Support Volunteer S&R - NavShield Event 2 weeks away!

[Lotsafreshair]

Just a reminder that the annual NavShield (rogain-esque) event is only 2 weeks away!

This is the primary fundraising event for the Bushwalkers Wilderness Rescue Squad, that takes place every July and this is our 25th year!

What with all the discussion on this forum lately about Search and Rescue, supporting volunteer S&R organisations is essential for their longevity and ability to provide the services and skills needed, whenever the NSW Police Rescue squad call on us. Just so you know, we do not receive the standard govt funding such as the SES or RFS, so we rely heavily on this event and grant application funding to get us through.

Team numbers appear to be a little down on last year, so we would really appreciate you getting the word out there and sharing with your bushwalking communities. It truly is a great event!

Oh and BTW, the report from the course setters is that the views and terrain in the secret venue are OUTSTANDING, in this 2:30+(ish)hrs location from Sydney.

Thanks!

[johnw]

Good luck with NavShield lotsafreshair, I hope you get the team numbers desired and it's a great success. I'd love to do one of these myself but running in the Gold Coast marathon that weekend.

I'd also like to acknowledge the great work of BWRS, and their support at various bushwalking events I've participated in, including the Paddy Pallin rogaine last Sunday and in previous years, as well as the Oxfam Trailwalker last year.

For anyone interested:
http://www.bwrs.org.au/?q=NavShield

[Lotsafreshair]

Doh! Thanks for adding the link!

[weetbix456]

heyyya!! does anyone know if it's possible to volunteer for the tasmanian SES?? i have a lot of free time at the moment n it' be nice to give something back in some form or another...

[whiskeylover]

Contact your local SES if you are interested in volunteering. It depends on where you are based as to what you can contribute. Fully trained SES Search and Rescue teams operate out of Hobart, Launceston and the NW coast. Other rural SES units provide back up support for broader searches or carry outs. Rural SES units in Tas usually are primarily Road Crash Rescue units, with capability to also manage Storm Damage, flooding, search and rescue and other emergency support roles. First step is to contact your regional HQ which will be either Launceston, Hobart or Burnie (check out their web site) and they will put you in touch with the appropriate people to get you started.

[FatCanyoner]

Sydney Uni Bushwalkers -- who have won the top prize for at least the last three years in a row -- have a couple teams entering again this year!

[Lotsafreshair]

Ah yes, those hardy SUBW types, who somehow manage to cross the finish line with a smile (catatonic?) given that they tend to not sleep and go for the full 17hrs at a clip... Them be the stuff of legends! Agh.

[Lotsafreshair]

Standby ... Some photo clues coming soon as to the location for this year's big event!..tomorrow...

[Lotsafreshair]

I've put up a couple of shots from the course setting on the BWRS FB page... https://www.facebook.com/BushwalkersWil ... cue?ref=hl

Can you guess the location of next weekend's NavShield event?

[Lotsafreshair]

Oh, and remember... it's still not too late to enter a team! http://www.bwrs.org.au/?q=NavShield

[FatCanyoner]

Oh, I do love pagoda country. I think the SUBW teams will lap this up. Very different to past years. Almost makes me wish I was entering...

[Lotsafreshair]

It's not too late! If you love pagodas, you'll love this course!

[FatCanyoner]

Sorry mate. You won't see me there. As much as I'm very supportive of BWRS and NavShield, wandering around a course looking for checkpoints doesn't really do it for me. If I get a weekend free I'd rather spend it doing a proper bushwalk. I can push myself just as hard, discover a new area, challenge my nav skills, and all without having to see lots of other people (which is probably the main downside of NavShield for me). Everyone is different though, and for people who are more competitive than me I'm sure this will be a blast.

[Lotsafreshair]

Hey no worries mate. Oh and news to everyone else... I've now posted photos of the great location onto our Squad Facebook page. It's at gorgeous Dunns Swamp... https://www.facebook.com/BushwalkersWildernessRescue

[Wollemi]

The NSW BWRS rogaine, sorry - Nav Shield - is on again this weekend for 2014.
Over 400 participants in 117 teams.

Yalwal - or Toorooroo if you must... quite near the Shoalhaven, W of Nowra.
The weather forecast continues to improve; 20% chance of rain to 0.2mm, down from 40% chance of rain to 1mm as forecast yesterday.

The caterers bailed a week ago. I have my second cold in a month. I am required at work back in Penrith at 7 on Sunday morning. Yay!

http://www.bwrs.org.au/?q=NavShield
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yalwal,_New_South_Wales

For our training, we did a traverse of Mt Solitary, from the Golden Stairs to my car at Katoomba High School after ascending the tourist ladders alongside the Three Sisters.
From the 600m contour on the E side, we navigated 1500m around the flanks through picturesque areas before navigating ridges down to a very pretty portion of the Kedumba River, and then shortly after, picking up the wide dirt road which formerly only serviced the now-rehabilitated Katoomba STP.

[Moondog55]

Ah yes, those hardy SUBW types, who somehow manage to cross the finish line with a smile (catatonic?) given that they tend to not sleep and go for the full 17hrs at a clip... Them be the stuff of legends! Agh.

Always thought an obligatory overnite stay should be part of the rules