On Thursday 15th February 2024 the New Zealand Orienteering community sadly lost a valued member. Pamela Morrison passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones in beautiful Hawke’s Bay.

Pamela has been part of the New Zealand orienteering community for 30+ years, devoting an immense amount of time to the sport. She held various committee and event organisation roles for her club (HBOC). In 2015, Pam, alongside her husband Geoff were recognised for their services to orienteering in Hawkes Bay, gaining Life Membership. She also served on the NZOF council as vice president in the early 2000’s. Pam’s expertise and vision as an early implementer of sport i-dent timing, cartography and treasury made her an invaluable (and willing) resource to not just her club but the wider community.

A service for Pam was held at BlackBarn Estate, Havelock North on Tuesday 20th February at 11am. In lieu of flowers, donations to Motor Neurone Disease New Zealand Foundation are appreciated. Donations in Pamela’s memory to Motor Neurone Disease New Zealand can be made here. Jim Barr remembers Pamela as “incredibly enthusiastic”. And Stuart Payne worked with Pamela at the National level has nothing but praise for her work ethic: “Pamela’s time as Vice President of NZ Orienteering Federation was when I was GM. As I recall, we co-opted her on to the council specifically to fill that role based on what we knew of her sterling work with the Hawkes Bay club. It was an inspired decision on our part. Pamela was a hard-working member who was both rigorous and innovative in her thinking -– and all done with good humour. Her time on the Council was all too short from my perspective but I continued to avail myself of her wisdom (and friendship) at national events.”

Chris Howell from Waikato adds ” Pamela was an absolute treasure… she taught me everything worth knowing about event organisation and reminded me when I went off piste. Every problem had a solution and she was one of the most intrepid orienteers I knew. Her contribution to HBOC an NZO is immense and long lasting. Sending our heartfelt condolences” . Ruth Vincent also commented that “She was a real treasure to the orienteering community and beyond… she will be forever missed .”

Hamish Goodwin, then president of the Hawkes Bay Orienteering (HBO) club committee, thanked Pamela for her efforts on nationals in this intro to the HBO magazine (which is interestingly titled – Compass Points!) after the 2005 NZ champs. We have added the pdf of the news at the end of this article for you to read. In the same magazine Pamela wrote a review of the 2005 Nationals on page 11. 

Philip Herries from Hawkes Bay wrote about Pamela: “Pamela leaves behind a legacy of passion and hard work that is visible across all aspects of the club today. With her expertise and commitment to the sport at club, schools and national levels, she was the person who was quietly doing a lot the work, often unseen.

Pamela was recognised with life membership of the club in 2015, but this always seemed inadequate to express the gratitude the club owed Pamela for her contribution over so many years. She volunteered a considerable amount of her time doing mapping, event and entry organisation, committee positions, club administration, sport i-dent/timing and everything else, large and small, she did behind the scenes.

With so many days and hours each year spent outdoors, mapping, planning and controlling events, or just being there all day looking after the timing – event after event, Pamela had a huge impact on all those who have passed through the club over all the years of her involvement. She usually ensured she went for a run herself, won at club and national level, often came back with temporary scars and if something went wrong just shrugged it off and still enjoyed it for the experience it was.

Many of you will have known Pamela Morrison through her long-time involvement with the club but some of you may not have realised she was diagnosed with Motor-Neuron Disease last year.”