Vale Emily Quantock 1939-2012

Saturday, 28 January 2012

Emily and husband Gordon first tried orienteering in Victoria in 1974 just before Gordon secured a promotion to Canberra. With daughters Gayle, Tracy and Nicole, they joined Weston Emus in 1975. Emily and Gordon have been active members ever since and, even as her health declined, Emily was still helping with registration at club events.

Although Emily started orienteering as a mother with a young family, she was an accomplished orienteer. Emily had competed in all Australian States and was a member of the ANZ Challenge Team on several occasions. She was very proud to be part of a 3 generation family of orienteers. The Quantock family have made many valuable friendships through orienteering. Emily and Gordon travelled to some Championships last year so that Emily could farewell as many of her orienteering friends as possible. The Quantock family would especially like to thank event officials who enabled Emily to be centrally located close to the finish area so she could speak to friends as they passed by.

Emily loved the Australian bush and was also an avid bushwalker and cyclist. She was a member of the first all-female group to walk the entire Hume and Hovell Walking Track. Stretching over 440kms, the Track follows in the footsteps of Hamilton Hume and William Hovell on their expedition to Port Phillip in 1824. Before her health declined, Emily would often cycle over 100 kilometres per week. Her last Tour de Femme was in 2009 as a 70 Plus, an achievement she was very proud of.

Emily was also very industrious and for over a decade made and sold knitted beanies at local markets. Her beanies and beautiful variegated socks can now be found all over the world, and are treasured by her many friends.

A celebration of Emily’s life will be held at the Chapel of the Norwood Park Crematorium, 65 Sandford Street, Mitchell, on Friday 3rd February 2012 commencing at 1.30pm.