Report: OWA Annual Celebration

As it was our 50^th year celebration we took the event back to the Craft Hall in Menora, where it has been held in some past years. The hall was decked out with gold tablecloths and light features which provided a pleasant ambience. Also decked out were a few people who fully subscribed to the 70’s dress theme, mostly notably Vanessa Smith and Robert Graieg!

The President introduced the occasion and welcomed our special guests, Gary Aitken and Erik Isaachsen, who were founder members of OAWA (now OWA) and Don Young who joined in soon after OAWA's beginning. Gary and Eric played huge roles in the development of orienteering in WA, taking on most of the roles between them, with Eric becoming the first OAWA President from 1975 to 1978 and Gary the first Secretary (1975 to 1982) and promoter. Don played significant roles in the progress of the association in the following years, being OWA President from 1979 to 1984 and an OA councillor, as well as an Australian representative on the International Orienteering Federation. Gary is still competing from time to time! It was also noted by Richard Matthews that no less than nine past and current presidents were present at the celebration!

After a comprehensive roast dinner, the President thanked our volunteers in general and mentioned some specific events over the year, including Junior Camps, the Coach-in-residence program and youth development work.
There were five specific Volunteers of the Year awards:
- Braid family, for setting/controlling five events over the year, and Ceri as Secretary;
- Robyn Phillips, for her work at SWOT over many years and as Convenor for a number of years;
- Dan Greig, for his work in the programming and permissions for the last few years;
- Robert Boekelaar, for his work in researching and writing articles for publication regarding the early history of OAWA; and
- Nick Dale, for a range of mapping work, event setting and assistance at the Junior Camps.

The Golden Gumnut awards were numerous, and even the President got one for ‘losing’ a control and spending hours looking for it in the bush when it was already in the shed! Thanks to Ken Brownlie for his ever-active award seeking. The lucky recipients included Mark Lommers (where is SI station 124?), navigationally challenged Tom Brownlie; Hadrien Devillepoix (who's in which car?), Richard Matthews (these are not my glasses!), Peter Gillon (where to park the the caravan), Anna Napier (can't find that control!), and Ken Brownlie (when is my start time?). Note that some of the awardees are not listed here as they weren't present at the dinner - they'll receive their Gumnuts later. Read all the stories in Gumnuts for 2024.

Finally, after the desserts had been devoured, there were the presentations of the annual trophies.
- Ruth Toomey: Junior Female Orienteer of the Year;
- Rohan Braid: Junior Male Orienteer of the Year;
- Kate Braid: Female Orienteer of the Year;
- Craig Dufty: Male Orienteer of the Year;
- Neve Lommers: Jeff Whittam Junior Award Female;
- Rohan Braid: Jeff Whittam Junior Award Male;
- Rachel West: WA Female Long Distance Champion (Open);
- Craig Dufty: WA Male Long Distance Champion (Open);
- Kate Braid: WA Female Middle Distance Champion;
- Craig Dufty: WA Male Middle Distance Champion;
- Kate Braid: WA Female Sprint Distance Champion;
- Joseph Coleman: WA Male Sprint Distance Champion;
- Ekaterina Kliukina: MTBO Female Mountain Bike Orienteer of the Year;
- Hadrien Devillepoix: MTBO Male Mountain Bike Orienteer of the Year;
- Ekaterina Kliukina: MTBO State Open Middle Distance Female Champion;
- Hadrien Devillepoix: MTBO State Open Middle Distance Male Champion;
- Debbie McKay: MTBO State Open Female Champion;
- Hadrien Devillepoix: MTBO State Open Male Champion;
- KO: Rutty Rock for Champion Club (Relays);
- LOST: Bengtsson-Offrell Trophy (Champion Club);
- LOST: MetrO Series Champion Club 2023/24.

Also acknowledged were the talented Schools team and their dedicated coaches.

Thanks to those who helped with the event: Sue Greig for allowing us to use the Craft Hall and for planning and providing the table set-up requirements; Helen Post for organising the event; Richard and Nicole for wine; Ken Post for beers; and various others who assisted on the night. Also, thanks to Jan Fletcher for collecting and arranging the engraving on trophies.

Read more about OWA's early years in our Orienteering WA 50 years article series.

Photo: State School Team 2024 Captains and Officials, by Rob West​.