Laurina finds her way in new home

NAVIGATING her way through the goldfields bushland surrounding Bendigo has provided a welcome change of scenery for champion orienteer Laurina Neumann.The former Brisbane girl moved to central Victoria 12 months ago, and has enjoyed joining the local orienteering community to continue her rise to the top of the sport.Neumann, 21, was a member of the Australian team that competed in the Junior World Orienteering Championships in Sweden last year, finishing 25th out of more than 120 starters in the long-distance event.In 2009, she stepped up to the senior elite competition for the first time and finished in fourth place at the Australian open titles, held in Wangaratta in October.She is recovering from a calf injury at present, but hopes to be back to peak fitness for the Australian three-day competition next March and is ultimately aiming for a place in the national open squad.Neumann is one of several La Trobe University students to be awarded a Sport Scholarship in honour of their achievements in their chosen field and their general leadership qualities.She has just finished her first year studying health and physical education at the Bendigo campus, and is thriving in her new surroundings.“I love it here,’’ she said. “I did a year at the big University of Queensland and everyone thought it was the best uni, but I like La Trobe much better.“They get to know you more.’’She is also thrilled with the well-developed orienteering fraternity in the region.“There are some pretty interesting gold mining orienteering maps close to town and you don’t have to travel too far to do them,’’ she said.“The Bendigo club has been really good - they are very active and work hard to make orienteering well known and to encourage young kids into the sport.’’Neumann took up orienteering about five years ago, following other family members into the sport.Her sister, Krystal, also attended the 2009 world junior titles alongside her in what was a big highlight for them both.She said she loved the challenge of trying to get the perfect run through the bush, spiking all the control points along the route.To be successful at orienteering, Neumann said, you needed good fitness but also had to be mentally tough and able to read maps and plan your route on the run.“You have to always know where you are and what is coming up next,’’ she said.“But when you run hard and get tired, sometimes your brain doesn’t think properly.“You can get lost if you don’t pay attention or let yourself get distracted.’’As a La Trobe sports scholarship recipient, Neumann will be encouraging fellow students to give orienteering a go, and was at the recent ParticipACTION Day festival to promote the sport among the wider community. “It is a sport for everyone - some people take it very seriously and there are others who take it easy,’’ she said.“But you are all out there in the bush being active.’’