Discussion: Aus Easter 2018 (Geelong???)

Hi all,
After discussion on the weekend, lets have a chat about Easter 2018 3-days (Victoria).
There has been much talk on here in the past about the potential for Geelong as an event centre, as well as the Dreeite / Corangamite Basalt rises terrain.
I have created a map in paint exposing the existing mapped areas and possible new maps around Geelong


I see a few championship quality areas and a lot of already mapped "acceptable" terrain.


Some further considerations:

• Location utlilty - Anglesea Heath would be great for a swim after a long run!


• Can we access Brisbane Ranges yet (if ever)?


• Which areas are still runnable following fires (I think this effects Enfield / Linton areas the most)?


• Which new maps would see regular use in future?

What would your Geelong 3 days be?

or

Do you think the whole thing is a terrible idea?

I think Uncle Jim has grand aspirations of using the Bendigo area.

It will be 2019 (rather than 2018) because of rearrangement of the calender due to Oceania/WMOC 2017 in NZ. I think Kooyoora is being actively considered.

Of some of the specific areas:

- I've heard talk there may be possibilities for the Brisbane Ranges, but don't know if that's gone as far as actually trying to get approval.
- my understanding is that the Colac areas are a non-starter in autumn because of seasonal vegetation growth (and snakes!) but are potentially good in spring. I had a look at Dreeite from the road a couple of years ago and thought it had good possibilities as a middle distance area (you would probably need to get too many landowners onside for a long to be viable).

One of the original thoughts for the 2015 carnival was to have Brisbane Ranges/Colac as the first weekend, but I don't think that was ever explored particularly seriously.

I'm also assuming that Geelong/Surf Coast accommodation would be challenging at Easter (partly holiday demand in general, partly the Bells Beach surfing) - although depending on the configuration of areas an event centre further west might be better anyway. Again this would be much less of an issue in spring.

And I'm assuming that the You Yangs are still very thick....

Ironically it was Uncle Jim asking me about this.

You could make a 3 days out of new maps with 4 different terrain types.

P: Deakin Uni Waurn Ponds (Sprint Distance)
new university campus map, 7km from Geelong CBD

1: Dreeite (Middle Distance)
traditional shorter first day. Complex navigation on basalt rises. Difficulties with this area could include access and ownership. A bit of a drive ~70km from Geelong CBD

2: Anglesea Heath (Long Distance)
Open ridge tops with denser gullies. Plenty of tracks (dirt bike). The Heath park sit above the town, flanked by the river in what used to be Angahook-Lorne State Park. Close to the beach. good location for a long distance with the redeeming feature being the after run swim. ~20km from Geelong CBD

3: Gravel Pit Tor (Relay Distance)
The unmapped 'middle' section of the You Yangs. Great complex granite hillside suitable for middle distance.A mixture of open gums and thick regrowth. One of the better areas of the park. Minimal track network in this section. Very close to Melbourne and Avalon - suited to hasty final day exit. ~20km from Geelong CBD

Commence Anti You Yangs backlash

I'm less than certain that the Anglesea Heath will still be with us by this time tomorrow:

http://warnings.cfa.vic.gov.au/#map

I'm going MTBOing in the You Yangs next month so I hope it's not all bad! Presumably the thick stuff doesn't occur on tracks.

The stony rises would be great if it was a late Easter. Cool enough to send the Tiger Snakes to sleep. Otherwise, I won't run there.
The Pomberneit stony rises are just too rough. I tried to walk through them. They lack the open flats of Dreeite.
I helped control check for a rogaine on the Brisbane Ranges. Not inspiring.
You Yangs requires a sympathetic course setter. But feasible for a middle I suppose.

Re Jims plans- I think there would be an expectation of a major contribution from Bendigo at the next major carnival. We made a minor contribution to the just finished carnival. Geelong would make it harder to engage the club. Jim is probably thinking 3 days on Kooyoora.

So here is an alternative suggestion based around Wedderburn.
Friday- Sprint at the Granites, north of Wedderburn. Small version of Mt Korong. Classified as international standard by Alex Tarr. Bendigo has paid for photogrammetry. [Would make a great place for a relay as well, as there is an old graveyard] There is an alternative sprint venue in a nearby town with a maze of old settling ponds and sluicing.
Saturday- Middle at Mount Korong, with significant potential for map extension.
Sunday- Long on Sunday Morning Hills - on Sunday morning... Between Kooyoora and Wedderburn. Needs further checking but fits the bill for route choice style course setting. Spur-gully.
Monday- Glasgow Hill on the northern outskirts of Wedderburn. Reef mining area similar to Fiddlers Green. Maybe possible to finish in Wedderburn. There is also an interesting area immediately north of Glasgow Hill. Mallee terrain. Interesting contours and veg boundaries.
Note, I didn't mention Kooyoora.

After my experiences dealing with the City of Bendigo at our last Easter, I feel very warm towards having nothing to do with them next time around. Loddon Shire is the sort of place where if you ask help with a problem the response might be- "Where do you want the dozer?". Before you laugh at this, a dozer was very useful solving a problem at the World Masters in 2002. The park in Wedderburn would also make a good camping base. The big downside is the lack of a beach. On that point Geelong wins.

Putting aside my Bendigo prejudice, I should note that we now have a brand new sprint map of Camp Hill. It fills an A4 page, has 80 gates and lots of detail. I do not want to do the negotiations though.

Sorry, I won't do sprints anymore unless they fit onto an A5 sheet. Last week's event has ruined A4 for me for life.

I would also expect a beach at any orienteering event that I run at.

More preferential for me though is the proximity of events to each other and to suitable accommodation (not having to swap accommodation midway is a plus). Having to travel across the country for practically every big scale event I do means I'd rather spend all my travel time going to or from a state rather than around the state whilst I'm there. Last week's carnival worked nicely. Yes I realise WA last year failed this criterion, unless you were staying at or near Toodyay or Northam and skipped a few events.

Oh, good terrain is also nice :-)

There's always the Salt Dam* in Wedderburn.

* May not actually contain water. There is a pool though.

Sounds like an interesting set of maps. I'm biased towards Wedderburn for the home ground advantage (and a forest sprint). I'm sure people would be keen for some more gold pan prizes. Would be pretty hot and dry on the oval if the weather's warm!

Easter in 2019 is 19-22 April.
Also wondering if there is any quid-pro to be done with the NZers re easter. ie are we putting on an event for them? If they beat us in the World Cup, I see some appeal in inviting them to three days in the You Yangs while we all go swimming.

Might as well combine it with something on the Anzac (sort of) long weekend.

Keeping the kiwis in the You Yangs for over a week. Now you are talking.

This is me from a technology and organisers point of view.

Save man power and have at least one common assembly if possible.
Plan it in a area that has mobile reception minimum for live results, audio and gps tracking. If possible a good upload speed for video as well.

And then this is me from a point of view of walking around anglsea too much. that area is fairly flat and boring spur gully to me. (yeah problaby suits cause thats half of bendigo).

Wedderburn sounds good to me

Wow 2019 location, maps and logo sorted already and we haven't even started planning 2018 yet!

Kooyoora is firmly in the mix for reasons argued by Toph.
Someone needs to work on getting that beach.
And if someone can find a way to get us navigating on that volcanic country.

ok. Kooyoora:


and so that no one feels left out:

maybe someone can use that dozer to make a beach?

Rob. I think each option needs a logo that presents its strengths. Maybe a beach scene for that last one?

See it's the You Yangs reflected in the water across Corio Bay.

Also, orienteering flags.

I thought we wanted the beach scene at Kooyoora anyway.

If there is a beach scene then you need to put in some 'talent' in there too.

Surely you need to have the social functions sorted and decide which ABC show will be ripped off before deciding on any of the orienteering aspect ;)

The Chaser comes to mind, 'specially relating to day 3.

However there are strong tones of Utopia already

I hadn't picked the You Yangs. Sorry. All it needs now is a palm tree and a kiwi hanging upside down by the leg by a snare rope.

So in summary, the logo needs to include:

• A beach


• Talent


• A reference to an ABC program


• Kiwi fruit tree


• A trap


• Strength

Next we can work on the event's personal brand, and then eventually a press statement.

And a social media strategy. I watch Utopia as well.

How about some fancy 3D animations?

My manager at work says he can't watch Utopia because it's too scarily close to reality.

I only started watching after I resigned. Helps deal with any nostalgia for the office life.

I only discovered it whilst in Ballarat last week so I happily caught up on all of season 2 on iView this week.

So how can we derail the bid for Kooyoora 2019? It's not in the PM's best interests at this point in time.

Don't forget a vision statement for the event - an example of the one from WMOC this year is below - some of these visions might be a challenge tho for Vic -

The vision for World Masters Orienteering Championships in Gothenburg is “Just Around The Corner”, i.e. the event will be compact with very short travel distances to all activities.
The WMOC in Gothenburg has been awarded an environmental certificate following the sustained environmental policy of Gothenburg City. This certification is to a large extent built on the vision above and means e.g that:
 All activities can be reached by the public transport system or by bike.
 All the companies engaged by the organisers e.g. hotels, bus transport and food sales have environmental certifications
 All materials, including disposable ones, will to a very large extent be recycled.
 The waste will be sorted according to recycling principles.
 Much of the food is produced close to Gothenburg and there is always a vegetarian menu at the restaurants.
 A second map will not be distributed to the participants. The maps in the A-finals will be collected and returned after the last start.

If you like Utopia you'll love Grass Roots - check it out. Both are too scary for me to watch without the work nightmares coming back.

Kooyoora sorted:

Love it!!!

Might need some 'Girl Talent' in there as well for gender equality. Maybe boost our ethnic counts by making her oriental or something.

How do you people manage to use the term "oriental" to refer to people who come from northwest of where you are?

Relativity.

I resent being called "you people".

You person?

I much prefer the aussie term "Youse"

As in "Past its youse by date".

No - The Department of Youse!

Many flocks of youse up this way.

*down* :P

Please do not disturb the lambing youse when crossing paddocks, even if it's the shortest feasible rowt (sic).