2005 NATIONAL ORIENTEERING DAY
Sunday May 1 2005

The first Sunday in May is National Orienteering Day. While other countries, Sweden, Switzerland, the USA have held National Orienteering Days, this is a first for Australia.
The purpose of a National Orienteering Day is to focus on providing opportunities for people to ‘Give Orienteering a Go’ at an ideal time of the year. Early May is the ideal time in most parts of the world to go orienteering and in most of Australia it is especially good as the weather is cool, yet not cold and there are usually plenty of follow up events during the rest of May and in June.
It is one of the few sports that offers the opportunity for families to participate as a group or as individuals, at the same time and place. There are many examples throughout Australia of three generations of the same family participating in orienteering events. There are over 7,000 registered orienteers in Australia and each year more than double that number participates in events throughout the country.
The 18 venues for National Orienteering Day (1 May 2005) events throughout Australia are:
· ACT. Mt Ainslie, The assembly area (start/finish) is at the northern end of the Campbell Park Offices carpark; follow signs from Fairbairn Ave/Northcott Dr roundabout. Starts anytime between 10.00 am and 12.30 pm. A variety of courses will be offered, including a Score event for which a watch is necessary. For more information go to www.act.orienteering.asn.au or call Bob Mouatt on 0412 312 376.
· NSW. Pennant Hills, Sydney. No 1 Oval (Cecil Avenue) Pennant Hills Park. Starts anytime between 9.30 am and 11.30 am. A variety of courses will be available. For more information go to www.nsw.orienteering.asn.au or call Rod Parkin on 02 9438 3837.
· NSW. Armidale. Oakview. A variety of courses will be available. For more information go to www.nsw.orienteering.asn.au or call Eric Baker on 02 6771 1070.
· NSW. Orange. Oakey Creek, about 10 km north of Orange. Starts anytime between 10.30 am and 11.30 am. A variety of courses will be available. For more information go to www.nsw.orienteering.asn.au or call Boyd Wymer on 02 6361 3816.
· NSW. Wagga Wagga. Willans Hill. Starts anytime between 10.00 am and 12.00 pm. A variety of courses will be available. For more information go to www.nsw.orienteering.asn.au or call Alec Davey on 0409 220 758.
· NT. Darwin. Botanic Gardens. Starts anytime between 7.00 am and 9.00 am. A variety of courses will be available. For more information go to www.topend.nt.orienteering.asn.au or call Susi Bertei on 08 8981 5841.
· QLD. Clayfield, Brisbane. Kalinga Park, enter via Park Ave gates, Clayfield. Register anytime after 8.30 am for mass start at 9.30 am. For more information go to www.qoa.asn.au or call Cliff or Lachlan Howard on 07 3314 1048.
· QLD. Seventeen Mile Rocks, Brisbane. Rocks Riverside Park, enter from Counihan Rd. Register anytime after 11.30 am for mass start at 12.00 pm. For more information go to www.qoa.asn.au or call Tim McIntyre on 07 3878 1547.
· QLD. Coopers Plains, Brisbane. Beryl Roberts Park, enter off Barham St. Register anytime after 3.30 pm for mass start at 4.00 am. For more information go to www.qoa.asn.au or call Schulz family on 07 3345 1079.
· QLD. Toowoomba. Perseverance Dam picnic grounds 35 km north of Toowoomba. Starts anytime between 9.00 am and 11.00 am. Courses on offer include a Score event for which a watch is necessary. For more information go to www.qoa.asn.au or call Tony Roberts on 07 4696 8450.
· SA. Belair, Adelaide. Signs from Upper Sturt Road, Belair. Starts anytime between 10.00 am and 12.30 pm. A variety of courses will be available. For more information go to www.oasa.asn.au or call Peter Kreminski on 08 8379 1354 (ah) or 0414 810 058.
· TAS. Hobart. Risdon Brook Dam. Starts anytime between 10.00 am and 12.00 pm. A variety of courses will be available. For more information go to www.tasorienteering.asn.au or call Rob Warren on 03 6244 5419.
· TAS. Launceston. Royal Park. Starts anytime between 10.00 am and 12.00 pm. A variety of courses will be available. For more information go to www.tasorienteering.asn.au or call Christine Brown or Paul Pacque on 03 6343 3367.
· TAS. Ulverstone. Buttons Beach. Starts anytime between 10.00 am and 12.00 pm. A variety of courses will be available. For more information go to www.tasorienteering.asn.au or call Jo Bissett on 03 6424 3007.
· VIC. Ivanhoe, Melbourne. Ivanhoe East Park near Eaglemont Tennis Club, Melways 31 K 11. Starts anytime between 10.00 am and 12.00 pm. A variety of courses will be available. For more information go to www.vicorienteering.asn.au or call Victoria Orienteering on 03 9459 0853 (bh).
· VIC. Keilor, Melbourne. Brimbank Park, Melways 15 B 10. Starts anytime between 10.00 am and 12.00 pm. A variety of courses will be available. For more information go to www.vicorienteering.asn.au or call Victoria Orienteering on 03 9459 0853 (bh).
· VIC. Daylesford. Korweinguboora, off highway C141 between Daylesford and Ballan. Starts anytime between 10.00 am and 11.00 am. A variety of courses will be available. For more information go to www.vicorienteering.asn.au or call Geoff or Jenny Lawford on 03 5333 7382 (ah) or 0432 111 307.
· WA. Marginata. Marginata is 70 kms east of Perth, off Yarra Rd, which is off York Rd. Starts anytime between 9.30 am and 11.30 am. A variety of courses will be available. For more information go to www.wa.orienteering.asn.au or call Sally Mansfield on 08 9286 4284 (ah).