To mark the occasion, there was a display listing historical highlights, a selection of club photographs, and a selection of early maps prepared by Parawanga club mapping teams. The maps included several areas which are no longer suitable for orienteering.

In addition to David and Sandra Hogg, who hosted the first meeting, two other foundation members, Maurice Ongania and Trevor Dowling, attended. Maurice has been the club’s most successful elite orienteer, representing Australia at WOC on six occasions and winning three Australian Individual Championships and the inaugural Pacific Orienteering Championships. Trevor was a driving force in forming Northside Navigators in 1977, which attracted several Parawanga members, and later gave rise to Bush Flyers.

Former Parawanga and ACTOA President, Tim Pulford, was welcomed back to orienteering after a long absence, along with his daughter, Jane.

The cutting of the 50th anniversary cake was scheduled for 12 noon and, right on cue, the cloud which had been around all morning began to clear away and, a couple of minutes later, the club President, Liz Dunbar, arrived back from her course to conduct the cake-cutting ceremony. Extra cupcakes in Parawanga colours were made by club members and donated to the Blue Lightning stall for sale.

For those who missed it, the display can be seen at the OACT Office, where copies of the old maps are available. The historical highlights and photographs can also be viewed here.

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THE FIRST YEAR

April 1975. Proposal in ACTOA Secretary’s report to the AGM for forming ACT clubs within ACTOA.

21 May 1975. A Belconnen-based orienteering club was formed – the first ACT club.

16 July 1975. Parawanga Orienteers adopted its name, colours and logo.

7 September 1975. Informal Parawanga club championships held at Mount McDonald event.

9 November 1975. Parawanga teams competed in the inaugural Australian Club Relay Championships near Wagga Wagga.

THE REST OF THE 1970s

April 1976. Design for the first Parawanga T-shirts adopted, cost $4.00 per shirt.

26 August 1976. First Annual General Meeting of Parawanga Orienteers was conducted with its Constitution adopted.

1976. Parawanga was the first club to organise the ACT Championships, including making a new map for the event (Oakey Creek in Pierces Creek Forest).

1977. Several members left Parawanga to join with departing Majura Macropods members to form Northside Navigators (which later formed Bush Flyers).

12 November 1978. Parawanga organised the inaugural ACT Relays in Stromlo Forest.

1979. Parawanga organised the Australian Club Relay Championships at Burra Creek, including making the map – the first ACT club to organise a national event.

17-18 November 1979. The first of several Parawanga social weekends at Guthega.

THE 1980s

1980. Parawanga was the main club involved in organising the inaugural Pacific Orienteering Championships at Mulloon Creek, with club member, Maurice Ongania, winning the M21 title.

1982. The first Parawanga Pent-O was held in Canberra, with courses set by young Parawanga juniors – the first of several such events.

1984 to 1987. Parawanga teams, variously composed of Maurice Ongania, Roger Nicoll, Geoff Lawford and Ian Prosser, won the M21A class for four successive years at the Australian Club Relay Championships.

December 1984. End of year dinner with 52 attendees and the first presentation of the Blue Man Award (a blue garden gnome) for services to the club. The recipient was Peter Plunkett-Cole.

January 1985. The first Parawanga O-suits were produced, including a club badge.

1985. Parawanga was responsible for managing the parking at the World Orienteering Championships at Bendigo.

1986. A night Street-O event was held in Weetangera, in conjunction with a club meeting.

1987. Parawanga organised the Australian Individual Championships at Corin Forest.

1987. Parawanga fielded 28 full teams (an all-time record?) at the Australian Club Relay Championships held at Ed’s Hollow (Ballinafad Creek), but finished just behind Red Roos on points.

1987. Parawanga Paragraphs was established as a printed club newsletter, continuing until 1994, when it was incorporated in the ACTOA newsletter.

1987, 1989 and 1991. Parawanga teams won the W21A class at the Australian Club Relay Championships. Team members included Mary McDonald, Kathryn Weir, Jenny Bourne, Ljubov Simson, Liz Abbott and Nicola Plunkett-Cole.

1988. The Parawanga Constitution was amended to bring membership dates in late with the amended ACTOA Constitution.

1988. Parawanga was the leading interstate club at the Australian Club Relay Championships in Western Australia, with the event dominated by local club teams.

1989. Parawanga organised a weekend orienteering camp at Birrigai.

THE 1990s

October 1990. One of the club’s founders, Mike Cassells, died when returning home following the Australian Championships Carnival in Victoria. He is commemorated through the Mike Cassells Award, crafted by his son, Graham, and awarded each year for services to ACT orienteering.

1991. Several experienced Parawanga members left the club to help form Abominable O-Men.

1992. Parawanga organised the Australian Individual Championships at Non-Smokers Flat (Corin Forest).

1993. A streak of yellow was incorporated into the new Parawanga O-suits, imported from Sweden, price $67.

1995. Parawanga organised the Australia–New Zealand Challenge Individual event in conjunction with the ACT Championships at Orroral Crossing on Parawanga’s first OCAD map.

1997. The Parawanga Constitution was amended to change the dates of its financial year.

1997. Parawanga organised the Australian Relay Championships at Timbertops.

January 1998. Parawanga members organised the High-O at Perisher.

1998. Parawanga windcheaters were produced (several members are still wearing them).

1998. The ‘Hasten Slowly’ Snail Award was instigated.

THE 2000s ONWARDS

Easter 2000. Parawanga members were the Carnival Directors and all 3-Days course planners for the Easter carnival, which included two World Cup races. Ex-Parawangan, Geoff Lawford set the World Cup courses.

2004. Parawanga Paragraphs was revived as an electronic newsletter.

2004. The ‘Most Improved’ Award was instigated.

2011. Parawanga organised the Australian Long Distance Championships (World Ranking Event) at Badja.

2016. Parawanga organised Day 2 of the Australian 3-Days on the Murdering Shed map.

PARAWANGANS IN NATIONAL TEAMS

WORLD ORIENTEERING CHAMPIONSHIPS

From 1976 to 1993, there was at least one current, past (*) or future (**) Parawanga member in every WOC team, as follows:
Maurice Ongania – 1976, 1978, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987
Rudi Huettner – 1979 (NN*)
Jenny Bourne – 1981 (WR**), 1983 (WR**), 1985, 1987
Kathryn Weir – 1987
Liz Abbott (Kessell) – 1987 (KO.W**), 1989 (also Team Physiotherapist in 1991)
Ljubov Simson – 1991 (AO*), 1993 (AO*)
Cathy Hogg – Team Physiotherapist 2005

JUNIOR WORLD ORIENTEERING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Kirsty Bruce – 1991, 1992
Susie Hogg – 1991
Andy Hogg – 1992, 1993
Cathy Hogg – 1994
Nick Hain – 1999
Geoff Stacey – 2008
Tara Melhuish – 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Zoe Melhuish – 2018
Ella Cuthbert – 2019
Owen Radajewski – 2024, 2025

The post Parawanga Orienteers History Highlights appeared first on Orienteering ACT.

Along with regulars the Ingwersens, Erbachers, Walkers, Garrs, Guinnesses, Monaghans, Pywells, Hoggs, Liz and Bruce, Liz, Ian and Nikolaus, Nick and Zoe, Geoff, Bryant, Pat, and Colleen, numbers were swelled by newer members the Radajewski family.  Not to mention Bolt the border collie, the best cricket fielder on the day, who cunningly knew to watch the batsman, not the bowler, to track and chase down the ball.

After arriving fashionably late, President Bryant reviewed the club’s 2018 achievements before introducing award presenters.

Statistician Darryl determined that Luca Hogg and Jack Laing could not be separated on the improvement scale, both achieving 100% improvement!  Joint winners there.

Mike Cassells Award winner Bryant was a clear winner for the Blue Man Award for Services to the Club, having not only guided the club through five busy years, but also frequently stepped in to set or organise, as well as making a substantial contribution to OACT’s mapping program.

However, Hasten Slowly Snail Award hopefuls were disappointed, because performances in the bush were apparently all so consistent that Nathan couldn’t pick a worthy successor.  Better luck next year!

Colleen

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