QORF eNews November 2017
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Summer is coming!
With summer on its way, it's time to start thinking about getting outdoors and what you will be doing over the holidays. Check out our Places To Go, Family Camping, Bushwalking and other activity pages for inspiration - and why not do our simple survey on the types of places you like to go camping:
A summer in Queensland can mean long lazy days relaxing on the beach or in the bush - and it also means doing it safely .. the days will get longer, the sun brighter and air muggier - so please take care of each other and think about: checking the weather before you go; taking care with the BBQ and camp fire; using sunscreen properly; finding shade during the hottest time of the day; avoiding insects like mosquitoes and ticks; swimming between the flags; being snake aware; driving safely ...
Check out these resources for tips and reminders: Outdoor Safety, Bushfire Prepared?, Weather & Tides, Park Alerts, and Apps for Outdoors
Sufferfest (noun) - an activity where all participants ache, agonize, and endure… but through co-misery and cohesiveness will have experienced a grand time
Queenslanders seem to enjoy a good sufferfest – every stinking hot summer day, we cannot restrain ourselves from reminding each other exactly how bad the weather is, although it is really all relative. Some people enjoy sitting at an event and continually remarking to their friends how hot it is, apparently forgetting that they could simply stand up and leave if it were really so intolerable.
Many outdoor experiences are effectively sufferfests. At the Outdoors Queensland Awards recently, we heard all about a sufferfest on the Iditarod Trail from Troy Szczurkowski. People participate in events like Oxfam Trailwalker, Cycle Queensland, and canoe marathons, and in the same breath will regale us with stories of both extreme suffering and extreme achievement.
Queensland has just suffered its way through an election. During the last few weeks, candidates of all political persuasions have put themselves through the wringer trying to explain policies and convince us why they should be elected.
At the time of writing, we are collectively enduring the situation of not knowing for sure who will form government and wondering how that will work for the next term of government.
Congratulations to those who have been (or will be) elected. When implementing policy with potential to affect the outdoor sector, I urge every elected representative to take the time to consider the outdoors and the election position statement that QORF distributed prior to the election. That might result in more good things as a result of the election.
If decisions are made with that lens in place, things can improve for the outdoors and for all people of Queensland – the alternative is that the outdoors is ignored when decisions are made, and we endure needless suffering without any of the participants having a grand time.
Yours in the outdoors,
Dom
Dom Courtney, Executive Officer
Election Policy Statement
In preparation for the recent state election QORF prepared and distributed an 'outdoor recreation policy statement' - the key message being: Outdoor activities deliver significant economic benefits to Queensland ... Read Full Statement
Order yours today!
While most of the print run has been allocated, we do have a number of extra copies of the QORF 2018 Wall Planner still available. To order a copy go to ... Order Wall Planner
Member eNewsletters
Did you know that we publish our Green Circle Member eNewsletters on the QORF website? NO! So long as your eNews includes an option to View Online we'll publish yours too! ... eNewsletters
Member Surveys
New Green Circle member surveys conducted over the last few months: the Outdoors Queensland Awards 2017 and the Brand Reach & Effectiveness surveys. Go to Surveys read the reports
Do you need volunteers to help run your event or activity? Let us know and we'll help put out the call! Email industry@qorf.org.au
Event Traffic Management
Transport and Main Roads has introduced the Event Traffic Marshal (ETM) scheme, an alternative option for traffic control in low speed / low risk environments at sporting and community events. ... Read More
Physical Activity Guidelines
Children (<5 yrs): the Australian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years (Birth to 5 years) show there is an important relationship between how much sleep, sedentary behaviour and physical activity young children get in a 24-hour period. Read More
Helmet Survey
When it comes to relaxing laws, it's not one-size-fits-all! A survey of almost 20,000 people has found that nearly two-thirds don’t believe you should have to wear a helmet every time you ride a bike in Australia. Read More
Noosa World Surfing Reserve
A four-kilometre stretch of surf breaks at Noosa on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast has officially been declared the 10th World Surfing Reserve.
Read More
MTBA NSO Recognition
Mountain Bike Australia (MTBA) has been officially recognised as a National Sporting Organisation (NSO) by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC).
Read More
Hiking with Beginners
Everyone starts out as a beginner hiker but not everyone has a close friend or relative that can coach them on the basics of hiking. here are 14 things to consider. Read More
Coming Events
Events coming up in the next month or so - International Day of People with Disability (Dec 3), the Australian Mountain Bike Summit (Dec 4), International Volunteer Day (Dec 5), Outdoor Recreation in the City Forum (Dec 13, Brisbane) and coming up in 2018 International Womens Day on March 8. See below for more events in 2018.
Do you host events? Our resources page on Event Management might have what you need! Find out!
Outdoor Recreation in the City
Understanding that “outdoor recreation doesn’t just happen in the bush“ QORF is hosting a forum to look at the issues and the opportunities. Brisbane, Dec 13
Learn More
Visioning the Outdoors
Visioning the Outdoors Film and Photo Comp 2018 will be opening for entries in mid December. Get outdoors over the summer with camera in hand ...
Learn More
NOEC 2018
National Outdoor Education Conference 2018 "Wisdom of the Past – Exploring the Future" Hobart, April 9-12
Learn More
8th IATC
8th International Adventure Therapy Conference. "Expanding the Circles"
New South Wales, Aug 29 - Sept 2
Learn More
New on the Website
Family Camping, resources for getting outdoors with your kids; Governance a new page for organisations; updates to Event Management; and a new featured knot for climbers, sailors and campers, the Clove Hitch.
If you have any suggestions for new or improved content please email industry@qorf.org.au.
Do you want to share a story, a good outdoorsy blog, a useful resource or more with our audience ... simply go to the (I WANT TO...) SUBMIT page and follow the prompts!.
What's On
The online calendar of What's On Activities, Events, Training & Workshops
If you have an event, public training opportunity, open day, adventure race, workshop or conference coming up soon, lets us know by Submitting Your Event and we will promote it in the What's On calendar.
Jobs
Several new jobs are listed on our Jobs Available page in the Industry / Jobs & Careers section
Looking for a job and want to let people know - promote yourself on Jobs Wanted
Connect With Us
With the ever increasing importance
of social media as a marketing tool and way of keeping in touch, QORF is developing a solid social media presence. We encourage you to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, subscribe to us on YouTube,
follow us on Instagram and follow us on LinkedIn.
LIKE, FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE to us and we will reciprocate!! A good way to keep in touch and be more effective.
On being a QORF member!
As a QORF member you have a choice to make – sit back and hope things work out, or – much better – get involved! Learn more about Getting Involved and Making Connections
Member Opportunities
If you have jobs to fill, gear to sell, links & eNewsletters to share, events to promote or if you want to write a review, tell us a story, or make a suggestion; send us the details and we'll put it all online.
New Member
Welcome aboard to new QORF Green Circle Member, Maranatha Recreation Camp.
Go to the Membership section to become a QORF Green Circle Member today. New members will be acknowledged here, on the QORF home page and on our social media platforms.
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