Australian Rogaining Association

This has been recently discussed by various state technical reps by e-mail. Unfortunately it's not very easy to pull out the separate responses from individuals, so I've just pasted it below.


From: Ricky Thackray
The below (second) proposal would rule out junior teams in WA. The issue we discussed in WA was not one of maturity; it was whether the other team member could go for help in an emergency. Clearly a teenager has the capability to do this.

Ricky

> From: Glenn Bridgart
> Date: Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:45:39 +1000
>
> David:
>
> It seems to me that Gill's suggestion below is certainly in the right direction, but I wonder if it goes far enough. Whilst some 14 yr olds are mature, many are not and I doubt that they should be relied on in an emergency situation. Two other possiblities are: One, to modify Gill's suggestion below so that the requirement for any team with a member less than 14 yrs is that there should one member over 18 yrs and one over sixteen years. Secondly, to change the rule altogether and require all teams to have (a minimum of) two members over seventeen years old.
>
> Glenn
>
>
> > David Baldwin wrote:
> >
> > All,
> > > From: Richard Robinson
> > > I agree it is a potential gap and propose that this be referred to the
> > > ARA Technical Subcommittee to address as part of the next review of
> > > the Technical Regulations.
> > >
> > > *Action*: David Baldwin
> > >
> > > Richard
> > >
> > There has also been some discussion of this issue on the ARA forums. In
> > my opinion a better place to maintain a record of such conversations
> > since they don't get lost and are easier to reference. It also helps to
> > have a meaningful subject line - you'd be doing well to track down this
> > conversation even if you did keep a record in your mail archive!
> >
> > http://rogaine.asn.au/Forums/3-Discussion/26-How-young-is-too-young.html
> >
> > I'll give people a few days to add their own perspective to that topic,
> > then post a summary of anything not covered for posterity. There are
> > some other items in the Technical forum you may wish to comment on also.
> >
> > I agree that an extreme interpretation of the rule could result in an
> > unsafe situation, especially in a bush event in a remote area. The NSW
> > wording is a pretty good solution. At any event there is scope for rules
> > to be varied at the discretion of the organizer, preferably with
> > reference to the association committee.
> >
> > Thanks, David.
> > >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > *From:* Gill Fowler
> > > *Sent:* Thursday, 15 July 2010 08:24
> > >
> > > Dear all ARA Coucillors and Reps,
> > >
> > > NSWRA would like to raise discussion regarding one of the ARA rules,
> > > and ask whether any other states have needed to use their discression
> > > on this item?
> > >
> > > Rule 2 currently states: "A team that has a member under fourteen
> > > years of age shall also have a member eighteen years of age or over."
> >
> > >
> > > We currently have concern with this rule as theoretically it allows an
> > > 18 year old to strap a 6 months old baby to their back and say they
> > > are a team. We haven't has this happen yet, but there have been two
> > > person teams where one member has been very young. It has been
> > > suggested by some people in our Association thst we add our own
> > > addition to this rule for all future NSWRA bush events.
> > >
> > > /For bush events: If a team with one or more members less than 14
> > > years of age must also comprise of one member over 18 years and one
> > > other member over 14 years./
> > > //
> > > Do any of the other states have any views on this?
> > >
> > > Regards
> > > Gill

Are we genuinely concerned for a team's safety or is it because we want to be legally covered? I submit that there is a danger in having too many rules, that in trying to regulate for safety we will inadvertently prevent rogaining from being an enjoyable family activity. Instead, we should strongly advise against teams with only one 'responsible' adult going to remote checkpoints or on lightly travelled routes. But then we should rely on participants' own sense of responsibility and care for their own safety, as stressed in the waivers people sign when they register. I would be very sad if I was told I could not take my twelve year old niece on an eight hour event. But even when rogaining with other adults, for me there is a dynamic to a team sport that far exceeds simply being able to look out for one another. That's why I'm glad rogaining is a team sport, not because it's safer.

Last year I did a 3 hour rogaine with my wife (not a rogainer), 4 year old and 1 year old. It was basically a pleasant walk through the bush as a family. We stopped for a picnic lunch and had to carry the kids a bit, but it was fun. We never got more than 2 km's from the HH and it was flat terrain.

This year I was thinking of doing the Toowoomba Metrogaine with my family. My wife doesn't want to do it, which leaves me wondering if I could take the (now) 5 year old and 3 year old on my own. However the rules don't permit it, and I must admit I'm not sure I'd want to try. Regardless, I think the rules could be relaxed a little for metrogaines.