This was another busy month for QORF. It started with the Active Outdoors Expo at Manly on October 1; and finished on October 28th, with the Queensland Outdoor Recreation Awards and announcement of winners in the QPWS 'It's Better Outdoors' Photography Competition. Thanks to all who came, were involved, provided support, or wanted to be part of it - your participation help us make these things happen!
While these are things that have gone - there are more issues for us to consider now. Please be involved in your future. On November 20 the consultation period for the Naturally Qld Master Plan for the Protected Area Estate, will close. Take the time to tell the Dept of Environment and Resource Management which things in this document are valuable and relevant for the outdoor sector, and which things they need to re-consider. (I have written some cheat notes for you to help with that process). Unless we have a voice, no one will listen!
Further, Sport and Recreation Services have released a draft document called 'Ahead of the Game' - a guiding document for the priorities for Sport and Recreation in the coming years. Again, be part of the consultation - have your say.
Journey safe in the coming month. Regards Donna
Queensland Outdoor Recreation Awards Dinner
Congratulations to the winners and finalists of the 2011 Queensland Outdoor Recreation Awards - recognising and rewarding excellence in the outdoor recreation community. The Awards celebrate individuals and organisations that have been successful in significantly improving outdoor recreation outcomes for participants and clients.
The 2011 Winners are:
The Queensland Government Outstanding Achievement (Individual) Award Winner: Kate Harrison - Senior Program Officer, Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
The Brisbane City Council Outstanding Achievement (Organisation) Award Winner: Orienteering Queensland
The K2 Basecamp Encouragement Award Winner: Harley Miles - 16 year old Outdoor Recreation Trainee, Laidley
The Queensland Government Encouraging Participation in Outdoor Recreation Award Winner: DETOUR Youth Program (Parkour), UnitingCare Community Townsville Winner: Wild Earth Adventures for the Homeless, Mission Australia's Roma House
The Queensland Government Department of Local Government & Planning Environmental Award Winner: Adventure Alternatives Outdoor Education Centre, Woodford
The Queensland Government Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service Excellence in Outdoor Instruction and Education Award Winner: Meebunn-bia Outdoor Education Centre, Rathdowney
The Queensland Outdoor Recreation Federation Government Achievement Award Winner: 'South East Queensland Outdoor Recreation Strategy', Department of Local Government & Planning
The Brisbane City Council Outdoor Event Award Winner: Oxfam Trailwalker Brisbane, Oxfam Australia
To celebrate the first 10 years of the Outdoor Recreation Awards we have created the Distinguished Achievers Award to acknowledge consistent winners of the Awards since their inception in 2002.
The first recipients of the Distinguished Achievers Award are:
The Queensland Outdoor Recreation Awards gratefully acknowledges the support of the following sponsors:
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service
Queensland Government Department of Communities
Queensland Government Department of Local Government & Planning
Brisbane City Council
K2 Basecamp
Red Rock Adventure Products
Queensland Outdoor Recreation Federation
And for those desperate to know ... K2 Basecamp Trivia Competition ANSWERS
QPWS "It's Better Outdoors" Photo Comp
The Overall Winner of the QPWS "It's Better Outdoors" Photo Comp 2011 is:
Star Gazing by Nick Thorp
The Category winners are:
On The Edge: Rock Hop, Ben Blanche
Learning Outdoors: Inquisitive Minds, Maria Bowering
Hitting The Trails: Ray of Light, Helga Dalla
Wet and sometimes Wild: Early Paddlers, Katrina Faccio
Natural Wonders: Moonlight, Lisa Frost & Early Morning, Sonja de Sterke
Under The Stars: Moonrise, Michael Reed
Student: Surf At Dawn, Emma Jackson
Chris Bray Photography Courses
Do you leave your camera on Auto mode? Not sure what aperture does, or how to control it? What are all those buttons, what lenses should I get, and what's exposure compensation and histograms anyway? Let award winning Australian Geographic photographer Chris Bray help you unlock the creative power of your DSLR camera in a friendly, small-group environment with 1-on-1 time, and start taking 'lucky photos' every time!
QORF encourages as many people and organisations as possible to provide comment, both supporting the positives in the document - tell them what you like; as well as suggestions for change based on clearly defined concerns. Offering solutions is always useful.
Please feel free to send specific feedback directly to QPWS on parkswildlifevision@derm.qld.gov.au and please also send a copy to QORF at ceo@qorf.org.au by November 15 so that we may incorporate your ideas into the QORF response.
READ MORE for a Summary of the Master Plan and things worth commenting on.
Ahead of the Game
... a consultation paper for a sport and recreation vision for Queensland.
Sport & Recreation want to know what's important to you and your community about sport and recreation. Maybe it's better places for sport and recreation, more opportunities to participate, improving support for clubs or ...
This is your chance to have your concerns and ideas are represented and to help guide the direction of sport and recreation into the future. READ MORE
NEW Recreation, Sport and Fitness Volunteer Portal
The Volunteer Portal, is a new resource to assist recreation organisations source volunteers, promote their events and advertise their volunteering opportunities.
Developed for the recreation, sport and fitness industry, the portal links directly to the Volunteering Queensland database to ensure that all volunteering opportunities promoted through the site can be viewed by anyone visiting Volunteering Queensland. Free registration is required to gain full access, and organisations which already have a log-in or membership of Volunteering Queensland, can easily access the portal.
Recreation organisations are encouraged to visit the site and list their events and volunteering opportunities, as well as promote the portal amongst their members and friends. Questions about the site or any usability issues can be directed to portal@skillsalliance.com.au
Funded by the Department of Communities, Sport and Recreation Services, the Volunteer Portal has been developed by the Fitness, Sport and Recreation Skills Alliance in conjunction with Volunteering Queensland and with industry input.
QORF TV "It's Only Natural"
Launched at the Visioning the Outdoors event in June, It's Only Natural can now be viewed on the the QORF You Tube channel, QORFTV. There is also a short 'trailer' version and a segment from a recent Great South East story on how Camping Makes You Rich featuring QORF CEO, Donna Little. Please feel free to embed or link to any of these on your own websites.
When: Saturday, November 5, 2011 Where: St Leo's College, University of Queensland, St Lucia Who: Brian Wattchow & Mike Brown (authors A Pedagogy of Place) Host: Glyn Thomas
Current outdoor education theory and practice has been shaped by the concepts of risk and adventure, and by psychological theories of personal and social development. This workshop will help participants to explore, and develop, new approaches to outdoor education that will help your participants to develop a stronger connection to, and appreciation of, the places where you run your program
Saturday 26th, November Be a part of the excitement and adventure in K2's 3rd Annual Camp Quality Treasure Hunt. Join as many as 150 teams adventuring through the CBD of Brisbane, undertaking exciting challenges, navigating themselves through a course finding clues and checkpoints to the finish line. READ MORE
Crossing The Strait Adventure Day
5 friends are paddling approx 350kms across Bass Strait in January to raise awareness and funds for Destiny Rescue - rescuing kids from slavery to find hope and a future.
Do your bit and attend an Adventure Day on the 5th November at Nudgee Beach Reserve. Most activities will be gold coin, mountain biking and kayak tours $5-$8, or a $20 wristband for all the activities you like!
Why are we doing this? Paddling Bass Strait is a huge challenge but so is rescuing kids from slavery. READ MORE - Download the Flyer - Help us out!
Interpreter Service Funding Available
The Interpreter Services Program aims to encourage State Level Sport and Recreation Organisations to expand their services to the deaf and hearing impaired community within Queensland, and to provide clients access to their services through the use of interpreters ... READ MORE (Program Guidelines) and download the Application Form
FOOL's Forum 2011
The Facilitators of Outdoor Learning (FOOL's) Forum is an opportunity to share strategies relating to facilitating outdoor learning - personal development, outdoor pursuits, environmental education - the forum ia an opportunity to share. Date: Thursday 1 - Friday 2 December Venue: Holloways Beach Environmental Education Centre READ MORE
A very successful event that kicked off with a presentation from Stuart Trueman on his epic adventure paddling around Australia at the Tallebudgera Recreation Centre and culminated with practical sessions on the water at Currumbin Creek. Note: 2012 National Sea Kayak Symposium on the 26th - 28th October READ MORE
Outdoor Expo - Wrapped Up
On Saturday October 1 2011, nearly 1000 mums, dads, kids and energetic adults came along to the Active Outdoors Expo at Manly Bayside Park. This event celebrates the outdoors in a festival environment where families and individuals have the opportunity to see the diverse and interesting opportunities available in our outdoor spaces. The Expo provides a chance to try out a range of outdoor recreation activities for free ... READ latest Press Release
Active Education App If you provide services to the education sector, this new smart phone app could be the place to be seen. FREE to QORF members. READ MORE
Please contact Natalie at Active Education directly on (03) 9845 1504 to follow up on this offer
"Stickies!" - little reminders and other interesting stuff!
$100,000 up for grabs to raise awareness of Queensland's natural resources READ MORE
Training Opportunities
Seminars, Webinars & Workshops
Volunteering Qld Webinars Free professional development webinars ... READ MORE
Outdoors Queensland Online Calendar Training courses and outdoor events READ MORE
Grants & Funding
Click image for more Funding info
Interpreter Services Program encourages State Level Sport and Recreation Organisations (SLO) to expand their services to the deaf and hearing impaired community. Download the Application Form Applications close 30 March 2012
SunSmart Grant Scheme Developed by Cancer Council Queensland and Queensland Health, to assist organisations who have limited funds to work towards sun safety and to support skin cancer prevention. READ MORE - further information, application guidelines and downloadable resources
QRAA Disaster Assistance Fund To help non-profit organisations cover the costs associated with cleaning and restoration activities following the January 2011 floods. Extended until 31 January 2012
Sport and Recreation Funding for the development of opportunities for people to participate in sport and active recreation.
Please note: Some Sport & Recreation Funding Programs are currently On Hold - check on the Department of Communities Funding web page
Brisbane City Council Grants Brisbane City Council's grants programs provide funding to help local non-profit community groups to develop and improve services in Brisbane.
Important Date Claimers
Meebunn-Bia Community Open Day Date: Saturday November 5 Venue: Meebunnbia-bia OEC READ MORE
Place Based Outdoor Education: A Practitioner's Workshop Date: Saturday November 5 Venue: St Leo's College, UQ, St Lucia READ MORE
K2 Camp Quality Treasure Hunt Date: Saturday 26th November 2011 Venue: Brisbane City READ MORE
FOOL's Forum The Facilitators of Outdoor Learning Forum is an opportunity to share strategies relating to facilitating outdoor learning. Date: Thursday 1 - Friday 2 December Venue: Holloways Beach Environmental Education Centre READ MORE
17th National Outdoor Education Conference Theme: The Next Step... Venue: University of Canberra Dates: 16-18th January, 2012 Note: Standard registration fees until 12th December (late fees apply after 12th Dec). Download NOEC17 Brochure
Present at NOEC READ MORE on how to submit your Expression of Interest
QORF Proudly supported by the Department of Communities, Sport and Recreation Services
