2023 is off to a flying start!

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Hello February!! With January come and gone in the blink of an eye, we are now firmly in the new year. Hopefully many of you had the chance to have a holiday or some downtime with your family and friends over the Christmas and New Year period. It has been great to see many of you celebrating new geocaching milestones, so it’s a good sign that many of you had great geocaching adventures! Below are some key events and updates to share. Be sure to check out our events page too as its updated weekly.

GeoTour Ballarat Event #7

Geocaching Victoria is excited to invite you to the lastest GeoTour Event in Ballarat. (GCA4DRH). If you are yet to visit and start the tour – this is a great opportunity to start the year with a new souvenir and attribute. We also still have some limited edition Geocoins available – so be sure to place your order in our shop, as they won’t last long.

The Rutherglen Event Coin & Pathtag Set

We are excited to announce that the Rutherglen Event Coin and Pathtags are now available for order. In case you missed the teaser blog yesterday, check out this small video on our Rutherglen Reflections Facebook page, alternative you will find more details in our shop.

Brolga Bill’s update on the Bike Trail Puzzles

Brolga Bill mentioned to me the other day that not that many cachers are doing his Bike Trail Puzzles by bike. He said “Although I drew the geoart in the shape of a penny-farthing (I use one because of my long legs), you can use a safety bike to collect the caches.”

“I designed them to all fall along the Rutherglen to Wahgunyah Murray to Mountains Rail Trail which starts across the road from the Rutherglen Visitor Information Centre and is an easy 9 kilometres one-way ride. The path is flat, flat, flat, and well sealed.” He said.
“Easy for anyone to ride. What is the point of walking?”

He mentioned that even if you didn’t want to bring your own bike up, or you don’t have one, bikes can be hired locally (see details below). Standard bikes, tandems, and ebike are all available (but probably not penny-farthings!).

“Also bikes are a great way of visiting a lot of the wineries in the area.”

So hop out of your cars and get onto a bike – the best way to cache!

Local Bike Hire

Bike hire is available at the Rutherglen Visitor Information Centre.
They have all-purpose touring bikes of different sizes and two tandem bikes available for hire. For the age group between 4 and 7, there are two tag-a-long bikes (suitable for children 30 kilograms and under) that attach to the back of the adult’s
bike. They also have bikes suitable for 10 years and over age bracket.
Hire includes bike, helmet and maps. Highly recommended to bring your own water.

Price: $25.00 – $65.00
Half day single bike $25, full day single bike $40. Half day tandem $40, full day tandem $65. Child tag-a-long $15 a day
Different rates for 2-5 day hire.
Bookings and information: 02 6033 6306
Rutherglen Visitor Information Centre

Rutherglen Radler E bike hire
The cruisiest way to explore the Rutherglen and Wahgunyah region is on an electric cruiser bike from Rutherglen Radler. These bikes making cycling fun and easy and as they assist you when you’re cycling you can explore more of the region than you normally would on a standard bike.
Ride the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail with ease, ride down the many dirt tracks between the local wineries, your options are endless.
Fun and adventure is guaranteed when you ride one of these beauties.
Please note you must be 18 years and over to hire these bikes.

Price: $45.00 – $85.00
Half Day $45.00 Full Day $85.00
Contact: Caffeine n machine 62 – 64 main st, Rutherglen 0414 613 984

Shout out for some Rutherglen Volunteers

As we start to count down to our Rutherglen Mega (GC9MHM), the Mega Committee are working hard to plan and organise what looks to be an amazing weekend of geo-goodness. But events like this are only possible with the help of many volunteers. If you can spare a few hours over the weekend, please do let us know and complete the Volunteer Form. We would really appreciate it.

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A sad farewell SirJ-Oz

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A few days ago we heard of the unexpected passing of one of our own, SirJ-Oz aka John Syer. He was well loved by those who knew and cached with him and will be greatly missed by many. We send our deepest condolences to his wife Maryann and his family at this sad time.

SirJ-Oz started caching in 2010 and since has collected over 5300 caches to his name and has cached his way around 7 countries and nearly all state and territories around Australia. But he certainly has contributed to the game we love with over 20 hides including his infamous (GC58MJ0) John’s Silver, which was a cache with a difference.

His family have asked us to share the details of his funeral for his geocaching friends that may like to attend. It will also be livestreamed. The funeral will be held:

Monday 9th January at 2.30pm, Salvation Army, 61 Guildford Rd, Surry Hills

For any additional information, please contact Muggle-L aka Liz.

GVI Welcomes Donutholes and Grub62

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As we start to wind down for the holiday season, which for many is not just spending time with loved ones, but also prime geocaching holiday time, we thought we would share a quick announcement.

With 2023 set to be another great year ahead, Geocaching Victoria is super excited to welcome two more committee members to the team – Kim Baker aka Donutholes and Belinda Parker aka Grub62. By way of introduction, heymissjo thought she would get them to share a little of their geo-story with us all

Introducing Donutholes

We are excited to have you joining the GVI team, for those that don’t know you, can you please share with us when you started Geocaching and how you decided on your caching name.

I started Geocaching on 29/12/2013 after seeing an article online. Growing up in Kununurra W.A meant there wasn’t many to find so it was a very slow game at first. The name Donutholes came from a bakery my Dad used to take me after every footy game. The local baker would sell a bag of 5 “donut holes/dough balls” on a Saturday and they were my favourite. Also having the last name Baker helped

How do you like to play the game? Are you a numbers person, do you chase challenges, do you love the adventures or have your own approach to caching?

I like to Geocache two ways! I use it as a circuit breaker/me time. There is something calming about getting out in the fresh air and only concentrating on the task at hand. I then I use it as a social thing!! Caching with like minded people, having a laugh and just enjoy being in the moment. I have absolutely no targets or challenges I’m working on. If it happens, it happens

What is the craziest thing you have done in the name of caching?

A couple of things I’ve done for collecting a smiley face is waterfall jumping in remote W.A. The wet season in Kununurra is the best time to visit!! This year I did strip down to the birthday suit and go for a swim mid winter for a FTF

What is currently on your Geocaching Bucket-list?

I’m just really excited for when my children can join in on the adventures. Getting more caches overseas would be nice too.

What is the most remote or unusual place you have collected a Geocache?

Most remote place I’ve collected a Geocache would probably be an Island on Fiji. You had to walk around it when the tide was low and if you were to slow you would be trapped.

Introducing Grub62

Grub62 was a key member of the Whittlesea Mega Committee, so we are super excited that she has now agreed to join GVI. But for those that don’t know Grub62, we thought we would ask her some questions.

Can you please share with us when you started Geocaching and how you decided on your caching name.

Crustyvarmint introduced Bunadoorian and I to geocaching in  March 2016 in Tasmania. After nearly two years of finding caches with Bunadoorian and causing him a lot of frustration by asking for the description or what size the cache was again – I decided to get my own account in May 2018.  I choose my geocaching name as it was a childhood nickname and something to do with my birthday.

How do you like to play the game? Are you a numbers person, do you chase challenges, do you love the adventures or have your own approach to caching?

I enjoy the adventures and  where geocaching takes me – the places you get to visit, the history you learn, the views you see, the creativity of the cache makers/ owners.  I enjoy challenge caches where you have to plan to get certain caches.

What is the craziest thing you have done in the name of caching?

 I think one of the craziest things I have done in the name of geocaching  is agreeing to drive 24 hours so Bunadoorian can get a cache in Northern Territory over an Easter.

What is currently on your Geocaching Bucket-list?

Next year I hope to fill in the holes in my finds  by found date table and my 360 degrees from home table.

What is the most remote or unusual place you have collected a Geocache?

 The most unusual place I have found a cache was in Noumea when we got off a cruise ship .Luckily I had done some homework before hand as the cache description was in french.

The Rutherglen Event!

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Can you hear the drum roll…… yes it is getting louder! The excitement is building…

As the dust settles on our Whittlesea Mega, the planning and rumblings of the next big event is not just starting to get traction… it’s in full planning mode! Geocaching Victoria is super excited to announce the Rutherglen Event April 2023 (GC9MH9M). So be sure to register your interest and log a “will attend”.

Our new Mega Committee has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to plan the next amazing experience for our community.

Here are some key points of information that you should read to get the best out of the next Mega in Victoria.

1. It is a Mega with a difference, so be sure to check out the schedule of events, as well as the details activities already planned.

2. Accommodation is available and is coordinated by Rutherglen Agricultural Society (not Geocaching Victoria)

3. To make this a successful event, we certainly need volunteers, so please let us know if you can help out in anyway over the course of the event.

4. We have some merchandise available (jackets and shirts) in the shop. We hope to announce coins and Pathtags soon.

5. There are already an incredible amount of new geocaches hidden for the event including many new multi’s, letterboxes, wherigo series, new beginner series and more. Be sure to plan your visit to maximise how many new caches you can collect.

6. Our favourite Facebook group has now adopted a new name – Rutherglen Reflections, so be sure to keep in touch for the updates as they come out in coming weeks and months.

There will be more updates to come in the weeks and months ahead, so be sure to keep an eye on our webpage and facebook page.

The baton is passed on… Welcome Mister Doctor

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As the dust settles on GVI’s latest Mega, we have a slight change to our GVI Committee. Rod Lyon aka n0w0rries has decided the time has come for the baton to be passed on so that he can spend more time focusing on his wellbeing and with his family. We wish Rod all the best and thank him for his tireless efforts on the committee over the passed 18 months. Rod now passes the baton onto the the newest member of our team.

We are very excited to announce that Peter McClive aka Mister Doctor will be joining the team. Many of you would have had the chance to connect and meet with Mister Doctor over last weekends Mega, but others of you may not have had the opportunity and so heymissjo thought she would ask him some questions, so that we could get to know him a little more.

Thanks for chatting with me Pete, can you share with us when you started geocaching and how you decided on your caching name.

I’m a secondary science teacher with a PhD, and my students usually call me Dr McClive. Except, that is, for my sweet Year 7s, who start off calling me Mr McClive, get a little tongue-tied, and end up saying Mr Dr McClive. That sounded to me like a geocaching name, and so Mister Doctor was born. Once I had a name, I borrowed a school GPS one Christmas holidays in 2010 and found some local caches, but then found no more for 7 years. It was only when Optus finally shut down its 2G network in 2017 that I upgraded to a smart phone, and the Geocaching app was one of the first apps I installed. From then on, I was hooked!

How do you like to play the game? Are you a numbers person, do you chase challenges, do you love the adventure or have have your own approach to caching?

I think that discovering the local knowledge of an area is what keeps me coming back to geocaching. Each cache has a personal story attached to it and even a CO you can chat to, which for me makes this game so much richer than something like a Pokémon hunt, or the collection of munzees. So, I tend to target caches that tell a story and make a memorable impact. I’m not really about the numbers, although I do try to ramp them up just so I can earn favourite points to give away!

What is the craziest thing you have done in the name of caching?

I tend to be fairly risk-averse, so there are no crazy stories of having-to-get-that-cache for me. Having said that, I really do enjoy building caches, so I do have a crazy obsession with Op shops, hard waste collections and places like Resource Rescue! The caching corner of my garage looks like a cross between a kindergarten and a junk yard. Now, that I think of it, I do have a memory of building a large cache out of found objects, sitting astride a surf mat with the cache in my lap, and very cautiously paddling out to an island in the middle of the night to set it up. That was pretty crazy!

What is currently on your Geocaching Bucket-List?

I recently completed my first real challenge of filling my found dates calendar grid. This first started when I achieved a 7-day streak for Streak Week, but in doing so realised that maintaining such a streak could be grounds for divorce. Filling a calendar was much more family-friendly as I was ultimately able to spread the challenge over a number of years. Next on my Bucket-list is filling my D/T and Ausmer grids. At the recent Whittlesea Mega, I also committed to my first challenge cache (WCW Cache Local Mini Challenge), as well as definitely/probably/maybe completing the TWC geoart, so I’m not quite done with Whittlesea yet!

What is the most remote or unusual place you have collected a Geocache?

A few years ago, we took our kids on a holiday to Edinburgh, some 20 years after having lived there pre-kids and pre-geocaching. It was brilliant seeing a city we already knew well through a geocaching lens, and as a result GCH440 The Other Side of Edinburgh is now my most Northerly cache.

Welcome to the team Mister Doctor, we look forward to seeing what magic you can add to our community next year.

– heymissjo