Victorian Team Profiles

Senior Girls
Junior Girls
Senior Boys
Junior Boys
Officials

Senior Girls

Kerryn Searle

School
Bendigo Senior Secondary College
Year
12
Age
18
Town/suburb
Strathdale
Orienteering club
Bendigo
Sisters/brothers
2 brothers-David and Andrew
Favorite Food
Danish pastries, apples
Years in orienteering
11 Years
Football team
Collingwood
Pets
A cat-pussy
Favorite song/band
One by U2
Nick names
Kezza
Other sports played
Tennis
Most admired sports person
Elizabeth Bennet
Started orienteering
Parents took me along when I was 7 or 8 and I went around with them. Started seriously orienteering at about Age 11
Favorite terrain/map
Goldmining or pure forest-maps with detail. Favorite map is Cantura Dunes
Disliked terrain
Granite
Most memorable map
Warrigal Rocks- Vic Champs 1994- became lost and spent the next hours lost with future friends, not knowing where to go
Best thing about orienteering
Friends and satisfaction
Least liked about orienteering
running in the bad weather
Goals Set
A.C.T Championships:Top 5
Schools Championships: Top5
Australian Championships: Top 5
Ambition in orienteering
To represent Australia and to continue orienteering as long as I am physically and mentally capable

Lian Prendergast

School
Loreto College
Year
10
Age
16
Town/suburb
Delacombe(Ballarat)
Years in orienteering
12 Years
Orienteering club
Eureka
Sisters/brothers
A brother Conan and a sister Aislinn
Favorite Food
Thai chicken curry
Football team
Essendon
Pets
A dog-Talbot
Other sports played
Cross Country, triathlon, rowing
Most admired sports person
Henk Vogels
Started orienteering
My family brought me along when I was very young.
Favorite terrain/map
Spur Gully-Canadian (this is the name of a map - Ed.)
Disliked terrain
Mining
Most memorable map
Little Forest-did really well at Vic Relay Champs
Best thing about orienteering
The mental challenge
Least liked about orienteering
Getting lost
Goals Set
A.C.T. Championship: To win
Schools Championships: To win
Australian Championships: To win
Ambition in orienteering
To go to JWOC

Kathryn Ewels

Age
17
School
Gisborne Secondary College
Year
11
Town/suburb
Macedon
Years in orienteering
4 Years
Orienteering club
Central Highlands
Sisters/brothers
2 sisters, Jane and Meredeth
Favorite Food
Lasagna and chocolate
Football team
Essendon
Pets
2 guinea pigs, 30 budgies, 1 dog-Amica, 4 chooks
Other sports played
Athletics and Cross Country. Have played netball, football, cricket, badminton and swimming for the school
Most admired sports person
Cathy Freemen, Steve Monghetti, and Yvette Hague(British orienteer)
Started orienteering
Started through Macedon primary school and went to the first bush event in 1992.
Favorite terrain/map
Spur/gully with a sprinkle of gold mining-White Swan
Disliked terrain
Very intricate-granite
Most memorable map
Southern Cross Challenge in Ballarat 94, ran under 16 for my first major competeion. Had minimal orienteering skills in the goldmining so I just ran and finished second behind Julia. (Minty)
Least memorable map
Warrigal Rocks, first major event(Vic champs) got lost half way through the course and spent 1 and 1/2 hour on a 2.3 km course. Did however meet future orienteering friends who were lost as well
Best thing about orienteering
Friends, fitness
Least liked about orienteering
Occasional bad weather
Outstanding results
97-9th U20 Australian Schools Cross Country Championships, 10th Australia Cross Country Championships, 1st U20 Australian Short Orienteering Championship. 96'- 1st Senior Australian Schools Orienteering Championships, 1st U16 Southern Cross Junior Challenge, 1st U16 Victorian Orienteering Championships. 1st U14 Vic. 3000m; 1st U14 3K Vic. cross country. Member Heart Health towards 2000 Athletics squad
Goals Set
A.C.T Championships: A placing
Schools Championships: A placing(and honor team)
Australian Championships:A placing
Ambition in orienteering
To represent Australia at JWOC and hopefully WOC

Jenny Prime

School
Ballarat College
Year
11
Age
17
Town
Bacchus Marsh
Years in orienteering
9 Years
Orienteering club
Tuckonie
Sisters/brothers
Sister-Emma
Favorite Food
Nachos
Football team
Geelong
Pets
A cat
Other sports played
Cricket
Most admired sports person
Richard Virenque-bike rider
Started orienteering
My family were going before I was born, and I just went along with them.
Favorite terrain/map
Goldminning-Belltopper hill
Disliked terrain
Steep, spur/gully
Most memorable map
2nd day at Easter 97. Good run with no mistakes and made up a lot of time on other competitors
Least memorable map
Mt Alexander-as I have never had a good run on it.
Best thing about orienteering
The navigation
Least liked about orienteering
Running up steep hills
Goals Set
A.C.T. Championship: To have a good run with no mistakes
Schools Championships: To have a good run with no mistakes
Australian Championships: To have a good run with no mistakes
Ambition in orienteering
Hopefully get in the JWOC team

Junior Girls

Clemmie Thompson

Age
15
School
Camberwell Anglican Girls Grammar
Year
10
Town/suburb
Mont Albert
Years in orienteering
8 Years
Nicknames
Clem
Sisters/brothers
2 brothers Alex and Danny
Orienteering club
Yarra Valley
Favorite Food
Chuppa Chumps! (Is this a reference to last year's prizes? - Ed.)
Football team
Essendon
Pets
Dog-Tessa, Cat-Kozma
Favorite song/band
Live
Other sports played
Basketball ,softball, hockey, volleyball ,athletics and cross country
Most admired sports person
Che Cockatoo-Collins (Essendon football player)
Started orienteering
My family has been going since I was born, however I started running by myself in 1989
Favorite terrain/map
Spur/gully-Kimbolton(Lake Eppolack)
Disliked terrain
Rocky
Most memorable map
Australian relay 1995, I couldn't run because of a stress fracture so I walked, spiked every control and still did one of the better times!
Least memorable map
Apollo Road (ACT) 3rd day of Easter 1994, I was winning and I went off the map for 3 hours disqualifying myself. (As that day's course setter, this one still gives me nightmares - Ed.)
Best thing about orienteering
Friends and fitness
Least liked about orienteering
The long traveling and occasional bad weather
Goals Set
A.C.T. Championships: A placing
Schools Championships: A placing(and honor team)
Australian Championships: A placing
Ambition in orienteering
JWOC and I didn't know after that.

Emily Hart

Age
15
School
Ballarat and Clarendon College
Year
10
Town
Ballarat
Years in orienteering
9 Years
Orienteering club
Eureka
Sisters/brothers
1 sister, Sally
Favorite Food
Many including chicken mango(Chinese),burritos(Mexico),lasagna(Italian)
Football team
None really! Prefer to watch gridiron and soccer
Pets
A dog-Peggy, a cat-Teasle
Favorite song/band
Ben Lee, Maris's, blink 182
Other sports played
Hockey and Rowing
Most admired sports person
Nova Peris -hockey player/athlete
Started orienteering
I started with my family. I think I began to orienteer when I was about 6
Favorite terrain/map
I like open terrain, spur gully terrain
Disliked terrain
Close intricate rocks with lots of green (e.g. Kooyoora)
Most memorable map
Kooyoora-I really got my money's worth by spending 2 hours on the course
Best thing about orienteering
Going out in the bush having a good run and catching up with my friends
Least liked about orienteering
Having to run in a t-shirt when its freezing cold and pouring down with rain
Outstanding results
Have won boat races (major Ballarat rowing event) in 1996. A few OYs and badge places
Goals Set
A.C.T Championships: To go well
Schools Championships: To have a good, steady run
Australian Championships: To go well-top half
Ambition in orienteering
To improve on both skills and fitness

Alexandra Sinickas

School
Methodist Ladies College
Year
8
Age
13
Town/suburb
Ivanhoe
Nicknames
Zandra, Alzo
Years in orienteering
7 Years
Orienteering club
Yarra Valley
Sisters/brothers
1 brother-Michael
Favorite Food
Lasagna and any pasta
Football team
I hate footy
Pets
None-but I'd like to own one!!!!
Other sports played
Swimming, cycling, softball and skiing
Most admired sports person
All sports people as they work really hard to became good.
Started orienteering
My family became interested after reading a pamphlet on orienteering
Favorite terrain/map
Rocky-Kooyoora Spur
Disliked terrain
Broken Hill terrain
Most memorable map
Wattle Gully-I like all the goldmining
Least memorable map
All the rest-there have been so many
Best thing about orienteering
Friends
Least liked about orienteering
Getting lost, wet, scratched and the spiderwebs between the trees
Goals Set
ACT Championship: 1st half
Schools Championships: To have a good run with no mistakes
Australian Championships: To have a good run with no mistakes
Ambition in orienteering
To make the schools team (she did - Ed.)

Andrea Hughes

School
Siena College, Camberwell
Year
10
Age
15
Town/suburb
Box Hill Nth
Orienteering club
Yarra Valley
Sisters/brothers
A sister Rebecca 18
Favorite Food
Banana paddle pops; strawberries and cream; chuppa chups
Years in orienteering
6 Years
Football team
Essendon
Favorite song/band
M+M's by Blink 182
Other sports played
Softball, calisthenics and cross country
Most admired sports person
Shane Warne and Matthew Elliot
Started orienteering
Clemmie took me orienteering towards the end of 1990 and I joined Yarra Valley at the start of 1991
Favorite terrain/map
Open spur gully-Belltopper Hill
Disliked terrain
Very confusing, rocky terrain
Most memorable map
About four years ago when I beat Clemmie for the first and only time by 1 second
Least memorable map
OY7+OY8, I took 2 1/2 hrs on the first day and 1 1/2 hours on the second my total time over 4hrs
Best thing about orienteering
Friends and keeping fit
Least liked about orienteering
The amount of time taken by by traveling
Goals Set
A.C.T Championships:Be confident and do as good as I can
Schools Championships: Don't doubt myself because of the big competition
Australian Championships: Don't doubt myself because of the big competetion
Ambition in orienteering
To enjoy myself, be competitive and keep improving

Senior Boys

Justin Slater

School
Girton Grammar
Year
11
Age
16
Town
Strathfieldsaye
Orienteering club
Bendigo
Sisters/brothers
A brother Ross 14, and a sister Andrea 10
Favorite Food
Chicken
Years in orienteering
9 Years
Football team
Sydney Swans
Pets
A dog
Favorite music
Click goes the Shears and Tie My Kangaroo Down
Most admired sports person
Donovan Bailey
Started orienteering
I started orienteering with my family in 1988 at Kooyoora Spur. It was a really foggy day and we got lost
Favorite terrain/map
Fairly flat spur/gully terrain-Lyell Forest
Disliked terrain
Complicated granite terrain.
Most memorable map
Orroral Crossing(Canberra). It took me over 3 hours to finish the 8km course around 3 o'clock (this was the event where the M16 course was so long that not even Petter Thoresen or Jorgen Martensson would have done the recommended winning time of 50 minutes - Ed.)
Least memorable map
Mt Pearson(Tasmania) Missing out on a placing by 6 sec
Best thing about orienteering
Getting fit and being lost in the bush. As well traveling around Australia to different events.
Least liked about orienteering
Its low profile, cliquey groups in clubs
Outstanding results
Victoria Orienteering Champion-M14-1994, M16-1996, 3rd in Southern Cross Challenge M16-1996
Goals Set
A.C.T. Championships: Top 5
Schools Championships: Top 10
Australian Championships: Top 5
Ambition in orienteering
To finish every course

Troy de Haas

School
Gisborne Secondary College
Year
11/12
Age
18
Town
Macedon
Sisters/brothers
2 sisters-Monique and Krystal
Orienteering club
Central Highlands
Favorite Food
Lasagna/Jarlsberg cheese
Years in orienteering
9 Years
Football team
Melbourne
Pets
A dog-Jackie
Favorite music
Tecno
Most admired sports person
Petter Thoresen(Norway)
Started orienteering
I started orienteering with my dad when I was about 11 years old
Favorite terrain/map
Anything extreme e.g. steep rocky slopes
Disliked terrain
Flat, boring low technical terrain
Most memorable map
First O'Ringen in 96
Outstanding results
9th short race JWOC 97,115th classic race 97. 1996-JWOC 49th short, 58th Classic event
Goals Set
A.C.T. Championships: 1st
Schools Championships: 1st
Australian Championships: 1st
Ambition in orienteering
To win a JWOC medal!

Simon Goddard

School
Macleod College
Year
10
Age
16
Nickname
Hornet
Town/suburb
Eaglemont
Orienteering club
Yarra Valley
Sisters/brothers
A sister-Moira
Favorite Food
Milo
Years in orienteering
10 Years
Football team
Hawthorn
Favorite music
Wasting time by Blink 182
Other sports played
Ice Hockey, Basketball, Swimming, Skateboarding
Most admired sports person
Kathy Watt
Started orienteering
My parents took me along and persuaded me to go out with lollies.
Favorite terrain/map
Really big extreme stuff-Kooyora Spur
Disliked terrain
Thick undergrowth
Most/least memorable map
The 3rd day of Easter '97' when I picked up the wrong one-when leading the field on the last day
Least liked about orienteering
Thick undergrowth
Outstanding results
2nd Junior boys-1996, a part of the junior boys 2nd
Goals Set
A.C.T. Championships: High placing-1st or 2nd
Schools Championships: No real goal- top 10
Australian Championships: High placing-1st or 2nd
Ambition in orienteering
To reach elite level and place top 10 in WOC

Andrew Dent

School
Koonung Secondary College
Year
10
Age
15
Town/suburb
Box Hill
Orienteering club
Yarra Valley
Sisters/brothers
A sister-Katherine
Favorite Food
Pizza
Years in orienteering
8 Years
Football team
Western Bulldogs
Pets
A cat
Started orienteering
I started orienteering with my parents
Favorite terrain/map
Intricate goldmining -Creswick Diggings
Disliked terrain
Really steep stuff
Most memorable map
Broken Hill- as it was so different
Least memorable map
1995-5 day- felt sick the whole way through and ended up being sick
Best thing about orienteering
Getting fit
Least liked about orienteering
Getting lost
Goals Set
A.C.T. Championships: top 5
Schools Championships: no mistakes
Australian Championships: top 10
Ambition in orienteering
To finish first more often

Junior Boys

Ross Slater

School
Home School
Year
9
Age
14
Town
Strathfieldsaye
Orienteering club
Bendigo
Sisters/brothers
A brother Justin 17, and a sister Andrea 10
Favorite Food
Pies and chips
Years in orienteering
9 Years
Football team
Essendon
Pets
1 dog, Toby
Favorite music
Everywhere you go, you always take the weather
Other sports played
Indoor cricket, I would like to play football
Most admired sports person
David Calthrope-running half back flanker for Essendon (hopefully Ross won't get injured as frequently - Ed.), Ian Healy-wicketkeeper for Australian and who keeps the score moving while batting
Started orienteering
Started orienteering with my family in 1988 at Kooyoora Spur. It was a really foggy day and we got lost
Favorite terrain/map
Spur/gully and goldmining -Cardinia Dam
Disliked terrain
Granite and flat terrain-Kooyora.
Most memorable map
The living desert -Broken Hill because Simon had to follow me around the course after he picked up the wrong map
Least memorable map
1996-Vic relays at Chinamans Flat. The M14A course was only 1.8km
Best thing about orienteering
The water controls and the water at the finish
Least liked about orienteering
Having to punch the control cards in order. It's a waste of time!!
Outstanding results
1st International 5 days, Best and fairest U/12 soccer and OY winner 95 and 96
Goals Set
A.C.T. Championships: 1st
Schools Championships: 1st
Australian Championships: 1st
Ambition in orienteering
To have fun. Flog NSW at the Schools champs.

Adrian Jackson

School
The Knox School
Year
8
Age
14
Town/suburb
Ferny Creek
Orienteering club
Nillumbik Emus
Sisters/brothers
A sister-Melinda 10, a brother-Timothy 2
Nickname
Alex
Favorite Food
Pizza
Years in orienteering
6 Years
Football team
Hawthorn
Pets
2 cats
Started orienteering
I was introduced to Orienteering by my parents when I was eight. I first orienteered by myself when I was 10 Years old
Favorite terrain/map
Gold mining-White Swan/Nerrina
Disliked terrain
Granite
Most memorable map
Borhoney Ghurk. I won the course and I was selected in the Victorian Team to go to Tasmania
Least memorable map
Living Desert, Easter 97 Day 3. Was coming 3rd but dropped to 7th after taking 85mins. for the 4.3km course
Best thing about orienteering
Doing really well on a course
Least liked about orienteering
Making mistakes and running really fast on the next leg and making only a bigger mistake
Outstanding results
5th in 96 Australian Championshipships M14A and 4th in Easter 96
Goals Set
A.C.T. Championships: Top 3
Schools Championships: Top 10
Australian Championships:Top 5
Ambition in orienteering
To make the JWOC and WOC teams

Matthew Schepisi

School
Girton Grammar
Year
8
Age
14
Town
Bendigo
Orienteering club
Bendigo
Sisters/brothers
Brother-Daniel and a sister Catherine
Favorite Food
Lasagna
Years in orienteering
2 Years
Football team
Essendon
Pets
A labrador-Heidi
Nick names
Schepisi
Other sports played
Soccer.
Started orienteering
In June 95, I began with a friend who already participated in orienteering and my first event was a Bendigo local event
Favorite terrain/map
Spur/gully terrain and one of my favorite maps is Sedgwick
Disliked terrain
Goldmining as it is hard to run through
Most memorable map
Sedgwick because when I competed in the 3-hour score event my dog escaped from my house and ended up coming on the course with us
Best thing about orienteering
Winning and doing my best
Least liked about orienteering
Making stupid mistakes
Outstanding results
1st 1995 Western Zone Primary School Champs
Goals Set
A.C.T. Championships:To do my best
Schools Championships: To do my best
Australian Championships: To do my best
Ambition in orienteering
To compete at an international level

Nic Buc

School
Scotch College
Year
10
Age
15
Town/suburb
Eaglemont
Sisters/brothers
A brother, Andrew, and sister, Katya
Favourite food
Spaghetti bolognese
Years in orienteering
3
Pets
A dog (Daisy) and cat (Muffy)
Favourite song/band
'A View To A Kill', by Duran Duran (I'm impressed, given that Duran Duran had disappeared without trace by the time Nick was two - Ed.)
Nicknames
Peck
Other sports played
Football, tennis, cross-country running
Most admired sports person
Paul Williams
Started orienteering
In 1994, Simon Goddard persuaded me to come to an event.
Favourite terrain/map
Something with a bit of everything and not too hard (e.g. Creswick Diggings)
Disliked terrain
Steep, steep hills and enormous rocks
Most memorable map
Kooyoora State park - because it was so bloody hard
Best thing about orienteering
The satisfaction of doing something 2000 other boys at my school can't do
Outstanding results
Making the Victorian team in orienteering, and runner-up in the Ivanhoe football club best and fairest in 1996.
Least liked about orienteering
Getting lost
Goals set
ACT Championships: to beat Ross Slater
Schools Championships: to finish in the top 10
Australian Championships: to finsih the course! (This shoud actually be the easiest course of the three - Ed.)
Ambition in orienteering
To persist at getting better and better at it all the time.

Officials

Blair Trewin (assistant coach)

Suburb
Albert Park
Study
Blair is studying at the University of Melbourne, 3rd Year Ph.D.(climatology)
Orienteering club
Yarra Valley
Sisters/brothers
Cassie-JWOC representative 97,96,95,94
Favorite Food
Lasagna
Years in orienteering
11 Years
Football team
Essendon
Favorite music
Midnight Oil
Sports also played
None apart from distance running and I played some cricket when younger
Most admired sports person
Steve Waugh
Started orienteering
July 1978: My parents were looking desperately for a sport that I might be interested in (I'd already demonstrated that I was hopelessly uncoordinated for any sort of ball game) and heard something about orienteering.
Favorite terrain/map
Runnable granite, Kooyora
Disliked terrain
Anything that is fast and technically easy (I enjoy these areas but do not run well in them). Also thick, steep areas with no deeming technical features.
Most memorable map
Kaiserstuhl (SA, 1986 Aus. Champs)- "I had a very late start and knew what time I needed to run, was in trouble early, and ran the last 1.6km in 7.30 min. to win by a minute".
Least memorable map
Kapamahunga (NZ, 1987 Aust-NZ Challenge)- A steep, thick map, a dreadful day and a dreadful run
Best thing about orienteering
Being able to run in a pleasant environment with continuous mental challenges.
Least liked about orienteering
Missing out on WOC teams!
Outstanding results
Member of 1995 WOC team, Australian Champion in 91(M20),90(M20), 88(M18),87(M16),86(M17),85(M12),83(M12)
Goals Set
A.C.T Championships: 1st
Schools Championships:To see Victoria win it!
Australian Championships:1st
Ambition in orienteering
To make WOC team again in 1999, and to make the final once at WOC

Peta Whitford (coach)

Occupation
Part time with the VOA, qualified Secondary School P.E. teacher, Youth leader and outdoor education teacher, Level 3 coaching certificate.
Town
Steels Creek
Years in orienteering
26 Years
Nick names
Pete
Orienteering club
Yarra Valley
Family
Sister Penny, A husband Ian and children Tarli 19 and Jarrod 18
Favorite Food
Chinese style food(but not fish)
Football team
Essendon
Pets
4 sheep, a cat
Sports that I have played
Netball, Athletics(mainly discus and shot put), canoeing and a little bit of tennis.
Most admired sports person
There are many including Betty Cuthbert, Steve Moneghetti, Kieren Perkins and good orienteering buddy Toy Martin(USA Olympic team member for speed skating)
Started orienteering
Friends invited me to join them in 1971
Favorite terrain/map
Very intricate-granite, goldmining. Kooyoora
Disliked terrain
Open spur-gully-it's too fast
Most memorable map
Cantara Dunes(SA) Such intricate contours with deintish vegetation patches. Big challenge to do well
Least memorable map
Pyrites Creek (TKOC map )near Bullengarook- it's thick, prickly and the weather is usually wet and cold
Best thing about orienteering
Each event is a complete new challenge and although I am not a fast runner, I have a chance to perform well using decision making and map interpretation skills.
Least liked about orienteering
Getting tired
Outstanding results
World Championship 1974-Denmark 31st Classic, Australian Championship 1984-New Zealand 1st, Australian Championship 1977 1st, when pregnant with Tarli!
Goals Set
A.C.T Championships: Finish in the top 6
Schools Championships: "For each team member to perform really well. To WIN!(beat NSW) No injuries or sickness. For the team to be a cohesive, co-operative and happy group of orienteers"
Australian Championships:Finish top 8
Ambition in orienteering
To maintain a life-long involvement for myself. To provide opportunities for talented orienteers to achieve their goals.

Warren Halliday (manager)

Occupation
Teacher at Norwood Secondary College. Teaches physical education, outdoor education and mathematics
Town
Diamond Creek
Family
Wife-Debra and 2 boys Bryce and Dayne
Orienteering club
Bayside Kangaroos
Favorite Food
Seafood
Years in orienteering
4 Years
Football team
Collingwood
Pets
Dog, bird, mouse and fish
Favorite song/band
Led Zeppelin-Black Dog
Nicknames
Wazza, Waz
Other sports played
Golf, badminton, squash, running-fun runs
Most admired sports person
Greg Norman and Steve Mongehetti
Started orienteering
Attended a PE conference-went to a session run by Peta on orienteering-1993-started doing Street'O' and then had a go at a bush event. Still a lot to learn!!
Favorite terrain/map
Spur/Gully-Jim Crow
Disliked terrain
Gold mining areas with intricate details
Most/Least memorable map
Petticoat Gully-An absolute disaster-First time in this type of terrain-about 3 hours
Best thing about orienteering
Challenge-Individually-getting out and seeing the bush
Least liked about orienteering
Frustration of not reading terrain properly-overshooting controls
Goals Set
A.C.T Championships:Finish the course-Improve navigation
Schools Championships: Photographing the winning Vic Team!!
Australian Championships: Finish the course-Improve navigation
Ambition in orienteering
To get better at reading map/terrain-Do it for enjoyment only
Return to 1997 teams page.

Return to Australian Schools Championships page.