Discussion: Orienteering in Australia

Hello!
I'm just wondering which part of Australia i should go if I want good training for an orienteer and looking for some kind of job? I just think it would be nice to go down there for some month's just do enought money for living and training. If you know someone who want some help from an social orienteer from sweden please answer the message!

hey erik, you'll get replies from a person in each state claiming their to be the best but depending on the time of year you'd have to go for sydney, melbourne or canberra.

I reckon jobs would be fairly easy to come by in those three cities

go for canberra.

but it's cold in Canberra and the magpies are mean

I would rate Bendigo- but then it depends on what kind of work you are looking for.

Three issues to consider: employment, training community and terrain.
The labour market in Bendigo is more limited than in the three major centres mentioned above. The town has a population of only 100,000, a fraction of Sydney and Melbourne. Canberra is in between, but closer to Bendigo than the metropolises. It all depends upon your skill set and preferences.
If you can overcome that issue, its hard to argue that any other city can match over 30 maps within half an hour of the city, and perhaps as many again within an hour. The terrain includes lots of quality gully spur, some exceptional granite maps and some gold mining. The town itself is circled by forest so training in terrain is easy. There are orienteering events each weekend between March and November. Sydney and Melbourne are a n hour or more drive to the quality terrain.Canberra has local terrain, but the quality requires more driving.
The training community is smaller than in Canberra, or Melbourne, but is active. Most are on AP and some even log their training. Check the logs of the Uncle Jim, Big Ev, Bryan. Of course, none of us are as amusing as Shep or Liggo.
And the magpies can be just as mean.

Having lived and worked there, I'd vote for Adelaide in South Australia as a wonderful, picturesque location with a good weekly O program. And for off-hours there are many cultural events during the summer (now) such as art fairs, etc. It is a beach-oriented city on the Spencer Gulf, with large beautiful parks both in the city itself, and in the mountains surrounding town. And Adelaide has a sizable wine country only a short distance away.

And if you're still there, you might wish to target TasE2009...the big 10-day Easter O Carnival in Tasmania. It is another beautiful natural area, perhaps similar to Gottland without the castle walls but more contour lines?

How big chance do I have to get some kind of part time job in some of these citys? I have a forklift truck driving licence, may that give me someting?!? but I don't have any big expectations, I just want something. please help me! ;)

youll be able to get something, either in retail or something similar, in any of canberra, sydney or melbourne. given of course you have a visa that allows you to work.

there are job sites like www.seek.com.au, www.jobsearch.gov.au but for part time/casual stuff they will advertise usually in the shop front or local papers etc

dont go to adelaide.

Adelaide is a nice town, and the orienteering is pleasant rather than highly technical, but there are probably lots of other people looking for driving-type jobs. The housing industry hasn't had a downturn yet but I don't know what the new year will bring.

Come to Perth for the best weather and the best chance of a job (lowest unemployment rate - there is a recession coming too!) While we don't have the best terrain or the most competitive athletes, as a social orienteer you will be quite satisfied.

dont go to brisbane...

Good point Jules.

There must be a demand for forklift drivers as there are regular ads on the radio in Melbourne from a recruitment agency looking for them.

Thanks agian. Really good reading.
My plan is to go down there 4-5 April and stay there in 1,5 month. So if some of you know somewhere I can stay cheap, I maybe not have to work. And I'm looking for some who will train with me, TasE2009 looks realy good.

If you wanted cheaper living expenses then you could even consider Newcastle NSW. While some of our maps are quite vegetated we do have a strong local club in terms of participation and it's certainly a cheaper option and in my opinion an easier lifestyle here than in the capital cities. It is also big enough to offer a reasonable chance of obtaining employment. (so long as the economic downturn doesn't continiue too long) Of course there are less entertainment oportunities but it's easy to get to the beach or lake for a surf/swim.

Maybe though, if you are going to Tasmania for Easter you might want to be a bit closer as no direct flights from here. (either SYD-LAUNCESTON or NEWC-MELB-LAUNCESTON).

Personally I'd avoid Sydney as I reckon it's a crap lifestyle (depending upon where you live and work traffic can be a pain) and decent maps are all quite a long way away.

Good luck with your decision.

Blair - there's also the question of whether Erik's fork ticket is valid in Australia...

i heard about this house in sydney where if you are an orienteer you can just knock on the door and they'll let you in and 5 months later you'll wander back out of the front door thinking what the fuck just happened and wondering what it feels like to sleep in a bed or talk to someone who's surname isn't meyer or preston.

i wonder if it still exists?

Fork ticket validity - probably not a major impediment. In Victoria would have to present a current valid ticket/qualification to the registration authority and answer some questions at the very least. However this could take some time to organise.
Most international fork tickets are recognised.

City of preference? Probably Bendigo or Canberra because of accessibility to quality training areas. However Australia's public transport (train or bus) systems are probably not as useful as in Sweden or Europe for access to other than the major centres.

I have heard of "that" house in Canberra.

form a previous post
"i heard about this house in sydney where if you are an orienteer you can just knock on the door and they'll let you in and 5 months later you'll wander back out of the front door thinking what the f*** just happened"

is that how you got your username?

sure you dont mean "that" flat in sydney

two different stories.....

Alot of good replies, thanks again. Does that flat still existing?
Plans: First go to Adelaide, for som days then go to TasE2009, which is the best way to got from Adelaide to Laounceston? maybe some who got an extra seat for me, so I can go to the competition areas?;), Then go back to melbourn and backpacking up the east coast. then dave I can go for canberra!?!