Little stories from our O community, in ONZ’s 50 year.  Memories from junior camp can stay with you forever…

In the photo above – faces you may recognise: Rob Murphy’s father Bob Murphy is third from the right, Curtis Shuker’s grandfather is fifth from the left- Barry Shuker, and Dick Burbage from BOP is on the right . Dick has had 40 years of running experience and later moved back to Scotland to be  involved in running the Scottish 6 days. Richard Carmicheal moved out of NZ, as he inherited an estate in the UK. John Robinson bottom left. Ralph King is in the photo and was the keen mapper of this era.

In 1972 the first Australian team visited New Zealand in Auckland  with 7 men in the team. This was about the time the NZ Orienteering Association was set up because more clubs started in the Central Districts area as well as Wellington and Dunedin.

In 1973 New Zealand was granted full membership of the International Orienteering Federation.
A team was selected to compete in Australia, 11 men, 4 women including 4 veterans (over 36 years). See photo attached for results.



1974  An Australian team returned with juniors and veterans.

The photo above is the 1975 NZ team. Some faces you may recognise:

Rob Murphy’s father Bob Murphy is third from the right, Curtis Shuker’s grandfather is fifth from the left – Barry Shuker. Back far right is Dick Burbidge from BOP, aka Richard Carmichael who has spent 40 years organising Scottish 6 Days and has been IOF controller in Australia, Canada, Cyprus, and NZ. Ralph King, is in the centre of the front row, he was the keen mapper and promoter of orienteering.
Fabulous to see some of those in this photo still competing in orienteering, such as: John Robinson (Robbie), Robyn Davies and Trish Carmichael nee Burbidge.

The second photo is the 1975 juniors. This was the first junior team to head to Australia to represent New Zealand. As so often happens, the junior team was made from the schools that entered orienteering competitions and had keen orienteer teachers and mentors. This included Putaruru High (where both John & Robyn Davies were teaching), Robbie from Tokoroa High School, and Trish Burbidge who taught at Tauranga High school.