The 1974 orienteering season unofficially finished at the 20th of October event at Yanchep Sun City. Preparations for the 1975 and subsequent seasons were a priority. The groups involved and the issues addressed in preparing for the future are addressed in the next two chapters that close this history of the early years of OAWA.
1. The CRC
In 1973 the Western Australian Parliament passed the Youth, Community Recreation and National Fitness Act, and the Youth Council of WA and the National Fitness Council combined to form the Youth, Community Recreation and National Fitness Council. This was shortened in general usage to Community Recreation Council (or CRC). (1)
The CRC was formed to increase participation rates of ordinary people in recreational and leisure activities. The CRC was working to increase the awareness of orienteering in WA. An article in Tom’s Northern Suburbs Weekly on November 10 1973 describes the sport of orienteering and gives a contact address at its own office for people who are interested. (2) Mr John Terry of the CRC independently asked the Forests Department for forest maps for orienteering purposes on the 16th of October 1973. (3)
The relationship between the CRC and the OAWA did not mature until the end of 1974 after the formation of the Association. The CRC provided services which the OAWA were keen to use. When in early 1975 Federal money became available through the Regional Employment Development (RED) Scheme to produce maps, the CRC lent its name and support writing the submission and undertaking all the administrative work and accounting. After April 1976 the OAWA newsletter was printed at the CRC.
The Youth, Community Recreation and National Fitness Act was replaced by the Youth, Sport and Recreation Act in 1978, and on the 1st January 1979 the Community Recreation Council became the Department for Youth, Sport and Recreation and thus more directly under the control of the Minister for Education, Cultural Affairs and Recreation. (1) It comprised the same staff under the same Director and Deputy Director. However, the WA State Government recognised the value of the collective and individual expertise of the members of the previous Community Recreation Council, and a number of them became members of an advisory committee, set up to advise the Minister. (1) Unfortunately increased administrative costs with an unchanged budget meant that less assistance would be available for sports organizations. (4)
2. Maturing OFA Relations
In 1976 the OFA developed a more comprehensive competition program. OFA policy documents on the Technical Committee, coordination of the World Championships Team, coaching procedures and selection procedures were circulated to the state associations. To assist the state associations, the OFA made submissions for assistance from the Australian Government and sponsors. Special funds were set up for support for Australian Championships, attendance of Australian competitors at the 1976 World Championships, administration of a national Badge Scheme and a visit by Swedish instructors. (5)
Attendance at the OFA Council meeting in April 1976 by Eric Isaachsen and Gary Aitken resulted in the OAWA representatives seeing at first-hand how the national body operated and they pressed for concessions for the newer states (including WA). Isaachsen was coopted onto the OFA Constitution Subcommittee. These actions were taken to put WA orienteering in the minds of the eastern states’ administrators. Isaachsen’s contributions to the Constitution subcommittee certainly achieved this aim.
A personal view expressed by OFA Secretary Mike Hubbert in December 1976 identified the need to attract more people to orienteering and get those involved to develop the sport. (6)
3. Marketing in Sport: Seminar 19th March 1975
The OAWA Council were proactive in promoting orienteering in WA. OAWA President, Eric Isaachsen, attended the Marketing of Sport Seminar and produced a report which outlined various strategies and available funding provided by government bodies.
The WA Minister for Sport, Mrs June Craig, opened the Seminar describing participation rates, sports psychology, masculinity, the role of volunteers and the increased allocation of funds by her government to sport as keys to improved participation by the general population of WA. The following speakers addressed diverse topics: Marketing of Sport (Dr G. Soutar), Setting Objectives for Your Sport (Mr A Robinson, CRC), How to get More Participants (Dr G. Watkins), How to get More Spectators (Mr J. Brown), How to get More Publicity (Mr G. Carvolth) and How to get More Funds (Mrs M. Strauss, CRC).
Isaachsen recorded the comments and suggestions of speakers, some of which are pertinent today. In terms of marketing, sports administrators believed that their sport “was known, superior, accessible, and in general need.” (7) However, Soutar said: “to accurately market you would need to decide… the type of participant you desired and then assess the sport in the light of this decision…” (7) Robinson advised that objectives may not only be used for planning, but “…are able to be used as indicators in the evaluation process.” (7) They should be “spelt out loud and clear - in case they are forgotten, or that with the lapse of time the differing views creep in with personal interpretations.” (7)
Watkins’ talk encouraged administrators to “…look closely at the organisation and reassess for whom the sport was being run and what consequences this might have on the current generation of users and their subsequent attitudes to further participation (sic).” (7) The presentation by Brown described a number of strategies that organisations could use to increase participation. An example Brown used was of Tennis USA’s belief (in the 1970’s) that: “increased interest at the top levels of sport will result in increased interest at lower levels.” (7) Another example was: “The overall aim of increased spectators is to achieve a number of converts to the sport being presented.” Carvolth described ways that sports administrators could attract publicity through the media. And finally, Mrs Strauss of the CRC described sources of funding and the conditions under which funding could be obtained by sports organisations.
The report Eric Isaachsen wrote was important because that information was available to assist the OAWA plan increased participation in orienteering. The report identified in a general way areas of possible support that the OAWA could use effectively to develop its resources. Robinson made two interesting points with regard to the development of sports by sports administrative bodies. These were: firstly, less reliance must be made of specific groups such as the teens and the over-50 age group; and secondly, long term planning is best made on the basis of five-year plans. (7) These points are significant because over the history of the OAWA there has been the tendency to promote juniors and depend on the over-50s.
References
(1) https://archive.sro.wa.gov.au/
(2) Tom’s Northern Suburbs Weekly November 10 1973.
(3) Gobby, Ross. Letter written to Gary Aitken, 25th January 1974.
(4) Newsletter #25 December 1978.
(5) Minutes of OFA Council Meeting held 16th April 1976.
(6) Newsletter #7 December 1976 p 4.
(7) Eric Isaachsen, “Marketing in Sport Seminar Tuesday 11 March”: Summary of proceedings at Seminar compiled 19 March 1975.
