When an email inviting your Club to take part in a Sports Expo at the local mall appears on the Agenda. Which of you Committee Members cringe “fess up” and shrink into the background, hoping to remain un-noticed, hurriedly dredging up an ‘I’m away that day’ excuse?  We’re all guilty!

However, SOC members Karen, Helen and Sally (with a little husbandly help) decided to bite the bullet and accept the challenge. With combined organisational, graphic design and dog’s-body skills, they hatched up a plan and agreed, if they wanted people to notice them, they had to whip up a ‘hands’ on experience.

The up-market Invercargill Central Mall in Invercargil central on 23^rd August 2026. It was the ideal location and, as luck would have it, the weather Gods turned on a treat – driving rain, hail, thunder, gale force winds (more trees down in Queens Park) driving in people, by the dozen, who had nothing better to do on a miserable Sunday than seek a comforting: coffee fix, friand, sheet-pan halloumi with avocado lunch or a pie!  

Along with 20 other sports club reps dotted around the Mall, the Trio was ready, with a table set up in the perfect spot,  right next door to the eating establishments!  The Trump (whoops) card was dealt – an Orienteering Trivia Course using existing features around the building, steering clear of mayhem in the shop interiors and, with H&S in mind, a definite ban on running.  A great mix of mature, not so mature, families and new New Zealanders gave it a go with, of course, much discussion as to whether they were pigs or dogs in the back seat and if the cabinet was just red or red and blue. Regardless, everyone who returned their pencil was rewarded with a lolly.

From this SOC will now approach Invercargill Central management for a permanent site for maps and QR code.  Promotion made fun and worthwhile and, hopefully, a whole lot of new orienteers.
By Sally Duston