PROFILE
JOYCE IN 1987
Joyce Rowlands (W75)
(excerpt – “Second Start” by Hazel Edwards, Penguin Books (1987))
“Becoming self-reliant in the bush boosted my confidence.”
Nillumbik Emus, VIC
JOYCE ROWLANDS: age 52 Present occupation: orienteer and teacher Previous occupation: primary school teacher
Rowlands Family from AO, June/July 1978
Strengthening your body through regular and pleasurable exercise can also lead to a change in self-confidence. Married with two daughters and a son, at forty-three, Joyce began to orienteer, running novice courses with her son’s encouragement. By forty-five, she improved so rapidly that she represented Australia against New Zealand. Known as “cunning running”, Orienteering is a sport where runners must punch a number of marked controls, using a map and compass to navigate their way to the finish in the shortest time possible. Now fifty-two, Joyce regards her participation in the five-day Swedish 0-Ringen competition (an international Orienteering event) as one of her greatest personal achievements.
JOYCE IN 1978 (excerpt – The Australian Orienteer, June/July 1978) Mid 1977 saw the Rowlands family at their first event, having been talked into it by their neighbours, the McLennans (RH). Father Glyn is putting up a battle not to be coerced – but the rest of the family are truly committed. Joyce (45) Primary Teacher, Heathmont East. “This beats housework any day, it’s great being out in the bush and my life has taken on a new look for me. I only wish I’d been doing it years ago. The families and friends met are a side benefit to the joy and satisfaction of seeing gradual improvement in O-skills. The essence of enjoyment is the family are able to do the same things together at their own level.” Aims to keep going for years, improve skills and encourage other children and families to try the sport. David (19) Science, Monash Uni. He enjoys the personal challenge in Orienteering and competing against fellow M19’s (will he ever beat Phillip Norwood?), is fascinated by maps and is into map-making with the club. Enjoys bushwalking and Rogaining. 3rd M17 VIC Championships 1977. 1st M19, Easter 1978. Helen (17) HSC, Yarra Valley School. Orienteers when studies permit. A perseverer who hates to quit; what an achievement to enjoy the wet Budkavle in NSW this year! Enjoys athletics, knitting and football. Wish for the future - “that there be more girls of my age group to help me become confident in my navigation.” Anne (12) Form 1, Tintern. “The fun of the sport and my legs keep me going. I ran in the Ballarat 5-Days and found that 5 consecutive days of Orienteering helped me a lot.” (1st on Day 4.) Interests: ice and roller skating, horseriding and Girl Guides. Ann is ambitious, she has started at a good age and we hope there are plenty of other girls to help her reach her goal. The family says “Sundays don’t come around fast enough.”
“I wish every day could be Sunday. Orienteering in the bush gives me such a thrill. Black Swan Reservoir was the first course I tried. Never had any bush experiences as a child, so I had no feel for distance. Becoming self-reliant in the bush and being able to understand the maps boosted my self-confidence. I hadn’t driven long distances much before. Interstate championships were interesting to us and I was the only driver, so I had to plan long trips, camp, learn to tow a trailer and learn how to keep awake on the way home.” On the occasions when Joyce’s husband accompanied them, she won two Australian Championships. He drove the car. “Driving tires me and it was possible to relax beforehand. Then I could concentrate better during the event. There are sets of challenges in Orienteering which are exciting. You don’t have to win every time. Each step is an achievement.” As a primary teacher, Joyce encouraged her students to enter the first Schoolgirl/Schoolboy Championships. Heathmont East Primary produced a team of ten children which won the championship, with Joyce collecting the teachers’ award. “All my life, I’ve been a person with a lot of natural energy, but Orienteering is a radical change of sport because it has extended my skills.” A trim, small-boned, fifty-two year old, Joyce admits that she doesn’t train mid-week as do many keen orienteers. School preparation, housework and listening to the family absorb her time. “Get to bed between midnight and 1 am, up at 7 am, but I’d like a bit more sleep.” Joyce wishes she had been less independent and encouraged the family to share more in the domestics. “I would prefer to be teaching part-time. Children are more vocal now. I have a grade four. At times, it’s very tiring. Part of the-older-womangrowing-up, perhaps having some change of life problems, and the difficulty of getting it all together.” Joyce doesn’t like succumbing to weaknesses, so the physical demands of running W50 (Women’s Over Fifty) courses of between 4 and 7 kilometres in varied terrain, is a considerable achievement. Completing the five days in the Swedish O-Ringen competition in Scandinavia was a satisfaction.
DECEMBER 2007 THE AUSTRALIAN ORIENTEER 15
