This week, with the permission of land managers Cornish Hill Management Committee, we raked an existing minor track that leads up through the pines to the POC entry station site, adjacent to the Thomas’ Lookout car park. This will greatly enhance route selection for some courses. GPSing that track will finalise map content.
Weather permitting, by week’s end we will have brush cut the brambles alongside the track near the car park. We will also try and brush cut more brambles to give better access to the adjacent Bonnard’s Mine historic features. Bonnards and the nearby Cornish Miners’ Monument are part of Cornish Hill’s Mining Heritage Trail.
The artwork for the Start / Finish entry station sign is being proofed by supplier GlassMetal Industries. The sign is modeled on the ACT Orienteering permanent course entry stations, however we have one printed panel rather than two.
GlassMetal Industries is also proofing the artwork for the small signs to go on the control marker posts.
Some posts will have an additional sign panel with a QR code to take you to information on a nearby feature. These will be created over the next few weeks.
The courses planning is complete. 4 courses are offered.
Short course
Example of POC control marker sign
The Short course is 1.1km and navigationally very easy using tracks throughout. A great introductory course not only to orienteering but also to Cornish Hill Reserve. It features an extended view over the lower parts of the reserve right through to Gale and Gusto turbines spinning at the Hepburn Wind farm.
Moderate course
The 2.2km Moderate course is easy with a touches of challenge thrown in as some controls are just off the tracks. However they are easily accessible. This course visits more of the historic features that abound on Cornish Hill. There may be second QR code on the control marker post and snapping that will bring up information on the adjacent feature.
Long course
At 2. 8km the Long course is similar in character to the Moderate. However, it requires more thinking about route choice and more concentration on navigating your chosen route. This course introduces you to most areas of Cornish Hill Reserve.
DIY course
You’ve mastered the 3 line courses, now you plan your own course. This one shows all the control sites and you can choose which ones to visit and their sequence. Make it as easy or hard as you like.
In orienteering this is called a scatter course if all controls are of equal value or a score course if control values differ according to difficulty.
You do not have to do them all. You can come back time and again and make up a fresh challenge for yourself.
Project manager Ken Dowling met with two teachers from Wesley College Clunes Campus today to discuss potential use of the Permanent Orienteering Course (POC) for school navigation training.
Their introduction to Cornish Hill could hardly be better with a pleasantly warm autumn day. Gael and Gusto were clearly in view from one of the proposed control sites.
Their first use is likely to be in a few months and will possibly be the first secondary school use. One of our project aims is to encourage use by primary and secondary schools. If using the POC courses, no equipment is required by school classes other than the map and pencil or pen. We provide a pdf of the map with relevant course. The school then prints as many copies as needed.
Our base map
Our draft h map using orienteering symbols & colours
Ken & Craig of Mens Shed, loading the dressed posts
Daylesford Men’s Shed took on the task of dressing, shaping the top and chamfering the edges of our 20 cypress pine posts. These will be used as our control markers (check points) for the various courses.
As I got to 5m from the pile in the Men’s Shed, the aroma wafted over me. There might have been some partner eyebrows raised when the Mens Shed guys got home that night bearing the after shaving aroma of the cypress pines – even better than Norsca!
Another type of post
ACT Orienteering Start/Finish sign
The original design of the entry point signs has been changed in favour of the signs used by ACT Orienteering for their permanent course entry stations.
These are noticeable, concise and look good. There will be one at the start point adjacent to the Cornish Hill lookout. There may be another one in, or adjacent to, the Daylesford Community Park to direct would be orienteering course users to the lookout.
We are delighted to acknowledge the funding bodies that make this project possible.
to be announced
Daylesford District Community Bank
Hepburn Shire Council
Overview
In liaison with Cornish Hill Committee of Management (CHCM) and Friends of Cornish Hill (FoCH), Eureka Orienteers Inc is constructing a Permanent Orienteering Course (POC) on Cornish Hill Reserve, Daylesford.
POCs provide informal access at any time by individuals, families, schools, groups, seeking an accessible outdoor activity that is fun and challenging.
And here is an 8 minute British video to show how it can work. Note that the course shown does not use a smart device app.
Experiencing a POC
What is special about this POC?
Use smart devices or printed maps
,Youth and current generation families’ familiarity with their smart device (mobile, tab…) along with use of QR code technology, encourages have-a-go. Thus participants are exposed to an easy though challenging, outdoor activity along with the possibility of learning about the historical and natural features of the Cornish Hill Reserve.
This is effected through an app providing a screen map as an alternative to printed maps. The app also records, via QR code, their presence at each control marker post. Upon completion of the course they can see their attainment online.
The alternative printed maps and control cards will be available via the nearby Visitor information Centre.
Accommodating colour vision impairment
A version of the printed map will accommodate at least the the most prevalent form of colour impairment being deuteranopia (weak green) and if possible also protanopia (weak red).
Gender equality
There is no barrier in terms of gender. Orienteering has always been welcoming to all genders yet we note more men than women participate.
The use of smart device apps may well see more females participate than would otherwise be the case. Orienteering Victoria’s affirmative action was in action recently in Daylesford where a women’s training camp was held.
Working with the local community
This projects works with our community as follows;
In partnership with Cornish Hill Committee of Management (CHCM) and Friends of Cornish Hill (FoCH), each POC marker post that is close to a historic or natural feature will display an additional QR code that takes a smart device user to information about that feature.
A special course will be provided for users of the Daylesford Visitor Information Centre Trail Rider that allows less mobile users to participate.
The Daylesford Men’s Shed is being contracted to do the dressing and preparation of the cedar POC marker posts.
With three exceptions, purchases of goods and services are from Daylesford.
Two goods and services are not available in Daylesford. Thus the printing will be in Ballarat, still our region. The vandal resistant signage will be produced in Geelong, a regional centre.
The graphic design service is undertaken by a member of the orienteering community because he is very familiar with the relevant design practices.
Daylesford Orienteering Project 