Issues relating to mapping have been central to orienteering since it started, and remain so even in the 2020s. The issues described here and how they were dealt with by our sports founders is a testament to their resilience and dedication.
Producing Maps
Gary Aitken
admits that the main reason why he delayed the introduction of orienteering was that he did not have access to suitable maps. His chance meeting with Mr Glendinning at the Lands and Surveys Department, and Glendenning’s offer to produce the John Forrest National Park base map, began the process of map making in WA. Gary Aitken, and later Eric Isaachsen, learned the basics of field-working by trial and error and passed on their skills to others. (1) The early mapmakers’ knowledge and skills for cartography, photogrammetry and printing processes came with experience and a good deal of support from the people who commercially made their living using these skills.
The production of maps begins with photogrammetry – the aerial photograph and then the subsequent drawing of contours to produce the base map. The next step in the process is field-working, where the mapper goes out into the mapped area to locate the features that orienteers use during navigation. Once the fieldwork has been completed, it is checked and revisions are made and thus the information is transcribed to produce the map by the cartographer (the map drawer). The map is then printed for use by orienteers. This process is time consuming, exacting and quite expensive.
In 1974 the department of Lands and Surveys made available the 1:5000 orthophoto maps for public use. These maps were black and white aerial photographs that had contours drawn on them. Gary Aitken, Eric Isaachsen and later, Pat Murray, used these as their base maps for the events at Kings Park, McGillivray Oval, Wollaston College and Somerville Pine Plantation during early 1974. The fact that these maps were close to Perth assisted the development of orienteering during the 1973 – 74 summer season. To run the winter season required maps in forested areas. The original John Forrest National Park map provided for this need, however there were only a limited number of events that could be run on this map.
Access to Suitable Map Areas
Gary Aitken and Eric Isaachsen approached the Forests Department and the Community Recreation Council (CRC) for support, especially the former for maps and access to areas. In August 1974 the Minister for Forests implemented quarantine measures over large areas of the south west of WA to combat the spread of jarrah dieback, a fungal disease that kills trees. (2) It became Forests Department policy that recreational groups such as bushwalkers, trailbikers, four-wheel drivers and orienteers would be discouraged from using forested areas and that users have restricted access to certain areas. (3) Aitken and Isaachsen made representations to the Forests Department to use pine forests that were close to Perth such as at Pinjar and Gnangara. Their correspondence with the Conservator of Forests (4) and other members of his department sought to educate the department about the conservation values of orienteers and to obtain ongoing access to pine plantations. Ross Gobby wrote to Gary Aitken in a private capacity in January 1974 to say that the Forest Department supported the efforts of the orienteers. (5)
In September 1975, 
James Sharp of the CRC convened a meeting between the Forests Department representative and recreational groups to discuss the quarantine regulations and application permits for access to areas by vehicles. Eric Isaachsen represented the OAWA and questioned the need to restrict people on foot and the matter of to whom to appeal when denied the issuing of a permit. (6) As it transpired the Forests Department allowed recreational use of areas that were located around favoured picnic spots. These areas were identified in a document issued by the CRC in April 1975 (7) and thus the OAWA identified these areas to be suitable for mapping. The OAWA was seeking to increase membership and therefore focused on the social aspects of orienteering to attract new members. (1)
Beginnings of mapmaking in WA
The OAWA worked closely with the CRC and an opportunity for mapmaking arose with the OAWA entering a submission for Regional Employment Development Scheme (REDS) funding to employ a surveyor and an assistant to map suitable areas. Funding was approved in March 1975 and five maps were produced from April to December. The effect of this was to reduce overuse of the John Forrest National Park and Perth suburban maps. Those OAWA members who were producing maps could contribute to specific projects that they had embarked upon. Examples of these were the Collier Pine Plantation and the Rottnest Island maps.
The OAWA determined that there was a need to develop map making skills amongst its members. Gary Aitken had approached the Principal of Wembley Technical College with an outline for a map making course to be conducted by lecturers in the cartography department of the College. Twelve OAWA members were recruited and the course was underway in June 1975. Many of this first intake were instrumental in producing the cartography for many of the maps that followed. Courses were run in the next two subsequent years. (1)
Input from Scandinavia
The visit by Per Olof Bengtsson and Roland Offrell in April 1975 was a significant event for OAWA. The knowledge they imparted was invaluable but one of the objectives of bringing them to WA was to use them to inform the Forests Department of forestry practices with regard to orienteering in the Scandinavian countries. Forestry Department representatives were invited but declined to attend. In terms of demonstrating map making skills they provided OAWA members with knowledge of state of the art practices. (8)
When Bengtsson and Offrell were in the eastern states they held mapping seminars that Gary Aitken and Eric Isaachsen attended. This seminar was the first of many that OAWA members have attended over the years. Access to these meetings is difficult because to meant that OAWA members had to find their own funds to attend the seminars or they would schedule business meetings with clients in the eastern states that coincided with the seminars. (10)
Permanent course
Production of colour maps began in October 1976 with the production of the Walyunga NP Trim (permanent course) map. This map was the first of the Trim maps and its purpose was to encourage the development of orienteering in schools and in the general community. The opening of the map to great publicity and fanfare was organised by Eric Isaachsen and Don Young. Government Ministers, newspaper reporters and dignitaries from various parts of the community were invited. A different dimension to orienteering was promoted in that the Walyunga Trim map included aspects of the biotic environment from the Walyunga area, for instance plant species, that were identified by the Swan Naturalists Club. The opening day involved club members conducting dignitaries around the Trim course giving them a positive outlook towards orienteering. Again, the Forests Department representatives failed to show.
References
(1) Gary Aitken Interview August 2006.
(2) Eastman, W.H. Forests Department letter to recreational groups, undated ca 1975.
(3) Hewett, P. N., Recreational Characteristics of Western Australian Forests, Forest Focus, Number 15, August 1975, Pp 12 - 15.
(4) Aiken G.A., Letter to Mr J.C. Beggs Conservator of Forests 1975.
(5) Gobby, Ross, Private letter dated 29 January 1975.
(6) Isaachsen E. K. Handwritten notes of Meeting at CRC on 23 September, 1975 at Perry Lakes Stadium, Perth.
(7) Community Recreation Council “Picnic Sites around Perth”. April 1975.
(8) Isaachsen, E.K. Letter to Conservator of Forests, Mr B.J. Biggs. 21st March 1975.
(9) Isaachsen, E.K. and Aitken, G.A. “The Swedes are Coming” (Unpublished information for orienteers. ca March 1975.) 2pp.
(10) Newsletter #91 January 1986 p 3.
Photos: Course on Lesley Picnic Area (note map production by CRC); map of Gleneagle Pine Plantation Picnic Area (note sponsored by R.E.D.S.); and newspaper clipping from West Australian announcing international visitors. Click on the photos to enlarge.
