Each year we put together some of the funny stories from the rogaining season and call them the Lunartic Awards. Here they are for 2011.
Thanks to Peter Milnes for putting the Lunartics together and all those who provided stories for the 2011 awards. There are a lot of great stories that remain untold.
If you encounter any humorous or unusual incidents before, during or after an event that you consider worthy of an award, please give Peter a call on 83221645 or contact.
“You don’t have to be crazy but it helps”
This long time rogainer and past president is always up for a challenge. He wanted to achieve something unique so he set himself the goal of walking from Waterfall Gully to Mt Lofty and return for 100 consecutive days which is a monumental task. He achieved 62 days straight and has now completed the climb over 100 times in less than 12 months. Considering family and work commitments and a 20 minute drive from home to Waterfall Gully this was a fantastic achievement.
The you don’t have to be crazy but it helps award – LEWIS CARTER
“Mr Efficiency has lost it”
Spring 12 hour, October 2010, Saunders Gorge
Setters: Evelyn and Craig Colwell
This guy runs a Hash House every couple of years and produces some excellent culinary delights. He is super organised and always has his helpers well drilled. He has also offered to run the Hash House with Rob Reid at the Oz Champs, so we should be in for a treat. After catering at the Spring event the SARA treasurer Evelyn Colwell gave the ever efficient chef a cheque for a considerable amount to cover his expenses. Several months later the cheque hadn’t been cashed. It appears Mr Efficiency had misplaced it and another cheque had to be issued. He must have been having a bad day as he also left his apron at the event.
The Mr Efficiency has lost it award – WAYNE CHETTLE
“Where the hell am i”
State Champs May 2011, Bartagunya
Setter: Randell Taylor
Most people who have set an event would have experienced something similar to this. You arrive at the rogaine site and are keen to start setting. You race out in the car to the starting point for the day, get the map out, study the features around you, compare it to the map, then spend the next 10 minutes wondering where the hell you are. This setter was all fired up to get out on the course at Bartagunyah and start setting. He dropped Angus at one location and he and Ben drove off to the starting point for their loop. He had it all preplanned. Hop out of the car, jump the fence at the side of the road, follow a watercourse for a kilometre, then go up a gully to tag the control. After briskly walking a kilometre an uneasy feeling came over them as they realised the landscape around them was entirely different to that on the map. After some deliberation they realised they had jumped the fence on the wrong side of the road and were heading in the opposite direction. Instead of nearing the gully they wanted, they were now 2kms away from it.
The where the hell am I award – RANDELL TAYLOR
“The battle of bartagunyah continued”
State Champs May 2011, Bartagunyah
Setter: Randell Taylor
This couple generously offered to stay at Bartagunyah on Sunday night to help pick up controls Monday. Having survived gale force winds in their tent the previous night they were confident they would be able to withstand anything that nature threw up at them. They were about to discover this wasn’t the case. By 6.00pm it was dark and the wind was howling. With the tent leaning badly and the rain beating in they decided they would have to abandon camp. Instructions were issued for the wife to get in the car and throw everything from the back into the front seat and the husband was to pack up the sleeping bags and mattresses. The car was then faced into the wind, tailgate opened, the bedding hurled in, then systematically the tent was dismantled. First the fly, then the tent poles and groundsheet. The tent was taken down last, making sure a good grip was taken on it when the pegs came out out to avoid it blowing away somewhere towards the north pole. During the commotion the tent bag took flight in the gale and was never seen again. The couple reckon it is the fastest they have ever broken camp.
The battle of Bartagunyah continued award – JIM and DOROTHY CASANOVA
“Some people do it in the dark”
6 Hour Bush Rogaine, 4 Hour Cyclogaine, June 2011, Para Wirra
Setters: Steve Cooper and Craig Colwell
The two setters of the Asthma rogaine were spotted the night before the event still hanging controls at 9 pm. They were then up at 6 am Saturday to hang some more and were still out on the course at 9 o’clock Saturday night picking up controls after the event – this has never been done before. We don’t know whether they were after some night navigation practice or have a fetish for cold, wet, foggy weather.
Some People do it in the Dark award – STEVE COOPER and CRAIG COLWELL
“The navlight steep learning curve”
6 Hour Bush Rogaine, 4 Hour Cyclogaine, June 2011, Para Wirra
Setters: Steve Cooper and Craig Colwell
SARA used the Navlight electronic scoring system for the first time at the Asthma event in preparation for Oz Champs in 2012. It involved a lot of extra work beforehand programming electronic pens, wristbands etc. Each control has to have a corresponding
“Navlight pen” with the same number. Imagine the shock of one of the setters on Friday morning when he discovered a spare electronic pen in his pocket. It was for control 56. He had to go near there to hang more controls so he thought it would be a simple fix. Wrong!!!!!!!! When he got to 56 the pen for control 92 was hanging there. He then had to retrace his setting in reverse order from the previous day checking out the pens as he went. Finally after visiting 7 controls he found one without a pen and all was fixed
The Navlight steep learning curve award – CRAIG COLWELL
“The flying curry award”
6 Hour Bush Rogaine, 4 Hour Cyclogaine, June 2011, Para Wirra
Setters: Steve Cooper and Craig Colwell
The Asthma Foundation catering team had done a fabulous job feeding 450 people with relative ease. Near the end, and without warning,one of the legs on the stainless steel table started slowly sinking into the mud causing 2 burners with 2 pots of curry on top to slide off. On hitting the ground the flying curry appeared to explode, splattering everything and everyone within a 3 metre radius. It was all over the ground, on boxes and crates, on the cook’s clothing and over the sides of the tents as we discovered later when we went to pack them up. Fortunately no-one was injured or burnt and a good laugh was had by all.
The flying curry award – THE ASTHMA FOUNDATION CATERING TEAM
“Thinking outside the square”
6 Hour Bush Rogaine, 4 Hour Cyclogaine, June 2011, Para Wirra
Setters: Steve Cooper and Craig Colwell
These 2 people were the St John Ambulance volunteers for the day . As there were no incidents early in the event they generously offered to help the Asthma catering team and volunteered to fill the 4 cordial and water drums. It was some distance to the water and back and the drums are very heavy. After contemplating awhile they struck on the idea of using the ambulance stretcher on wheels. They placed the drums on top and wheeled it to the water and back quite effortlessly. Although it looked highly amusing to see 4 drums being wheeled along instead of a patient, it proved to be very efficient in getting the job done. The couple also assisted in the hash house during the event which was greatly appreciated.
The thinking outside the square award – JOHN and PETER McCALLUM
“Making the most of your first aid kit”
AUMC 24 Hour Walk & SARA 12 Hour Rogaine, July 2011
Setters: Mike Round and Paul Hoopman
This couple headed out from Palmer in the nice warm sunshine intending to be back well before dark and therefore decided not to take any warm clothing with them. Several hours later they were still feeling good and finding plenty of controls so they decided to venture further out. Before they knew it the sun was setting and the temperature plummeting. They soldiered on, their shivering increasing by the minute. Now desperate to get warm they struck on an innovative idea. They dragged out their first aid kits, removed the snake bandages and proceeded to wrap them around their frigid arms. They comfortably made their way back to the hash house leaving passing motorists puzzled at the sight of two pedestrians with their arms wrapped up like mummies.
The making the most of your first aid kit award – AL and ZITA SANKAUSKAS
“Modern communication eventually traps us all”
AUMC 24 Hour Walk & SARA 12 Hour Rogaine, July 2011
Setters: Mike Round and Paul Hoopman
This person had never owned a mobile phone. While staying at Palmer for several days setting the rogaine he found it difficult contacting people as he had to use the local phone box. He thought that a mobile phone would probably make things easier. He purchased one and advised his co-setter Paul Hoopman of the number. Paul rang several times one night when he knew the guy was home but to his surprise there was no answer. Finally Paul received an email saying that he heard the phone ring but didn’t know how to answer it. He explained he was at the bottom of a steep learning curve having only just started to study the instruction manual.
This wasn’t the only communication problem he encountered. Paul knew the guy was home one evening as they had been chatting via email. He kept ringing the house number but frustratingly there was no answer. Paul finally emailed enquiring why he wouldn’t answer his phone. The vague answer came back that he had an
“issue” with his phone. It turned out his cordless phone had been left in the goat yard some distance from the house and couldn’t be heard ringing. It wasn’t found for a couple of days.
The modern communications award – MIKE ROUND
“The fast way to wear in a pair of boots”
AUMC 24 Hour Walk & SARA 12 Hour Rogaine, July 2011
Setters: Mike Round and Paul Hoopman
This person was excited about buying a new pair of boots for rogaining. After asking lots of questions and doing some research on the web, she chose a pair she thought she would like. She contacted SARA’s long term sponsor, Paddy Pallin who confirmed they had them in stock and she raced into the city where the ever efficient Dave Nicholson soon had her fitted out with a very comfortable pair of boots. Later when discussing her new prize with her rogaining partner it was suggested that she should wear them in before the event. No problem she replied, I wore them yesterday evening as well as in bed last night.
The fast way to wear in a pair of boots award – TARNYA VAN DRIEL
