The GVI Committee would like to advise, that on Monday, 15th November 2021, that the Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held and the following committee member elections were made:
Congratulations and thanks to all of you, for accepting your positions for the year ahead. There are lots of exciting events in the calendar scheduled, including the Wangaratta Mega, GPS Maze, GeoTours and more. We look forward to meeting and connecting with our wider geocaching community.
We would also like to take the time to thanks Karen, who previously held the President role, for her dedication over the past few years and grateful for her ongoing support as a committee member. Thanks too to Donna Moore (jaktembo) for her committement, who has decided to step down from the committee. Accepting a role on the committee is often not done lightly as the hours volunteered often are often done while juggling other family, work and personal committments, but it’s the love of the game that keep us coming back for more.
With a fresh “year ahead”, we would like to take this opportunity to hear from our wonderful geocaching community on what ideas you have for possible events, thoughts one what you would like to see more of or things for us to ponder. Please take the time to complete the survey, it should only take five minutes, but your feedback and considered thoughts would be valuable.
Let us introduce one of the geocaching communities favourites – the lovely Gemma! Gemma is a quiet achiever who works hard to bring exciting events to those who love this awesome hobby of ours. She has coordinated events such as St Arnaud’s event, Ballarat GeoTour and the GPS Adventure Maze – a first for Australia. She also works hard to apply for community grants so we can all benefit from sponsorship.
Gemma has over 7700 finds and over 200 hides to her name. She loves to bring variety to the game with her hides including CITO’s, Mysteries, Earth caches, Lab caches and multi’s – if you haven’t found one yet, you will have to see if you can track them down. One thing we also love about Gemma, is how well she keeps us all connected online and with recent years being restricted due to lockdowns, her community posts, inspirational shares and reminders that even virtually we can stay connected. From all of us Gemma – Thank you!
Recently I had a chat to Gemma about what brought her to this crazy passion.
1. Share with us when you started Geocaching and what got you into this crazy hobby we love?
I started caching in 2014 when after seeing numerous posts on Facebook by a fellow librarian in NSW (yes I’m looking at you Sensible Shoes) I googled what it was and saw there was one near where I parked the car for work. I found it the next morning and as they say the rest is history! I am now proudly Sensible Shoes most successful geo child!
2. 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 love caching in all formats. I like small caches, big caches, power trails, long hikes and everything in between. It really depends on my mood!
3. What is the craziest thing you have done in the name of caching?
Ooh this is a tough one as I’m rather conservative! I’m had many fun adventures into the night with my kids, my geo-wife becca85 (and her kids). In fact we met through caching and got on so well that about 5 years ago we booked a holiday together (husbands had met for 5 minutes previously). Thankfully it was a success and the hubby’s are like BFF’s all these years later! Ha ha
4. What is currently on your Geocaching Bucket-list?
I would love to visit the NT! We were planning the trip last year but this pesky pandemic thing came along instead! Otherwise I have ticked off all states and territories in Australia. I would also love to cache in the UK (where I was born) but again that might be possible when I retire! Ha ha
5. What is the most remote or unusual place you have collected a Geocache?
I’ve got a few very memorable trips/occasions/places:
It’s is time to introduce you to a another community favourite Day. Although he has recently joined the committee again, it isn’t the first time he has been a part of GVI committee and some wonder did he ever step away, with all the hats he wears and the hard work he puts in behind the scenes. We certainly welcomed him back to the committee.
Day has 4100+ cache finds to his name but is infamous for his hides…..some would say they are clever, some crafty, some perhaps evil, but definitely very enjoyable. He loves to bring new and creative ideas to the game and challenge the community brains trust. He has over 240 active hides currently and you may be surprised that they are hidden far and wide across the state and you never know when you might stumble across one!
Recently, I caught up with Day to get a few thoughts on his own gaming passion…or obsession?!
1. Share with us when you started Geocaching and what got you into this crazy hobby we love?
I started geocaching in 2011. Prior to this I used to take my metal detector out to abandoned towns to try and find old coins etc. One day I was trying to work out where the old town of Beenak was and I googled “Beenak Post Office” and up came a link to a geocache of that name. Prior to that I had never heard of geocaching before.
2. 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 think it’s always about the numbers. It’s only been a couple of times that I have cached purely to get the greatest number of finds, and that can be enjoyable. But sometimes its caching to get the number of types in a day, or to find a cache that hasn’t been found for a number of months, or a cache which has a rare DT number combo. Either way that you look at it, it’s about the numbers, it’s just WHICH numbers you decide to chase. Challenges help focus that, whether they are challenge caches, or as I like to do, set myself my own personal challenges.
3. What is the craziest thing you have done in the name of caching?
Re-join Geocaching Victoria Inc, when I had already previously escaped once?
I’m kidding of course.
I once hiked for 31 kilomters in a wilderness area to get one cache that hadn’t been found for 6 years, only to turn around and hike back again, all in one day, no other caches passed.
4. What is currently on your Geocaching Bucket-list?
Still hoping to get to Seattle for the big celebrations, when we can travel again. I’ve never cached overseas before and August 2020 was supposed to be my big overseas trip. Of course, that never happened, but it’s still definitely on the bucket list!
5. What strengths and skills do you bring to the Geocaching Victoria Committee?
In some respects, I’m a very organised person (although my caching partner would disagree). I think my greatest strength is my time management skills. I’m a very social person and can get along with most people and I enjoy a chat.
6. What is the most remote or unusual place you have collected a Geocache?
The most remote would have been on the Nullarbor. I held and event there in 2016 which was further from any other event that had ever been held in Australia. No one else turned up, just me, by my lonesome at a roadside stop on the Nullarbor for half an hour.
Most unusual, I’m not sure. There are so many different types of unusual. I really enjoyed caching in Townsville a couple of years ago. They have some great and unusual caches there and I’m looking forward to going back at Easter. And then there is Denmark in Western Australia, some very different geocaching experiences there too.
Tonight we would love to introduce you to a community favourite and all round great guy Adriaan. Although he is the committee secretary, he is better known for creating some of the best of what geocaching has to offer. Not only has he hidden in excess of 340 caches, but his hides include some fabulous adventures (night caches, hiking and canoeing to name a few) as well as some crazy puzzles – in true homburg style. But his involvement doesn’t stop there. He has always been a key member of any Mega event, caching celebration and is often the first to put his hand up or reach out when a fellow cacher needs help. With over 11,000 finds including caches in five countries and having completed most of the usual caching challenges, some many times over, it makes you wonder what drives this incredible man. Recently we caught up with Adriaan to learn more about what makes him tick and why geocaching is still his passion… in his own words.
Share with us when you started Geocaching and what got you into this crazy hobby we love?
I was doing research looking to buy a new bushwalking GPS and at the time geocaching.com had reviews of different GPS’s on their website. I registered in 2006, thinking it sounded interesting, but did not venture out to find my first cache until 2010! Been hooked ever since.
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?
Challenges are probably the thing that has kept me caching. I love a challenge that I don’t qualify and the work it takes to qualify. I do also love an adventure, especially a good day or multi day trip with a friend. I have a passion for hiking so a cache at the end of a good hike is my ideal way to spend a day or weekend.
What is the craziest thing you have done in the name of caching?
Climbed 32m up a tree with 1 half of skullracing, my bro lex and Ben aka jamin appleford. My first TTC(Technical Tree Climb). It was hard work but a real rush.
Another one, not really crazy but laughable really, headed out with Team Oaky to do a Jimmymaf paddle night cache. Sounded like fun, Should only take a couple of hours. We headed off around 9pm, gathering the various waypoints which gave us numbers that led to the final which we worked out to be a couple of km’s up the river then a short walk. Well, after an extensive search we left empty handed, so we paddled all the way back and decided to check the waypoints again as we went. DOH! We misread one of the waypoints and GZ was just a few hundred metres away from where we started! So we found the cache and paddled back to the start point just as the sun was coming up!!!!
What is currently on your Geocaching Bucket-list?
Probably the next thing I would like to do is complete my 20 DT loop. This would be followers by the Jasmer challenge, I only have a few left, It’s a trip to the US to finish this one. Also want to go back to Scotland and England as well as Wales and Ireland
What is the most remote or unusual place you have collected a Geocache?
Have been trying to find a cache that has been archived for almost 10 years now (last found in 2005), I have been back now 3 times and it’s not exactly close to home. I am very confident it is still in place but the bushland surrounding it is quite thick and quite hard to get to GZ. I will keep the location details a secret but TeamOaky, DeadlyErnest, day1976 and Clever Monkey know what I am talking about.
Tonight we would love to introduce you to a seasoned geocacher and long term committee member – BernieH. Aside from the critical role of Treasurer, and being super amazing at keeping the committee on track, he is also well known across the Geocaching Community having over 9000 finds and owning 60+ caches of his own. Recently we caught up with Bernie to learn more about what makes him tick and why geocaching is still his passion.
1. Share with us when you started Geocaching and what got you into this crazy hobby we love?
I started geocaching on 14th December 2011 at about 6:50 pm 😊
I was out orienteering in Balwyn and bumped into my friend and fellow orienteer who pointed out one of these things he had been trying to tell me about. A geocache, a bison hanging in a bush just near the start line. I signed the log sheet and joined as a premium member that night when I got home. The rest is history.
Thanks to my geodad, DrJim7 (now DeadlyErnest).
2. 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 caching by the numbers but not just pure quantity, I target various types of stats as a bit of a challenge, it gets me out chasing different types of caches in all sorts of different areas. I’m always happy to go out geocaching as part of a group but I also like the serenity of caching on my own.
3. What is the craziest thing you have done in the name of caching?
Someone told me about a GCA cache, the only GCA cache I have ever logged, it’s GA0337 – Nude Up For A Smiley. So on a trip up past Mildura, out in the middle of the dessert, I nuded up for smiley 😊
4. What is currently on your Geocaching Bucket-list?
My next find…
Some overseas geocaching.
Finishing my Jasmer challenge.
Finding older caches.
Qualifying for The_Tritonz Diamond Challenge.
5. What is the most remote or unusual place you have collected a Geocache?
Logged a webcam cache on a small island off the coast of Fiji, Castaway Island. Then I went over to the bar and ordered a beer 😊.
