armidale.info Ezine

Welcome to the October edition of the armidale.info ezine.  We trust each edition has something that is very relevant for you.  We welcome all your comments and contributions.

In this edition

p  St Peter’s Spring Gardens.  How to obtain a free ticket

p  What bird is this - as seen around the Armidale environs (go in draw to win free book)

p   Some physical activities for your health and enjoyment

p   armidale.info Calendar

Name the Bird  Below is a photo of a bird found in a nearby National Park.  Can you guess what it is?

Photo courtesy of Len Zell, Wild Discovery Guides™   Len has kindly offered a copy his book "The Kimberley Coast" to go in the draw as a prize for correctly naming the bird.   Click here to guess the name of the bird

Some activities for your health and enjoyment

As we continue to enjoy the spring weather (although a little like winter this week), it is very enticing to get out in the open air with the family and get some exercise.  There are a number of fantastic activities to support this:

Little Athletics and Amateur Athletics have begun their summer season.  If you are interested in attending, just go along and enjoy  http://www.armidale.info/sport.htm

Armidale Triathlon Series  Go to http://www.armidale.info/triathlon.htm to view the new season’s dates. Race 1 2005-2006 season is this Sunday on Sunday 23 Oct 2005 at the TAS Pool.  Registrations between 7.45-8.30am, racing starts 9.00am.

Hawkesbury Canoe Classic  We wish all competitors from Armidale all the best and have a great time this weekend.

Orienteering  These are conducted about once a month in various venues around Armidale, usually of a Sunday.  Orienteering is fantastic fun and you get to see lots of our fabulous countryside.  You get a map and off you go.  There are four levels of difficulty – blue, green, orange & red.  See explanations below from the NTOC website. 

The next events are listed below with the Schools event coming up next week.

See www.armidale.info/sport.htm for more information (just click on the link to Orienteering).

Blue:  Very easy navigation with the course following very distinct linear features (handrails such as roads, tracks, fences and well defined watercourses.  A compass is not required.  Controls are easy to see, frequent and placed at changes in direction.  Length approximately 2 km.

Green:  Easy navigation with the option to take a direct cross country route, or to follow a more indirect route using handrails.  Controls are on large obvious features close to handrails.  Use is made of contour handrails such as spurs and gullies.  Limited use of compass.  Length approximately 3 km. 

Orange:  Medium level navigation with route choice to control points that have good attack points (a big feature close to the control point) and catching features (a feature such as a fence or road that  ‘pulls you up’ when you have gone to far). A compass is essential.  Length 3 to 5 km. 

Red:  Difficult navigation with controls on small point features with no obvious attack points or catching features.  A compass is essential.  Length depends on age and fitness - 3 to 8 km.