A successful organisation is one built on solid foundations and reliable people. In the case of ACTRA it is clear that we have a really good product, diligent organisers and very enthusiastic members. As living proof of all those elements it is a credit to the leadership of Keira Banks and Jean Douglass that ACTRA has been able to start this year with a well-attended and well-received course-setters workshop, just in time for the first event of the year – the 3-hour Twilight rogaine. Behind the scenes your management committee has been busy identifying locations and developing map options for a full series of events this year. A critical component of that has been protracted liaison with parks authorities in the broader Canberra region. Recent fires and rains have created very challenging conditions for ecologists and park managers, making the task of balancing the competing interests of diverse park users all the more complex. Negotiation with rangers and forest managers increasingly results in access to various sites being conditional on exclusion from a patchwork of areas. It is essential to our good relations with the authorities that rogainers do not enter the out-of-bounds areas marked on competition maps and explained in course setters notes. Please help us to maintain our good reputation by following this simple rule.
Of course there’s more to a successful event than just ideas for good locations. We always need more volunteers for administrative tasks, both before and during the events. Maybe you are carrying a small injury, or a team mate drops out, or you just want to have a break from running – whatever your motivation, if you still want to experience the fun and friendship of a fabulous rogaine in the great outdoors, please consider contacting any event organisers to find out how you might be able to help out.
