The Annual OWA Award and Volunteer Dinner on Saturday 21st October was a welcome chance for orienteers to put on the glad rags rather than O-suits for an evening of celebration. It’s was a chance to acknowledge our champions, volunteers and achievements over the past year.
The evening started with socialising while browsing a year in review photo show, collated by Rob West. There were also some fun paper puzzles to test the skills of young and old, including crosswords, mazes and an ODUKO on offer. A notable test was the how many words can you make from the word “orienteering” using each letter only once showing off the puzzle solving skills. Brian Austin got to 170, maybe Brian has found a new calling! (Google “Orienteering Puzzles” if you have some time to spare!)
The more business side of the night, Lily McFarlane thanked the managers and coaches of the school team for all their time and work at the National Championships. We recognised our Volunteers of the Year who represent all the many others who do so much to keep the association running. Be it setting events, managing the equipment, running coaching courses and many other important tasks.
This year Volunteers of the Year were:
| Governance | Jan Fletcher | For stepping into the role as President in 2016 and her long and continuing service on the OWA Council |
| Major Event Management | Rosalie McCauley | Rosalie has managed the McTeam at every event for several years, including setting up the events and coaching the team. Definitely a major Event! |
| Map Production & Coordination | Noel Schoknecht | Noel created the sprint map of John Curtin College of the Arts. At a national level Noel coordinated a Lidar Workshop in Bathurst |
| Event Technical Support | Ian Dalton | Ian has been maintaining and supporting the SI gear over many years, averting potential issues and disasters |
| Coaching | Rob & Lois West | Rob and Lois have proactively coached Lily, Riley and Sharon MacFarlane giving them greater orienteering confidence and expertise to tackle courses interstate. |
| Development | Jill Elderfield | "everything in Bunbury" Jill is one of the backbones of SWOT providing coaching, mapping, setting and guidance to the club. |
| Course Setting or Controlling | Jack Dowling | As controller of two events this year to relatively inexperienced setters, Jack provided expert and patient help giving the setters confidence and support. |
| Promotion and Communication | Nicole Davis | Nicole has provided support of the Website, E-News, O-Xpress and Facebook from whatever foreign place she found herself in. |
| Club or Other Support (Special Project) | Jaco Bosman | Jaco was the last minute "bloke" on the management team for the National Schools Championship in Bathurst. Providing excellent support to the manager and coach |
| Club or Other Support (Ongoing) | Nick & Deb Lethbridge | Toilet towers extraordinaire, Nick and Deb have towed the dunnies for every WOW event and saved the organisers much time, effort and worry. |
| Good Samaritan Award | Ken Post | Vanessa Smith on her returning to Orienteering from a broken arm, ventured cautiously into the bush but came to a quick stop after running into a branch and ripping open her leg. Ken quickly came to her aid and patched her up before abandoning his planned ride home and driving her to emergency. |
A catered dinner was complimented by dessert from willing helpers then the evening moved on to the presentation of trophies for individuals and clubs. KO took the overall club trophy for 2017, proving that big is not always best.
ORIENTEERING ASSOCIATION OF WA TROPHIES AND AWARDS – 2017
|
Junior Female Orienteer of the Year |
Amy Dufty Kate Braid |
|
Junior Male Orienteer of the Year |
Eckart Bosman |
|
Female Orienteer of the Year |
Carol Brownlie |
|
Male Orienteer of the Year |
Craig Dufty |
|
Jeff Whittam Junior Award Female |
Lara Dale |
|
Jeff Whittam Junior Award Male |
Aldo Bosman |
|
WA Female Long Distance Champion (Open) |
Karen Staudte |
|
WA Male Long Distance Champion (Open |
Craig Dufty |
|
WA Female Middle Distance Champion |
Ceri Pass |
|
WA Male Middle Distance Champion 2017 |
Sten Claessens |
|
WA Female Sprint Distance Champion |
Rachel West |
|
WA Male Sprint Distance Champion |
Ricky Thackray |
|
Rutty Rock for Champion Club - Relays |
BO |
|
Bengtsson-Offrell Trophy - Champion Club |
KO |
|
MetrO Series Champion Club 2014/2015 |
WOW |
Mountain Bike Orienteering
|
Female Mountain Bike Orienteer of the Year |
Debbie McKay |
|
Male Mountain Bike Orienteer of the Year |
Ricky Thackray Duncan Sullivan |
|
State Open Middle Distance Female Champion |
Irina Tretiakova |
|
State Open Middle Distance Male Champion |
Hadrien Devillepoix |
|
State Open Female Champion |
Jen Graham Taylor |
|
State Open Male Champion |
Andre Morkel |
The evening wrapped up with Ken Brownlie presenting the Golden Gumnuts for those of us who distinguished ourselves in ways we would rather not have....those moments that are slightly embarrasing and raise a laugh. As ever our thanks go to the Perth Weavers Society for the use of their Hall and to Sue Grieg and her helpers for setting up the venue. Carol Brownlie for overall organisation, Nicole for managing the bar, Jan collecting the trophies and organising the engraving and the host of other willing hands to tidy up the hall.
All the photos from the night on our Facebook page
See you all next year!
Ngalak kaaditj nidja Noongar Boodjar. Koora-Yeyi-Kalyakool.