On Sunday 8 April, Orienteering Australia presented its major awards its the annual dinner in Burra South Australia.  The following awards were made in the presence of over 100 diners.

2007 Silva Services to Orienteering Award.

Jeffa Lyon received the Silva Services to Orienteering Award for her considerable contribution to the sport over a period of more than 30 years. She started orienteering in the ACT in the 1970s and moved to South Australia in January 1980, joining the Tintookies club.  Since then she has held numerous positions at club, State and national level.  Such positions included secretary, president, councillor, schools coordinator, coaching activities, newsletter editor, Carnival (Level 3) controller for the 1990 Australian 3-Days, and many others, too numerous to mention.

2007 Silva Services to Coaching Award.

Anthony Scott received the Silva Services to Coaching Award for his considerable contribution as a coach not only to the ACT junior squad since 2002, but also to numerous rising stars from other States.  He has been a personal coach for many juniors and has been a confidant to Hanny Allston, who consulted him on many occasions during her development to become a world champion.

2006 Orienteering Australia Athlete of the Year.

Hanny Allston was presented with her second consecutive Orienteering Australia Athlete of the Year medal.  In the space of few weeks in mid 2006, Hanny became the first Australian to win a gold medal at JWOC and to win a medal in each of the three formats; the first Australian, first non-European and first junior to win a World Championships Gold Medal and the first orienteer to win a medal at the Junior and World Championships in the same year.

2006 Silva Medal (Orienteer of the Year).

Lachlan Dow was confirmed as the winner of the 2006 Silva Medal (Orienteer of the Year competition) which is awarded to the orienteer who scores the most points based on placings in the Australian 3-Days and the Australian and States Long Distance Championships.  He amassed 27 points to beat Jenny Bourne (W45) Victoria on 23 points, with Todd Neve (M14) Victoria and David Shepherd (Elite) ACT dead-heating for third on 22.  As fifteen year-old he is the first junior to win the Silva Medal since fellow Canberrans Cassie Trewin and Andy Hogg shared the awarded in 1990.

Bob Mouatt

OA President