Annual Report 2012
Queensland Outdoor Recreation Federation Inc.
Presented to members at the QORF Annual General Meeting,
Sports House, Milton, March 14th 2013
Ben Blanche, Wyaralong Night
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Front Cover image ‘Under the Stars’ category; QPWS ‘It’s Better Outdoors’ Photography Competition
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Mission
QORF’s purpose is to raise the profile, and develop capacity and opportunity for out-door recreation in Queensland. This is done through representation of members and member groups, promotion of mem-bers and outdoor activities, advocacy with
government and land/water managers, and education of members and the community.
QORF’s Values
The Queensland Outdoor Recreation Fed-eration encourages the opportunity for all people to recreate outdoors and values:
The Natural Environment
For its multiple intrinsic values including ecological, geological, physical, cultural, heritage and as a space for outdoor ac-tivities to occur.
Diversity
Of places, activities, experiences and people.
Access
To land and water that is relevant to outdoor activities and proximal to all.
Sustainability
Of the outdoor sector and of the envi-ronment.
Professionalism
As demonstrated through our actions and interactions with others.
Relationships
Positive interactions with our stakehold-ers and with the environment.
The Outdoor Community
QORF was established to be the peak body
representing the interests of the outdoor
community in Queensland. To be inclusive,
the outdoor community refers to all those
interacting with the outdoor environment to
conduct outdoor recreation activities, as
well as those utilising nature based space
or activity for the purposes of education,
tourism, personal or team development,
adventure based therapy, or other related,
proactive outcomes.
Subsequently, QORF represents the opin-
ions and needs of diverse members, and its
role is to ensure those divergent needs are
all considered.
Objectives of QORF
To represent the views and needs of the
outdoor community to other industries
and all levels of government;
To facilitate communication between
stakeholders within the outdoor commu-
nity and external interest groups;
To raise awareness of the value and
benefits of participation in outdoor activi-
ties;
To develop strategies and actions on key
issues affecting participation in outdoor
activities, and to work with government in
doing so;
To encourage and facilitate protection of
the full diversity of Outdoor Recreation
settings;
To identify and communicate the needs
of the outdoor community and facilitate
access to natural resources that meet
those needs;
To encourage planning and manage-
ment for ecologically sustainable outdoor
activities;
To promote safety and quality experienc-
es within the outdoor community;
To encourage organisational develop-
ment to enhance the delivery of services
that are appropriate, equitable and of a
high standard;
WHO WE ARE
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To promote best practice in the standard
and quality of leadership and instruction
through the support of quality training;
To promote the Queensland Outdoor
Recreation Federation Inc and its objec-
tives.
Introduction
This Annual Report and Accounts are for the
period January 1st 2012 to December 31st
2012. The document is prepared for the
Queensland Outdoor Recreation Federation
Incorporated (QORF). QORF is the peak
body representing the interests of the out-
door community in Queensland. Members
of QORF include:
state activity associations (e.g. Queens-land Canoeing, Bicycle Qld, Dive Qld);
state not-for-profit community organisa-tions (e.g. Boys Brigade, Scouts Qld);
state interest groups and professional as-sociations (e.g. Outdoor Educators’ Asso-ciation of Qld);
commercial operators of education and recreation programs;
local governments;
educational establishments (schools, TAFE’s, Universities);
sport and recreation, and outdoor educa-tion centres; and
individuals.
Therefore, QORF represents the interests of: club based outdoor recreation;
not for profit community organisations;
centre or facility-based outdoor education and outdoor recreation;
commercial operators;
independent recreation participants;
school and tertiary outdoor educators.
Support
The operations of QORF were made pos-sible during 2012 through the support pro-vided by the Queensland State Govern-ment Department of National Parks, Rec-reation, Sport and Racing.
Association Governance
The affairs of the Association are adminis-
tered by a Management Committee elect-
ed from the Ordinary and Associate Mem-
ber categories, and may include up to two
co-opted members. The role of the Man-
agement Committee is to oversee the or-
ganisation within the approved budget and
in accordance with QORF’s stated objec-
tives, rules, policies and procedures. The
Management Committee’s job is to govern
the organisation.
2012 Management Committee Members: Andrew Boyle - President
Ian Heath - Vice President
Joanna Robey - Treasurer
Anne Wilson - Secretary
Hyanho Moser
Mark Thurgood
Dale Byrne
Helen Whelan - coopted
Phil Scott - coopted
QORF Staff
Donna Little - Chief Executive
Mark Squires - Industry Development
Ben Rothwell - Projects & NOLRS
Ann Despott - Administration
Alana Thomson - Projects (casual)
Carly Thompson - Projects (part time)
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Membership
There are three categories of membership of
the federation:
Ordinary membership is open to organisa-
tions, councils, collectives or associations
that represent a significant portion of the in-
dustry (or a selective component of the in-
dustry) in Queensland.
Associate membership is open to individu-
als, interest groups, associations, compa-
nies or registered businesses which do not
represent a significant proportion of the in-
dustry in Qld but who are involved and /or
interested in the outdoor recreation industry.
Life membership is conferred upon individu-
als who have rendered distinguished service
to the Association and/or to the wider out-
door recreation community in Queensland. A
resolution must be passed by a majority of
voting members at a General Meeting to be-
stow life membership.
2012 Ordinary Members
Adventist Outdoors
Australian Caravan Club Ltd
Australian Climbing Association (QLD) Inc
Australian Rafting Federation INC.
Australian Trail Horse Riders Association
Bicycle Queensland
Bushwalking Queensland Inc
Dive Queensland
Four Wheel Drive Queensland
Girl Guides Queensland
Model Aeronautical Association Of Queens-
land Inc
Motorcycling Queensland
Orienteering Queensland
Outdoor Educators' Association Of Queens-
land
PCYC Queensland - Bornhoffen
Queensland Canoeing Inc.
Queensland Dragon Boat Federation
Queensland Endurance Riders Association
Queensland Horse Council
Queensland Rogaine Association
Scouts Queensland
FSR Skills Alliance
The Bicentennial National Trail Ltd
The Boys' Brigade Queeensland
The Duke Of Edinburgh's Award
Trail Running Association Of Queensland
Triathlon Queensland
YMCA Of Brisbane
2012 Associate Members
Activity and Tour Providers
Adrenalin Climbing Gym
Adventure Alternatives
Beach And Bush Tours Pty Ltd
Bike On Australia
Bushranger Bikes Tours
Clarence River Canoes
Elanda Point Canoe Company Plus
Equathon Horse Riding
Horizon Guides
In2Adventure
Oxfam Trailwalker Brisbane
Ozball Pty Ltd
Paramount Adventure Centre
Phoenix Adventure
Pinnacle Sports
Riverlife Adventure Centre
Slackline Australia Pty Ltd
Snorkel Safari Brisbane
Sports Tuition Pty Ltd
Synergy Applied Adventure
Tailwind Promotions
Tait's Wongabel Stables
Total Adventures
Two Wheel Promotions
Urban Climb
Vertec Adventure
Wilderness Expeditions
Campsites, Outdoor Education and/or
Conference Centres
Alexandra Park Conference Centre
Apex Camp Mudjimba
Camp Moogerah
Camp Somerset
Christian Youth Camps Burleigh Heads
Echo Adventure & Cultural Camp
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Individuals
Alana Thomson Dan Rush Dave Batt David George Thomas Edward Qian Experience Altitude Jan Scudamore Jennifer Wallace Jo Robey Marie Patamise Sandra Hearnden Scott Shearer Not for Profit Clubs/Associations
Brisbane Parkour Association Communify FNQuadriders Inc. Gap Creek Trails Alliance Mary Valley Country Melanoma Awareness Foundation Tableland Outdoor Recreation Association The Spot Community Services Tinaroo Canoe Club Toyota Landcruiser Club (Qld) Inc. Outdoor Training Providers
4WDrive Training Solutions Asset Training Australia Bush Lore Australia Go Ride A Wave P/L Griffith University Horseridingcoach.com Outdoor Training College P7Offroad Pty Ltd Rescue Training Group Pty Ltd Roadie Rob's Bicycle School Sunshine Coast TAFE The Outlook Training & Resource Centre Tropical North Queensland TAFE Outdoor Retreats and Resorts
Mount Barney Lodge Retailers/Suppliers
Catering By Delicious K2 Kickbike Australia Merino Country Outdoor Link Red Rock Adventure Products
Edmund Park Adventure Education
Emu Gully Adventure Education Group Inc
Higher Ground Australia Inc.
Ironbark Outdoor Education Centre
Kinchant Outdoor Education Centre
Kindilan Outdoor Education And Conference
Centre
Kokoda Challenge
Kroombit Park
Lions Camp Duckadang
Luther Heights Youth Camp
Maroon Outdoor Education Centre
Midginbil Hill Outdoor Education Centre
Organised Conferences
Outward Bound @ Inter-Action
QCCC Mapleton
Tallebudgera Beach Outdoor Education
School
Wildeco At Ewen Maddock Dam
Consultants/Ancillary Organisations
Co-Efficient
Evolve ... Keeping Kids On Track
John Wood Consultancy Services
Momentum (QLD) Pty Ltd
Montrose Access
OAMPS Insurance Brokers
Plato Enterprises T/a HMT Consulting
Project Nature-Ed
ROSS Planning Pty Ltd
Government Agencies
Brisbane City Council
Bundaberg Regional Council
Department Of National Parks, Recreation,
Sport & Racing
Fraser Coast Regional Council
Gold Coast City Council
Gympie Regional Council
Logan City Council
North Burnett Regional Council
Redland City Council
South Burnett Regional Council
Sunshine Coast Regional Council
Toowoomba Regional Council
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Schools and School Program Providers
Anglican Church Grammar School Ballon Outdoor Education Centre Bowen State High School Bremer State High School Brisbane Bayside State College Brisbane Boys' College Brisbane Girls Grammar School Brisbane Grammar School Outdoor Centre Cooloola Christian College Googa Outdoor Education Centre Gregory Terrace Outdoor Education Centre Hillbrook Anglican School Ignatius Park College Iona College Pacific Lutheran College Padua College The Cathedral School The Gap State High School The Rockhampton Grammar School Youth+
Life Member
Kathy Kingsford Robin Simson Brian Kross
President’s Report
In 2012 the QORF team continued to deliv-
er across a range of areas for the outdoor
sector in Queensland. The team comprised
of the core of Donna, Mark, Ben, Alana;
and Ann, who joined the team in April. All
contributed greatly to the ongoing success
of QORF.
The Management Committee this year saw
the addition of Dale Byrne who replaced
Eric Newmann. Dales experience in the
Dive industry has added to the diversity of
perspectives on the management commit-
tee.
What has QORF been up to?
Over the past 12 months QORF has contin-
ued its role of advocacy for the outdoor in-
dustry with continued contribution to issues
such as land and water access and train-
ing. QORF’s profile has continued to grow
and membership has steadily risen. Our
representation is requested on diverse rele-
vant committees and forums, and we have
engaged with groups throughout the state.
Working with the FSR Skills Alliance, we
have made some progress in terms of rais-
ing the training needs of our sector with
State Government and have seen a posi-
tive response from industry in the uptake of
Productivity Places Program and the Stra-
tegic Investment Fund. Although there is
more to be done in all these spaces, QORF
is making inroads with these important is-
sues.
This year also saw a change of govern-
ment. As a consequence a number of chal-
lenges and opportunities have opened up.
The merging of Sport and Recreation Ser-
vices and QPWS into the Department of
National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Rac-
ing has meant that a number of old net-
works and resources have disappeared but
new, different ones have replaced them.
QORF is working hard to ensure that Out-
door Recreation is seen as an important
part of Queensland life within these new
structures.
The QORF Awards Dinner was again a
great success with 160 people attending.
The photography competition this year saw
an increase in the number of photo’s sub-
mitted and the quality of the photos in 2012
was outstanding. This competition has be-
come a regular feature of the Awards din-
ner and both QORF and the Qld Parks and
Wildlife Service who sponsor the prizes for
this competition really appreciate the photo-
graphic contributions that are made.
WHAT WE DO
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In 2012, we expanded “The Visioning the
Outdoors” film night to include a Film com-
petition. It has been amazing to see how
quickly and wholeheartedly people have
embraced this event and how well it has
been received. It has, and will continue, to
give the wider outdoor community a real
sense of the diverse and eclectic nature of
outdoor recreation in Queensland and why
it is so important to so many people.
It is also important to note that QORF has
continued the administration of the NOLRS.
We don’t dictate what is included in this
service, nor do we set policy. We have
made a commitment to administer this reg-
istration scheme and are continuing to have
active involvement in the review and im-
provement of the registration system pro-
cess with the Outdoor Council of Australia
to try and make this a more credible and
accessible system. QORF has also contrib-
uted to the continuous improvement of the
National Training Package and is keeping
abreast of developments in the national ed-
ucation curriculum and its impacts on out-
door education.
Andrew Boyle
President
Secretary’s Report
Being a secretary of an association which
has enthusiastic, dedicated paid staff mem-
bers makes the job of being secretary very,
very easy. The QORF staff work together
as a team and take care of all the corre-
spondence, updating the web page/
facebook /memberships, co-ordinating
events, preparing of committee meeting
agendas, distribution of industry information
etc. In other associations these types of
tasks fall onto the shoulders of volunteers.
It is a credit to all members and staff that
QORF is in a position to be able to employ
both full time and part time staff.
QORF committee members volunteer their
time to attend regular meetings to ensure
the organisation remains on target to
achieve its mission, financially viable, and
respected by government, the community
and industry.
The management committee (MC) has had
a busy year to keep up with the progress
staff have made towards achieving QORF’s
mission to raise the profile, and develop
capacity and opportunity for outdoor recre-
ation in Queensland. The projects, pro-
grams and advocacy roles undertaken
throughout the year are clearly outlined for
all members in the monthly newsletters.
The scope of work being undertaken by
QORF extends beyond the knowledge and
expertise of any one committee member
and thus it is fortunate the MC is comprised
of a mix of people from varied back-
grounds. It is important the MC continues to
receive input from a range of people experi-
enced in the provision and development of
outdoor recreation both privately and from
within government. Thus I would encourage
all QORF members to consider being in-
volved and to nominate for a position on
the MC at some point of time.
It is with pleasure on behalf of all QORF
members I take this opportunity to say
“Thank You” to the staff namely Donna Lit-
tle, Mark Squires, Alana Thomson, Ben
Rothwell and Ann Despott, and to the
QORF MC members, Andrew Boyle, Ian
Heath, Jo Robey, Hyahno Moser, Phil
Scott, Mark Thurgood, Helen Whelan and
Dale Byrne.
Anne Wilson
Secretary
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Chief Executive Officers Report
As 2012 came to an end I reflected on the
achievements of the outdoor sector. This
was wider than a review of what occurred
for, or through, QORF in 2012, and was an
active consideration of where the sector lies
in the public consciousness; and how well
we function as a whole, and not just as vari-
ous parts. In many ways it was a good time
for these ponderings as 2012 had again pro-
vided substantive changes for Queensland
including:
a change of state government;
reduced budget/ funding opportunities
available through Federal, State and Lo-
cal Governments and agencies;
the loss of green infrastructure planners
and preventative health officers within
government;
the development of the National Curricu-
lum with outdoor recreation and educa-
tion identified only through the Health
and Physical Education curriculum;
the loss of Tropical North Institute of
TAFE as a provider of training for the out-
door sector;
the gain of recognition of the relevance of
outdoor activities as viable experiences
within the Protected Area Estate;
Qld Government acknowledgement of
the inherent value of outdoor activities
and programs in the lives of Queens-
landers;
The re-establishment of the word ‘recreation’ in a government department title; … and so on.
There are many things that impact on our
sector - weather, money, intent, free time,
access, training, educational imperatives,
social recognition, costs of transport, per-
ceptions of risk, compliance expectations
and political willingness to name a few. Not
all of these can be controlled by us, but we
can influence the majority - and we can act
to uphold excellence of service and engage-
ment regardless of the external context.
With that in mind I believe our sector
needs to remain true to its intent and con-
tinue to deliver and promote the wonderful
benefits of what we do and where we go.
We need to remind ourselves and others
that by being involved in outdoor activities,
individuals can:
Engage all our senses;
Find time and space for unstructured
play (not everything in life needs to be
framed as remediation or fitness);
Value and recognise the importance of
the natural environment – and the vari-
ous, constructed iterations of nature
that we find in more urban spaces;
Belong – with our friends, family,
peers, nature, self;
Be challenged and grow;
Build our resilience as well as our
physical, emotional, interpersonal, spir-
itual and mental selves;
Take a break from the everyday;
Learn to communicate better, take re-
sponsibility and live with the conse-
quences of our actions and choices;
Be inspired and in awe; be more inter-
ested in life, our world, others;
Learn better;
Live happier.
In 2013, QORF will focus on how we can
assist our sector – the recreational groups
and individuals, the outdoor educators, the
eco and adventure tourism providers, the
camps, commercial operators, not for prof-
it providers, trainers and youth developers
– to understand its strengths and sing its
shared praises. We will look back a little,
but importantly we will strive to look for-
ward and find ways to work together,
share and be a cohesive whole. We will
encourage you to remind others that while
the ‘mountains can speak for themselves’,
sometimes they speak more loudly and
have more to say when they are experi-
enced within a good program, with a great
group of people, through an effective
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event and/ or as an outcome of a compre-
hensive school based curriculum that helps
the individual through the journey.
Advocacy
We do a lot of this.
Sometimes we do it rather silently and for-
get to tell you how diligent we have been.
Often we ask for your input and assistance.
Sometimes we take an opportunity as it is
presented and act to the best of our ability
to represent your shared, and at times indi-
vidual, interests.
In 2012, we worked with key stakeholders
to raise the profile of the sector; to promote
our need for resources of place and space;
to support the development of policy and
infrastructure, signage and maintenance of
recreational trails; and to highlight the ben-
efits of learning outside the classroom, out-
door education, school camps and the vari-
ety experiential opportunities that kids
should have the chance to be involved in.
We lobbied for meaningful research so de-
cisions and policy can be informed by rigor-
ous data; we searched for solutions to the
constrictions that come when many people
are squeezed into small places and begin
to forget the benefits of connecting with the
natural world; and we lobbied to hold on to
training opportunities for outdoor leaders, to
improve the quality, quantity and consisten-
cy of that training and to improve the under-
lying resource of the National Training
Package for Outdoor Recreation.
We have some wins in this space. Increas-
ingly there is a bipartisan understanding
that outdoor recreation is valued in our
community – but we still need to bring it to
the forefront of decision making and have a
coordinated approach. Both the Minister
and Director General of National Parks,
Recreation, Sport and Racing (NPRSR)
have expressed their support for encourag-
ing people to be engaged in outdoor activi-
ties and are seeking solutions to enable
this process. In 2012 this led to the estab-
lishment of NPRSR DG Forums with activi-
ty representatives of our sector. This for-
malised opportunity for increased commu-
nications can take us farther down the path
of available space, coordinated access for
outdoor recreation and additional opportu-
nities and promotions.
In addition we continue to deliver Parks fo-
rums with QPWS both in Cairns and Bris-
bane; run a MTB Forum that includes in-
dustry, local council and state government
representatives; formally respond to gov-
ernment proposals that impact on our sec-
tor; organize events that raise the public
profile of outdoor activities and resources
(see below); contribute to discussions and
planning at local government level for out-
door recreation developments; deliver
presentations to groups, organisations and
stakeholders on the wider outdoor sector;
represent trail horse riders in some of their
engagements with Government; and lobby
for the Duke of Edinburgh program and the
volunteers who run the adventurous jour-
neys.
Importantly, 2012 also saw us initiate and
release a desk top study of the Value of
Outdoor Recreation for Queensland. This
work was done by Synergies Economics in
association with QORF, and was enabled
through the financial support of the
Queensland Government. It shows that out-
door recreation is very conservatively worth
$2Billion per year to the state; that outdoor
activities contribute strongly to avoided
health costs; and that there are numerous
qualitative benefits from participation, in-
cluding enhanced social capital. It also re-
affirms the lack of substantive quantifiable
data on which to measure our contributions
and reminds the reader that our qualitative
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worth is equally as valuable to the state and
that the way we are ‘measured’ needs to be
more expansive than fiscally.
Events/ Engagement
We have a goal of encouraging meaningful
public engagement events and promotions
for our sector. The rationale behind this is
that as a whole we gain greater credibility
and visibility through having community
awareness and participation.
In addition to our existing initiatives of Active
Outdoors Expo and the QPWS ‘It’s Better
Outdoors’ Photography Competition, in 2012
we successfully introduced two new pro-
grams. These were Visioning the Outdoors –
a short film competition that profiles outdoor
activities, experiences, organisations and/ or
stories; and Outdoor-tober, a social aware-
ness campaign that implores everyone to
get outdoors in the month of October (at
least) and appreciate the opportunities that
exist throughout the state.
Each of these activities will be running again
in 2013 and we would encourage you to find
ways to be involved. This might mean that
you lodge your activity details on the Out-
door-tober calendar inviting others to partici-
pate in an event; or you share what YOU will
personally be doing in that month to get out-
doors and active.
In 2012 we found that each of these events
touched someone new and there were mo-
ments of epiphany as members of the public
expressed their surprise at the range of out-
door opportunities available to them, or were
disappointed that the experiences they, or
their children, had in their school years were
not being replicated for children of today.
Every time we share our messages, there is
the chance to encourage someone else to
join in, to care about outdoor spaces, to
get their school involved in outdoor learn-
ing or to just get outdoors in their local en-
vironment or on their holiday.
QORF Staff
Effective delivery of service comes down
to the people who are the frontline of en-
gagement. For QORF, that means the
staff of our organisation, and each of them
has worked tirelessly throughout 2012 to
deliver services to our sector and stake-
holders. While we experienced some
change in personnel, what has been con-
sistent is the passion, commitment and
drive of individuals to offer quality of inter-
actions and to make a difference. With
that in mind, I would like to sincerely
acknowledge the contributions of the
QORF Staff:
Mark Squires, Industry Development,
Website Management and all round ‘go
to’ guy;
Ben Rothwell, Project Officer, NOLRS
Administrator and passionate seeker of
solutions;
Alana Thomson, Project Officer, Event
Coordinator (Visioning), Communica-
tions maestro – will masterfully give
anything a go; and
Ann Despott, Administration Officer/
Saviour and staff support – the one who
is always cheerful on the end of the
phone line.
In addition to these people, our office is
strengthened by the assistance of others
who contribute on an occasional basis,
complete specific tasks, help us under-
stand how to do some things better and
generally help out. I am hesitant to name
these people for fear of missing some out,
but in particular I would like to thank our
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occasional QORF employees and support-
ers – Carly Thompson (graphics and de-
sign); Helen Whelan (accounting); Lachlan
Ryan (Element Video Production); and An-
drew Graham (recreational trail master).
In addition, I thank our QORF Life Mem-
bers who support not only the sector but
also the Federation; and the QORF Man-
agement Committee, who are there to rep-
resent the sectors interests and to guide
the Federation in its actions and choices. If
you aren’t aware of these people, engage
with them. They are another voice and
communication channel for you, across a
range of environments.
Other Engagement
QORF maintains membership of the Out-
door Council of Australia (OCA) and carries
out secretariat functions for this organiza-
tion. In addition we administer the National
Outdoor Leader Registration Scheme
(NOLRS). In 2012 I continued as a board
member of the OCA in the role of Vice
President and have been working with Ser-
vice Skills Australia to ensure further na-
tional outdoor sector surveys that can help
record our workforce issues. I am also on
the board of the Fitness, Sport and Recrea-
tion Skills Alliance with whom QORF also
officially engages to secure sector relevant
opportunities for subsidised training.
A Final Word
I realise that across our sector there are
different reasons why you are involved, dif-
ferent services you provide, and different
programs that you run. But I believe that we
share an interest and concern that people
are increasingly less likely to be experienc-
ing nature in positive ways; that there is a
need to reconnect children, families and
communities with nature based areas and
pursuits; and that the removal of incentive,
opportunity and expectation to get outdoors
leads not only to a loss of the innocence
that comes with unstructured nature based
play (for young and old), but to a depletion
in our health and our capacity to value a
freedom to roam, the time to just be, and/
or the invigoration of adventurous explora-
tion and challenge.
Your involvement with QORF helps us to
promote this message, and we thank you
for your support, engagement and contribu-
tions.
Donna E. Little
Chief Executive Officer
Meetings
QORF staff attended or facilitated the fol-
lowing meetings in 2012:
Access Related
BVRT & BIT development
Mountain Bike Forums
Strategic Trails Design and Planning
Regional Landscape and Open Space
Advisory Committee (RLOSAC)
DLGP Updates
Sunshine Coast Great Ride Project
BCC, Kangaroo Point lighting upgrades
National Mountain Bike Championships
Slacklining in Brisbane city
QTIC, synergies between tourism and
greenspace requirements
NPRSR & the Nature Conservation Act
SEQ Outdoor Recreation Strategy
QPWS, mountain bike trails
SUMMARY OF 2012 ACTIVITIES
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Conferences, Forums &
Workshops
National Outdoor Education Confer-
ence
Sport and Rec Jobs Plan Conference
AABAT conference
Urban Research Seminar
Skills Alliance Conference
Parks Outdoor Recreation Forums
Marketing & Media
Olympic promotion
Outdoor-tober Logo
Lendlease
QORF & Brisbane Marketing
Parkour
Womensport Qld Media Training
Marketing and Sponsorship Workshop
Marketing - Avant Card
Member Liaison and Updates
OEAQ , Opportunities, Cairns
Adventists Outdoors, Risk Manage-
ment
Tallebudgera Beach School, Outdoor-
tober
Tropical North Institute of TAFE (TNIT)
Various members at the Parks Out-
door Recreation Forums
Griffith University, OD Overview
FSR Skills Alliance, Training
Emu Gully, NOLRS and Outdoor Is-
sues
MTB Forum
Scouts Queensland, Strategy
Experience Altitude, access
Duke of Edinburgh, training Issues
CYC Burleigh , Business Development
Paramount Adventure Centre, Training
PCYC, Partners in Sport and Recrea-
tion Breakfast
Slacklining Queensland, access
Communify, Active Outdoors Expo op-
portunities
Bicycle Qld, promotion of 9 day ride
Dept of Education, training options
TNIT , farewell to TNIT outdoor program
staff
Trinity Anglican School, training
MTB on the Tablelands
Kindilan OEC, Guides and ARC's
Canoeing Queensland
Miscellaneous
QTIC Breakfast
Wordpress Training
Skills Alliance Board Meetings
Good Practice Framework for Youth De-
velopment Launch, Surf Life Saving Qld
Sunsmart Outdoors, Cancer Council
Kx Management System
MYOB Training
Sport Awards, QSport
National Meetings
National Outdoor Sector Survey
OCA (various)
Outward Bound
SIS10
PLA update
International Conference 2017
NOLRS
NOLRS subcommittee / technical work-
ing groups
Online Databases - NOLRS/OCA
Projects
BVRT Report
BVRT Community Grant programme
ASC Multicultural Youth Partnership
Grant
West Wide Bay Burnett Trails Audit
QORF Events
Visioning the Outdoors
Griffith University student design project
Outdoor-tober
Banff Adventure Film Festival
QORF & LGAQ updates
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Outdoor-tober Launch
Active Outdoors Expo
Schonell Cinema debrief and planning
2013
Outdoor Recreation Awards Night
QSFT film workshop, EcoFlicks
Research
Phase 0 Workshop - recreation, sport
and the arts
Outdoor Sector Research
Synergy Economics, Economic Value
NOSS Development
Griffith University research possibilities
WILS project
Issues and Trends Outdoor Recreation
GBRMP Research
ICC Recreation Management Strategy
Sport & Recreation, NPRSR
ARC review
Tallebudgera Active Recreation Centre
Strategic Thinking
Qld Gov’t Website
Draft National Curriculum
Meetings with DG NPRSR
Horse riding in PAE, DG NPRSR
Post Budget Update
Get in the Game
Progressing DG Forums
Quarterly meetings A/DDG SRS
Standards & Training
Bushwalking Qld Qualifications
RPL Sessions
Teaching and Learning Network
PCYC Dukes Training Needs
Training for Sector
Duke of Edinburgh training
NOLRS & Training
Paddling Skill Sets, Queensland canoe-
ing
Private RTOs & partnerships with RTOs
Training for the Outdoor Sector
SIS10 Continuous Improvement
NOLRS Roping TWG
NOLRS Aquatic TWG
Skills Alliance Workforce Development
Strategic Planning
FieldWorx, Recreation update
Ministers Office, Min Reeves
Fiscal Value of Outdoor Recreation
QORF & SEQ Catchments
QSport, Strategic Thinking
RLOSAC
Outdoor Recreation and SEQ COM
NPAQ - future grwowth
Issues Outdoor Recreation
Minister Communities Breakfast
Skills Alliance Planning Meeting
Trails planning
NPAQ Updates & Developments
Mackay Tourism- Events
Visioning Sponsorship
Workshops
QORF hosted the following workshops, forums and meetings in 2012:
Industry Information Forum - WHS 2 Parks Outdoor Forums - Brisbane 2 Parks Outdoor Forums - Cairns Mountain Bike Forums
QORF staff attended the following work-
shops, expos and launches:
Motivational Interviewing, Heart Foun-
dation
Risk Management Forum
WBBSRS Forum, WBBROC
Climate Convergence Round Table,
UQ
HPE in Australian Schooling, UQ Hu-
man Movement Studies
Tourism Roundtable, SEQCOM Re-
gional
Education Resources Expo
OXFAM Trailwalker Volunteers
RV Futures Forum
Get in the Game
Queensland Canoeing Awards
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Conferences
QORF staff attended the following confer-
ences:
National Outdoor Education Conference AABAT Forum FSR Skills Alliance Conference Regional Tourism Roundtable
Other Services
Outdoor EXPO – October 2012 Letters of support for member organisa-
tions 2012 Wall Planner Sale of publications/conference pro-
ceedings relevant to outdoor recreation Regular e-newsletters and bulletins Ongoing development and updated in-
formation for the QORF Website Outdoor recreation consultation services Queensland Outdoor Recreation Awards
2012 QPWS It’s Better Outdoors Photo Com-
petition Inaugural Outdoor-tober 2012 Ongoing book sales through Online
Bookshop
Events
Visioning the Outdoors
Expanding on our film night from 2011,
2012 saw the introduction of ‘Visioning’ as
a short film competition. Thirty films were
submitted across the categories of Open,
Youth and Mobile Minute, with the winning
films, along with films of interest—and
QORF’s own Short Film ‘Live Outdoors’ -
shown at our Screening and Awards Night
on August 29th. This event held at the
Schonell Theatre, saw more than 150 peo-
ple come along to enjoy the films. Those
who couldn’t attend the night could still vote
for the People’s Choice Film; and all the
films are loaded on our YouTube channel -
QORFTV.
Winner - 3 Minute Youth: Bella the Super-
Dog - Amber Grant (12 yrs) from Buder-
im. Prizes: $300 cash (QORF), $300
voucher (Footgear), Oakley sunglasses
(OPSM).
Winner – 3 Minute Open: Connect - Roy
Devine from Cedar Creek. Prizes: $800
cash (QORF), $300 voucher (Footgear),
Oakley sunglasses (OPSM).
Highly Commended – 3 Minute Open:
The Ride - Corey Walker from Clear
Mountain. Prize: $250 cash (QORF).
SEQ Catchments Mobile Minute Winner:
Kangaroo Point Spaceline - Ugo Capoz-
zoli from South Brisbane. Prize: $250
cash (SEQ Catchments).
Commended SEQ Catchments Mobile
Minute: Mobile Minute Outdoors - 5th
Townsville Girl Guides Prize: $100
cash (SEQ Catchments).
People’s Choice Award: Maria Auditore,
Reigan Griffiths, Karen Kempster and
Karly Radford, of 5th Townsville Girl
Guides with 664 votes. Prizes: Cash
(QORF), Optimus Crux Lite stove.
(Paddy Pallin – Fortitude Valley).
Corey Walker, Ugo Capozzoli, Amber Grant, Roy Devine
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And a big thanks to our Visioning the Out-
doors sponsors
Active Outdoors Expo Held on October 6th at Bayside Park, Man-ly this was our largest Expo to date with 37 exhibitors, 16 activities for the public to try, 3 food vendors, a Smoothie Cycle and a coffee stand. Globetrekker, Redlands Kayak Tours and Tangalooma Island Resort all donated great raffle prizes which were drawn throughout the day.
This was a great day, with fine weather and fair seas - we just need more people to come along and be part of the fun.
Outdoor-tober 2012 saw us introduce a social awareness campaign called Outdoor-tober. Designed as a state wide reminder to that winter is over, major sporting commitments have just finished, and it’s great to get out-doors, Outdoor-tober has a dedicated web-
site where outdoor providers and land and water managers can let everyone know what they can be part of in the month of October. Launched by the Minister for National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing, Steve Dickson, who abseiled off Kangaroo Point cliffs with us early one morning, the annual event offers a great chance for us all to pro-mote what we do - and encourage more people to come along and have a try at get-ting active outdoors. Put your activities in the 2013 calendar now!
The Queensland Outdoor Recreation Awards Dinner 2012
Held at the Greek Club in West End, Bris-
bane 160 guests celebrat-
ed the achievements of
the individuals and organi-
sations nominated in the
eight award categories.
Our guest speaker this
year was John Cantor who
entertained the audience
with a description of his 2012 solo traverse
of the Brookes Range in Alaska. John is
also the first recipient of QORF’s Qld
Young Adventurer scholarship and an
Minister Steve Dickson at Kangaroo Point
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The Brisbane City Council, Outstanding
Achievement Award (Organisation).
Scouts Australia Institute of Training and
Adventure Alternatives.
The Scouts Australia Institute of Training
(SAIT) is a registered training organisation
that provides accredited courses in leader-
ship to youth and adult members of Scouts
Australia and as part of a strong commit-
ment to increasing quality outdoor activity
training.
Adventure Alternatives is a private fully self-
funded outdoor education facility that has
established a thriving business in just 5
years. Adventure Alternatives connects par-
ticipants with nature, enabling people to en-
gage with their surroundings and giving real
life experiences.
The K2 Basecamp Encouragement
Award.
Awarded to Nathan Sears, a Venturer Scout
from Capalaba who has earned the Australi-
an Scout Medallion, and his Bronze and
Silver Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
The FSR Skills Alliance Excellence in
Outdoor Instruction and Education
Award.
Awarded to the Edmund Rice Education
Flexible Learning Centre Network
(EREFLEC). Working with those excluded
from mainstream educational offerings ERE-
FLEC creates safe, engaging, relationship
based learning communities .
The Queensland Government Encourag-
ing Participation in Outdoor Recreation
Award.
Awarded to Motorcycling Queensland, for
the Queensland Moto Park at Wyaralong.
Since opening December 2011the Moto
Park has provided over 40kms of trail riding
circuits and six motocross tracks, for riders
2012 Award Winners
Ambassador for Outdoor-tober. We appre-
ciate his support and engagement with the
Federation and wish him well with his fu-
ture adventures.
Over the course of the Awards night, eight
awards were presented to honour the
achievements, innovation and profession-
alism of our the people and organisations
of our sector.
The Queensland Government Out-
standing Achievement (Individual)
Award. Awarded to Rebecca Fox who has
over twenty five years in the Outdoor Edu-
cation industry in roles ranging from facili-
tation, to education, to management. In
1999 Bec was employed by Guides
Queensland to manage and operate Kindi-
lan Outdoor Education and Conference
Centre. She has served the sector through
professional involvement with QORF, the
ACA, and various other bodies.
Minister Tim Mander & Rebecca Fox
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of all ages and skill levels and proven popu-
lar and well managed.
The Queensland Government Environ-
mental Award.
Awarded to the Logan City Council’s Logan
Community Trailcare Alliance. The Alliance
closes unsafe and poorly built illegal trails to
build sustainable trails that meet Interna-
tional Mountain Bike Association standards.
The group is comprised of local outdoor rec-
reation club members and involves various
branches from Council.
The Queensland Outdoor Recreation
Federation Government Achievement
Award.
Awarded to the Queensland Parks and
Wildlife Service (QPWS), for the 2012 Out-
door Recreation Operational Policies and
Memoranda of Understanding. The QPWS
has recognised the valuable contribution
recreation organisations and associations
can make to park management and has
shown leadership in collaborating to seek
consistent management decisions.
The Brisbane City Council Outdoor
Event Award.
Awarded to the Kokoda Challenge, organ-
ised by the Kokoda Challenge Association.
The Kokoda Challenge event is an annual,
gruelling cross country team event held
over 96km, with a time limit for completion
of 39 hours. It takes place in the Gold Coast
Hinterlands as an ongoing and permanent
legacy to our diggers.
A highlight of the evening was the QPWS
‘It’s Better Outdoors’ Photography Com-
petition sponsored by the Queensland
Parks & Wildlife Service. Six category win-
ners were selected along with best Student
Photo. From the many inspiring images
submitted, Ben Blanche’s ‘The Green
Room’ was selected as the QORF Best
Overall Photo Winner.
As with all of our events, it is important to
acknowledge the event partners and spon-
sors for their generous support in hosting
the 2012 Queensland Outdoor Recreation
Awards and the QPWS ‘It’s Better Out-
doors’ Photography Competition.
To you all, our sincere thanks.
‘The Green Room’ by Ben Blanche
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OUT AND ABOUT
Treasurers Report
As treasurer for the last three years I would
like to commend the efforts of the CEO
Donna Little for continuing to grow and de-
velop the organisation. QORF is in a strong
financial situation to support the develop-
ment of membership services, advocacy
and the outdoor recreation sector in
Queensland.
The 2012 Financial year saw a small de-
crease in income compared to 2011; this
was due to less event income, projects and
sponsorship. Overall there was only a dif-
ference of $16, 480 which is strong consid-
ering the economy during 2012. During this
time QORF has taken over the administra-
tion of the NOLRS registration on behalf of
the Outdoors Council Australia. The QORF
board determined this is a sound invest-
ment as a service to the outdoor sector na-
tionally. Expenditure increased from 2011
with further investment in staffing and pro-
motion of events, activities and the outdoor
sector. Yet the CEO and staff managed to
reduce expenditure on major events and
activities, without compromising on the pro-
fessional delivery, to ensure a profit was
generated at the end of the year.
The organisation is appreciative of the on-
going support provided by the Queensland
Government Department of National Parks,
Recreation, Sport and Racing. This funding
contributes to the development and servic-
ing of the outdoor recreation sector in
Queensland. The operating profit for 2012
was $26,274. The management committee
along with the CEO resolved that as the or-
ganisation had retained earnings equivalent
to one year’s operations in 2011, that in-
come generated should be reinvested back
into the delivery of services. This has been
accomplished with an increase in staffing
and delivery of services online, events, pro-
jects, seed funding, scholarships and mem-
ber support.
The organisation is in a strong financial po-
sition and will continue to deliver valued ser-
vices to the Outdoor Recreation Sector in
the coming year. I recommend that these
statements and the Auditors Report be ac-
cepted as an accurate reflection of QORF’s
Financial position as at 31 December, 2012.
Jo Robey
Treasurer
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Queensland Outdoor Recreation Federation Inc.
Financial Report for year ended 31 December 2012
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