn't get a mention in the scores).

First run for the Summer Season - Jarrah & Diane

Orienteering News

Anybody who's a VOA member couldn't help but notice the success that Australian orienteers have had internationally in both the Junior World Championships and the World Orienteering Championships in Denmark. The latest Australian Orienteer had feature articles from everybody that was even loosely associated with the results attained - if you're interested in what the upper echelons of our sport are doing, borrow a copy of the October edition of Australian Orienteer and have a read. There are, in addition, some quite interesting articles on developmental aspects of our sport, training, nutrition and a few social articles from members.
The primary schools championships are approaching - at Jells Park on 10th November and Brimbank on 17th Nov. If you can help at either of these, contact Peter Whitford on 9459 0853.
Lots of orienteers are taking part in the Bright Alpine Climb this weekend; also known as the Four Peaks Climb, this event started in 1979 to get walkers into the hills to enjoy of the superb scenery the area has to offer. In recent years, runners have joined the climbers and have added excitement to the event. The run is for all ages - and climbs Mystic Hill on the day 1, Mt Feathertop on day 2, Mt Hotham on day 3 & Mt Buffalo on day 4.

VOA News

A number of decisions were discussed/ratified at the recent VOA Council Meeting:

The profits made from the recent Easter Carnival amounted to $42K; this amount was distributed amongst the organising clubs (one of whom was us).
Orienteering Australia (the Federal body that represents orienteering in Australia) has imposed an additional levy of 20c per head per event. The VOA will pass this cost on to clubs through event levies on local events.
There is a move to reduce the number of state series events from the current 10-12 down to 8-9 (including championships events). Lower-key/informal club events will be increased to provide running opportunities for orienteers on vacant weekends.

Nillumbik Emus Website

We've added more programs to our download page and have had many favourable reports on the files we prepared to load all 86 events into an organiser or electronic diary. We'll keep adding more software as it becomes available - check out the Emus Download Page periodically for new entries - at http://emus.orienteering.com.au/Download/index.htm. Where the club has purchased licensed copies that can be shared amongst club members, contact Geoff for registration/key information.

Oxfam 2007

Lauris Stirling and Geoff Hudson have entered an Emus team in the Oxfam Trail Walker event next year. This 100Km event traditionally runs from Jell's Park across the Dandenongs, over to Warburton and up to the top of Mount Donna Buang. As a result of the snow storm last year, the organisers have changed the route - so that the finish no longer requires one to climb a mountain at the end of 100km. Interestingly, the climb is about the same - as doubling back through lower hills takes teams over two lower hills rather than a climb up one big one.

We'll be organising training activities in the near future - typically Saturday walks of 4-5 hours duration over parts of the course. Anyone that would like to take part in these training activities would be most welcome - we'll publish a list soon - just let us know and we'll keep you informed of arrangements.

Looking for New Running Opportunities?

Fiona came over to discuss NE running tops and après-run clothing the other day. She took the opportunity to show us some of the work that the Fell family had been doing to integrate their Werribee maps into a single, larger map. A map like this would have terrific possibilities for a 2-hour or 3-hour event near Melbourne.

As we looked at the map, I noted that I recently passed a huge area of parkland on my way out to Werribee Golf Course and that the area was bounded on one side by the Werribee River. From the golf course the adjacent properties look like rolling parklands - great running for a park-street event.

"As long as you're a fast runner" said Fiona with a wry smile. "That's the Werribee Animal Park, I hope you can run fast. There are cheetahs running wild over there."

A new form of DNF - "Eaten"

Recent Events

Bush-Orienteering

The Victorian Long Distance Championships were held on 22 October; NE representation included, Rob Fell, Peter Mallen, Phil Giddings, Alan Watts, Rob Edmonds, Rex Niven, Dave Mallen, Ron Frederick, Alice Edmonds, Helen Schofield, Helen Edmonds, Fiona Fell, Jessica Niven, Don Fell, Kevin Maloney, Bill Johnson, Laurie Niven, Paul Adrian, Dorothy Adrian, Sue Healy, Joyce Rowlands, Kate Edmonds, Marion Johnson and Jesse Mallen.

NE took out 1st and 2nd in several categories and 1-2 and 3 in Women's 50. A great effort by all concerned!

Street-Orienteering

Daylight saving is back and the summer series has started. Can we get as many Emus taking part as possible - wear the running top with pride and look for others in an NE running top.

If you see somebody you don't know - in an NE top - please go over and introduce yourself.

Coming Events

Check out the Emus Street-Orienteering pages for details of Park/Street events - without a doubt, still the original and the best available street orienteering information in Melbourne. Details of all remaining Bush events and special events below:

NOV

5th : Club Event #9, EU. 3km SE of Ballarat(Map: Canadian Forest, Scale:1:10,000, 5m contours). Melway 76 G3. Directions: Travel to Ballarat via the Western Freeway and take the first exit (Victoria St) into Ballarat. At the first set of traffic lights, turn left into Fussel St. After 2km, turn left into Wilson St and follow the orienteering signs - be wary of the "blind" crossroad with Long St which is on the crest of a hill after 0.5km. From North: Travel into Ballarat via the Daylesford Rd which becomes Water St as it passes under the Western Freeway. Continue along Water St, through the roundabout and then the traffic lights where it becomes Fussel St. After 2km, turn left into Wilson St and follow the orienteering signs - be wary of the "blind" crossroad with Long St which is on the crest of a hill after 0.5km. Organiser:Terry Haebich,

10th : Vic. Primary Schools Eastern Zone Champs., VOA. (Map: Jells Park). Directions: See VOA web site

12th : Vic Long Dist MTBO Champs, VOA. (Map: TBA, Scale:1:20K, 5m contours). Directions: Go to www.vicorienteering.asn.au/events/mtbo. Organiser:Peter Cusworth, Start Times:11.00 am to 1.00 pm. 4 Standard State Series "line" courses plus a beginners 90 minute "Score" course, Fees: VOA:Adults $12, Juniors $9, Families $30 - NonVOA:Adults $18, Juniors $14, Families $45.

17th : Vic. Primary Schools Western Zone Champs, VOA. (Map: Brimbank Park). Directions: See VOA web site

19th : Presentations & Short course Teams Event, BK. Woodend(Map: Hanging Rock , Scale:1:10K, 5m contours). Melway 609H9. Directions: See www.vicorienteering.asn.au.

Orienteering: Venetian Style

We've often discussed the possibility of taking part in a street-orienteering event in Venice and this will actually take place later this month (12th November). If you happen to be in the area, it would certainly be an interesting run.

An American orienteer, Joe Lomax, wrote an excellent description of Venice and how to navigate in this type of terrain. His web pages at http://www.initaly.com/regions/veneto/ovensty.htm provide a very amusing description of the city, the terminology for each of the terrain features that you will encounter and a suggestion as to how you should navigate during your run.

"You cannot move through Venice with the same mind set as you would Yosemite or, for that matter, other cities. The difference is obvious even to those who have never visited Venice, that, in the words of Robert Benchley, "Streets filled with water. Please advise." But more than the 'streets' of water, the defining characteristic, what keeps Venice Venice, is that the streets have no cars. Venice is far from an orienteer's typical wilderness, but blazing a trail down these streets, through the forest of homes, grand and modest, can seem as daunting as any backwoods"

Some of his tips include:

If you find water without a bridge, check: is it narrow?
- If the water is narrow, this is a rio, and you have come to a dead-end. Enjoy the picturesque view, shrug your shoulders, turn around, go to the last intersection and try a different branch.
- If the water is wide, you are at a canal or the Lagoon.
  - Often canals and the Lagoon have a fondamenta or riva along them (the Zattere, for example), on which you can continue.
  - If not, look at it positively, at least the canals and the Lagoon are readily identifiable, so you are not lost.

To avoid branches - listen. Can you hear your footsteps?
- If you can– there are not many people around, so enjoy the sensation and when you hit a dead-end at the water or a corte, go to the last intersection and try a different branch.
- If you cannot hear your footsteps, it means you are on a more heavily-traveled branch and it is unlikely to be a dead-end, so keep going.
Asking for help. It is said by J. G. Links, the author of Venice for Pleasure, that the only direction you will get from a Venetian is 'sempre dritto' (dritto being the Venetian contraction for diritto). This is approximately, 'always direct', or even 'straight ahead'. In fact, Links adds, "If he does not answer, 'sempre dritto', he is not a Venetian, and his directions must be treated with caution."

If we hear of any Aussies taking part in this event, we'll see if we can get a report.

Emu Clothing

Fiona and Schon have taken delivery of more running tops and are distributing these to the people that have requested same. At the last committee meeting, we discussed how we could cater for young kids and it was decided that we would purchase some low-cost T-shirts.

Fiona is holding one up in the picture to the left. These are a good quality T-shirt with the Emus logo printed on the front. Cost is $12 per T-shirt.

Other items available are:

Top quality running tops
- T-Shirt - $30 to members (Long-sleeved versions can be ordered for $40)
- Singlets - $30
- Bike Tops - 50 (Long sleeves - $55)
Cold Weather Gear - Après-run polar fleece - - -
- Jackets - $30
- Vests - $25
- Beanies - $10
Headbands (better than anything we've seen at O-shops) - $7

Saturday Evening Summer Series?

There seems to be good support for a Saturday evening training/social activity. We'll circulate details of the first event to Emu members as soon as details are confirmed.

WordFinder by Rachel and Marion Johnson

How many words can you find in the grid below? All words get 1 point. Orienteering related words get an extra bonus point. Places-names that are an Emus Bush Orienteering map get 2 bonus points. Send your list and claimed score to me at hudson@bigpond.net.au . First prize will be a bottle of wine or a headlamp - to be presented on the Milgrove weekend (....the controversy that results from some words should make an interesting discussion).