Orienteering WA 50 years: 1974 - 2024


The Orienteering Association of Western Australia was formed on 1st August 1974.1 logo 250px

Robert Boekelaar has done some serious research on the years leading up to and immediately following OAWA’s formation, trawling through boxes of OAWA documents and corresponding with people involved in orienteering in Australia in those early years. This work led to the publication of “Around the Contours” which was a history of orienteering in WA from 1974 – 2009, edited by Jennifer Binns and Sue Graham-Taylor.

Robert has expanded the information about the earliest years and has produced a series of articles featured below. Learn about those who nurtured our sport and see how far we’ve come from those early days. It’s been quite a journey.

This series of articles will be published throughout 2024 so check back regularly for new articles!

Chapter 1: Getting started
Chapter 2: The first events, November 1973
Chapter 3: Input from the UK - Pat Murray
Chapter 4: Support from Eastern States Associations 1973
Chapter 5: Night Events Dec 1973 to April 1974
Chapter 6: Daytime Events May - August 1974
Chapter 7: Benefits and Responsibilities of Relationships with OFA
Chapter 8: Mapping – the Perennial Problem
Chapter 9: Promotion and Publicity – Major Players & Their Strategies (1973 – 1976)
Chapter 10: OAWA Formation 1st August 1974
Chapter 11: OAWA’s First Council
Chapter 12: A close-up look at Orienteering Daytime Events Aug – Dec 1974
Chapter 13: Preparations for 1975 and onwards (part 1)
Chapter 14: Preparations for 1975 and onwards (part 2)
Glossary

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OWA Sponsors

Australian Sports Commission
Government of Western Australia
The WA Government through the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport and Lotterywest are major supporters of Orienteering in Western Australia. Sport and recreation creates vibrant, inclusive and connected WA communities.