Vale Paul Darvodelsky

Paul Darvodelsky has passed away in Alice Springs. Paul was one of the St Ives High School kids who helped form Big Foot Orienteers over 30 years ago.

Paul and his cohort produced Big Foot's first orienteering maps, chose the club's name and colours and, as importantly, set a course of irreverant competitiveness that is still at the heart of what we are about as a club. Paul's approach to orienteering in those years is exemplified by his map of a massive section of forest on the Jenolan Caves Road which was named Billenbenbong and had a lurid pink infill.

As a competitor Paul developed rock solid foot orienteering skills as the sport evolved in Australia and was one of Australia's elite orienteers for over a decade. Later in life he took to two wheels with great enthusiasm and more success, his frame more suited to riding than running. He made the Australian World Champs Mountain Bike Orienteering team in the 2000's and was a useful amateur road and MTB rider.

Thanks to Cath and the Darvodelsky family for sharing Paul's life with us - we have plenty of great memories, whether it be orienteering trips to Europe, knocking around in Valiants in the early 90s or just drafting off him out on a  ride.