Mike has just always “been there”. He encouraged me to organise the “Melbourne 4 Day” streeto carnival back in 2004, I had no idea what I was meant to do, but somehow Mike convinced me to do it. We shared orienteering adventures with Mike and Joy interstate and overseas, a number of times. We had so many great chats and laughs.
My condolences to Michael’s family and friends. I did not know Michael well but he was at every event and his enthusiasm was infectious. I appreciate the work that he did to make these events a success.
Mike was an instrumental person in bringing me into the sport back in the mid 80’s which I will always be grateful. His influence and contribution to Orienteering in Australia is massive and legendary…many thanks Mike
Condolences to Mike’s family. What a stalwart of street-o. I remember many years ago, battling against Mike on Summer nights. More often than not, he would appear from nowhere just near the finish and beat me! Superb on strategising routes. Great friend over so many years. More lately, down on the Peninsula which he drove with a passion. I was stunned by the news about this active, fit man’s passing. A great friend to everyone. I have a tear in my eye just writing this. Greatly, enormously missed.
Not only was Mike a pioneer of orienteering, who attended just about every event held over the past 40 years or so, and a dedicated course setter, but he was also the editor of the high quality Australian Orienteer magazine for many years and until quite recently. Condolences to Joy and Mike’s family.
I first met Mike in 1976. I had just stumbled onto the world champs team with virtually no orienteering experience, and Mike was coach. With his athletics background, he was horrified I didn’t do any “training”. Orienteering won’t be the same, as he has always contributed so much as an organiser, editor and competitor. In short, always “been there”. RIP Mike
I’ve known my friend Mike since our days at Richmond Harriers in the late ‘50s, where he competed in the longer track events and cross-country racing. He then started in Orienteering at our first event in 1969 at Upper Beaconsfield and continued in competitive Orienteering (and in State and National administrative level) for many years. Apart from organising O events he also became the editor of Orienteering Australia magazine, believed by many to be the best produced O magazine in the world. Mike was the driving force of Red Kangaroos O club, which later joined with Bayside Orienteers to become Bayside Kangaroos. I will miss Mike and am deeply saddened at his passing.
It is a very sad news. Mike was a fantastic mentor to me, teaching about The Australian Orienteer’s editorial work. I will miss our discussions after street orienteering events. Mike was always so helpful and enthusiastic. He has left a great legacy of passion for orienteering.
Ian Baker I knew Mike for over 50 years as a fellow orienteer and friend. We went together to many events in Victoria including teaming up at the Falls Creek High-O, interstate and to the World Masters in Austria. I remember also going xc skiing with him at Mt Baw Baw and at Lake Mountain. Our contact has been ongoing since he took over from me as editor of The Australian Orienteer, as well as at regular events until I had to ‘retire’. His death is a great shock and a loss.
Mike was interested in all things orienteering. He was encouraging for the newly formed ARDF club, fascinated by this new form of orienteering, and even competed in two international ARDF events himself. Mike, as editor for Australian Orienteer, somehow persuaded me to interview Nikolay from Kazahkstan about the upcoming APOC to be held in Kazahkstan, whilst Nikolay was in Australia competing in the ARDF championships in Ballarat. I had little idea what I was doing, but luckily his English was excellent. Mike also had a lot to do with extracting the articles from me about ARDF techniques. I’ve had positive comments about AO from non-orienteers about how professionally the magazine presented. Those who regularly BBQ after orienteering will all be aware of the special scale named after Mike, the “Hubbert Factor” or HF, which describes the cooking speed of the BBQ. A high HF was always required for Mike as he liked to cook his sausages till a uniform black, then slice them done the middle for extra incineration. For every O course Mike set, you just knew the BK blue kangaroo would mysteriously transform back to red (and I suspect he may have finally won this long fought battle).
I first met Mike in 1986 when I started orienteering with the Red Kangaroos, and he was already a much-loved mainstay and ‘founding father’ of the sport in Australia. He was always a driving force on the Committee. Not much later our club merged with the newer (and expanding) Bayside club to form the present day BKOC. Can’t remember now if Mike was pro or con merger – there were two vociferous camps, and he was certainly one to speak his mind fully. But the decision was made and I saw first-hand how he led a group of people with positivity, enthusiasm and self-confidence that inspired those around him. Those characteristics always shone through over the following decades. You never got any sense that the amount of organisational work he took on was a burden. RIP Mike, and thanks for your friendship and help to us all.
Sad to see the passing of a legend in the sport of orienteering. You couldn’t have met a more friendly person. The orienteering world will always remember his great legacy to the sport.
I will miss seeing Mike on Wednesday evenings but will always have the memory of him receiving his Millenium Club award for having competed in an outstanding number of Streeto events since 2000
Saddened to hear of the passing of Mike Hubbert; our dear friend , fellow orienteer, organiser of people and events and a legend in O sports. I will leave it to others to articulate Mike’s legacy to Bayside ( dare I say it, RED ) Kangaroos! Mike grew up on the Canterbury map; I need to ask the club statistician whether he ever won his class on that map? However, what will be his proud retiring glory was the incredible number of events he strode in excess of fifty years of map running to achieve that “ Millennium Club, Hall of Fame” legend status. Mike, with many other long serving BK club members and all other competing clubs, near and far, drew up the standards of O mapping, results publication, club logos and event equipment, and he didn’t miss many events or meetings. People enjoyed working with Mike; he was what I observed as a “ Mr getalongability guy, & Mr reliability guy”; to survive every club need members like Mike! ……. Lastly, it appears that Mike Hubbert has missed the last control and has failed to punch the finish control; and I heard that the event organisers have declared that it will be assumed that, Mike will always be out there on the map somewhere, at least in our dearest thoughts! RIP Mike Hubbert 1943 ~ 2023
I first met Mike in early 1967 when I started my first job in what was then the ICI Research Labs. Mike was part of the team. He was very involved with athletics at the time and for both of us orienteering had yet to become a consuming passion. He was then and has always been a most affable and good natured person. His contribution to our sport is profound. While pounding the pavements of suburban streets it was great to see his engaging smile. We will all miss him so much.
Oh this is very sad news. Mike, you were a legend in our sport as a long standing competitor, and as a great editor of OA. Many are the sketchy thoughts I had for an article that Mike encouraged me to write – especially if there was a taste of controversy or an alternate view to be had. The perfect editor, always encouraging, always managing to extend the deadline – and always a light hand with the red pen. I’ll miss his sage views and sunny outlook on life. Orienteering has lost a favourite son.
From the time in the Red Kangaroos in the eighties until a couple of weeks ago at StreetO, Mike has been an orienteering inspiration during all these years. It will be hard to imagine our events without him. Thank you Mike for all the good times.
Like for most of us, Mike has always been there when we orienteer. For me that was since the early 80s, and he was always a smiling welcoming person. Of course I have spent 20 years working closely with him on the Australian Orienteer magazine, which was always an enjoyable process as we worked through each issue. It is so sad he has left us too soon. Condolences to Mike’s family and friends.
I have not been an orienteer for an extended period but I met Mike at my first event and we have chatted ever since. I will never forget his blue Toyota and him sitting on the boot as he prepared for tonight’s event, always with the cheeky, contagious grin which said it all. Mike’s memories will live on in our hearts and etched in our memories. Let us mourn his passing, but more importantly, be thankful for his life and what he gave his family and orienteering. RIP Mike, you will be missed.
Annie & I were saddened to hear of the passing of Mike, a true gentleman of the sport and always a pleasure to work with on the BK Committee or to chin wag with after an event. Currently interstate, we will reflect from afar on the 1st September. Condolences to the family.
Mike was a quiet and effective presence in many areas of orienteering. He has contributed so much to the sport and to documenting its history. Very much missed.
It is with heavy hearts that John and I write this tribute to Mike our long time friend and mentor. Wherever there was Orienteering Mike was there organising, competing, advising the ultimate volunteer year after year , decade after decade . His boundless energy and deep knowledge of his beloved sport makes him one of the true pioneers of Orienteering in Australia and for that we must say thank you Mike Rest in Peace . John and Jenny Sheahan
Vale Mike. A stalwart of orienteering in Australia from the very beginning. Few contributed as much and even fewer without concern for personal reward. And always with a friendly smile. (Unfortunately I’ll be unable to attend his memorial service as I’m away interstate). Barry McCrae
Sorry to lose such a good friend. Mike’s encouragement and support contributed greatly to the success of the Scout Series. Schon and I will look back with fondness on the times we shared. Our condolences to friends and family. Schon and Geoff Hudson.
Mike was a pioneer in the sport of orienteering and will be truly missed by so many. Martin Kozma
He was a great fellow and the street O events will have an empty feeling without him.
Mike has just always “been there”. He encouraged me to organise the “Melbourne 4 Day” streeto carnival back in 2004, I had no idea what I was meant to do, but somehow Mike convinced me to do it. We shared orienteering adventures with Mike and Joy interstate and overseas, a number of times. We had so many great chats and laughs.
My condolences to Michael’s family and friends. I did not know Michael well but he was at every event and his enthusiasm was infectious. I appreciate the work that he did to make these events a success.
Mike was an instrumental person in bringing me into the sport back in the mid 80’s which I will always be grateful. His influence and contribution to Orienteering in Australia is massive and legendary…many thanks Mike
Condolences to Mike’s family. What a stalwart of street-o. I remember many years ago, battling against Mike on Summer nights. More often than not, he would appear from nowhere just near the finish and beat me! Superb on strategising routes. Great friend over so many years. More lately, down on the Peninsula which he drove with a passion. I was stunned by the news about this active, fit man’s passing. A great friend to everyone. I have a tear in my eye just writing this. Greatly, enormously missed.
Not only was Mike a pioneer of orienteering, who attended just about every event held over the past 40 years or so, and a dedicated course setter, but he was also the editor of the high quality Australian Orienteer magazine for many years and until quite recently. Condolences to Joy and Mike’s family.
I first met Mike in 1976. I had just stumbled onto the world champs team with virtually no orienteering experience, and Mike was coach. With his athletics background, he was horrified I didn’t do any “training”.
Orienteering won’t be the same, as he has always contributed so much as an organiser, editor and competitor.
In short, always “been there”.
RIP Mike
I’ve known my friend Mike since our days at Richmond Harriers in the late ‘50s, where he competed in the longer track events and cross-country racing. He then started in Orienteering at our first event in 1969 at Upper Beaconsfield and continued in competitive Orienteering (and in State and National administrative level) for many years. Apart from organising O events he also became the editor of Orienteering Australia magazine, believed by many to be the best produced O magazine in the world. Mike was the driving force of Red Kangaroos O club, which later joined with Bayside Orienteers to become Bayside Kangaroos. I will miss Mike and am deeply saddened at his passing.
It is a very sad news. Mike was a fantastic mentor to me, teaching about The Australian Orienteer’s editorial work. I will miss our discussions after street orienteering events. Mike was always so helpful and enthusiastic. He has left a great legacy of passion for orienteering.
Ian Baker
I knew Mike for over 50 years as a fellow orienteer and friend. We went together to many events in Victoria including teaming up at the Falls Creek High-O, interstate and to the World Masters in Austria.
I remember also going xc skiing with him at Mt Baw Baw and at Lake Mountain.
Our contact has been ongoing since he took over from me as editor of The Australian Orienteer, as well as at regular events until I had to ‘retire’.
His death is a great shock and a loss.
Mike was interested in all things orienteering.
He was encouraging for the newly formed ARDF club, fascinated by this new form of orienteering, and even competed in two international ARDF events himself.
Mike, as editor for Australian Orienteer, somehow persuaded me to interview Nikolay from Kazahkstan about the upcoming APOC to be held in Kazahkstan, whilst Nikolay was in Australia competing in the ARDF championships in Ballarat. I had little idea what I was doing, but luckily his English was excellent. Mike also had a lot to do with extracting the articles from me about ARDF techniques. I’ve had positive comments about AO from non-orienteers about how professionally the magazine presented.
Those who regularly BBQ after orienteering will all be aware of the special scale named after Mike, the “Hubbert Factor” or HF, which describes the cooking speed of the BBQ. A high HF was always required for Mike as he liked to cook his sausages till a uniform black, then slice them done the middle for extra incineration.
For every O course Mike set, you just knew the BK blue kangaroo would mysteriously transform back to red (and I suspect he may have finally won this long fought battle).
I first met Mike in 1986 when I started orienteering with the Red Kangaroos, and he was already a much-loved mainstay and ‘founding father’ of the sport in Australia. He was always a driving force on the Committee. Not much later our club merged with the newer (and expanding) Bayside club to form the present day BKOC. Can’t remember now if Mike was pro or con merger – there were two vociferous camps, and he was certainly one to speak his mind fully. But the decision was made and I saw first-hand how he led a group of people with positivity, enthusiasm and self-confidence that inspired those around him. Those characteristics always shone through over the following decades. You never got any sense that the amount of organisational work he took on was a burden. RIP Mike, and thanks for your friendship and help to us all.
Sad to see the passing of a legend in the sport of orienteering. You couldn’t have met a more friendly person. The orienteering world will always remember his great legacy to the sport.
I will miss seeing Mike on Wednesday evenings but will always have the memory of him receiving his Millenium Club award for having competed in an outstanding number of Streeto events since 2000
Saddened to hear of the passing of Mike Hubbert; our dear friend , fellow orienteer, organiser of people and events and a legend in O sports. I will leave it to others to articulate Mike’s legacy to Bayside ( dare I say it, RED ) Kangaroos!
Mike grew up on the Canterbury map; I need to ask the club statistician whether he ever won his class on that map? However, what will be his proud retiring glory was the incredible number of events he strode in excess of fifty years of map running to achieve that “ Millennium Club, Hall of Fame” legend status.
Mike, with many other long serving BK club members and all other competing clubs, near and far, drew up the standards of O mapping, results publication, club logos and event equipment, and he didn’t miss many events or meetings. People enjoyed working with Mike; he was what I observed as a “ Mr getalongability guy, & Mr reliability guy”; to survive every club need members like Mike!
……. Lastly, it appears that Mike Hubbert has missed the last control and has failed to punch the finish control; and I heard that the event organisers have declared that it will be assumed that, Mike will always be out there on the map somewhere, at least in our dearest thoughts!
RIP Mike Hubbert
1943 ~ 2023
I first met Mike in early 1967 when I started my first job in what was then the ICI Research Labs. Mike was part of the team. He was very involved with athletics at the time and for both of us orienteering had yet to become a consuming passion. He was then and has always been a most affable and good natured person. His contribution to our sport is profound. While pounding the pavements of suburban streets it was great to see his engaging smile. We will all miss him so much.
Oh this is very sad news. Mike, you were a legend in our sport as a long standing competitor, and as a great editor of OA. Many are the sketchy thoughts I had for an article that Mike encouraged me to write – especially if there was a taste of controversy or an alternate view to be had. The perfect editor, always encouraging, always managing to extend the deadline – and always a light hand with the red pen. I’ll miss his sage views and sunny outlook on life. Orienteering has lost a favourite son.
From the time in the Red Kangaroos in the eighties until a couple of weeks ago at StreetO, Mike has been an orienteering inspiration during all these years. It will be hard to imagine our events without him. Thank you Mike for all the good times.
Like for most of us, Mike has always been there when we orienteer. For me that was since the early 80s, and he was always a smiling welcoming person. Of course I have spent 20 years working closely with him on the Australian Orienteer magazine, which was always an enjoyable process as we worked through each issue. It is so sad he has left us too soon. Condolences to Mike’s family and friends.
Mike was a constant presence. Always looking for ways to promote Orienteering. Condolences to Mike’s family and friends.
I have not been an orienteer for an extended period but I met Mike at my first event and we have chatted ever since. I will never forget his blue Toyota and him sitting on the boot as he prepared for tonight’s event, always with the cheeky, contagious grin which said it all. Mike’s memories will live on in our hearts and etched in our memories. Let us mourn his passing, but more importantly, be thankful for his life and what he gave his family and orienteering. RIP Mike, you will be missed.
Annie & I were saddened to hear of the passing of Mike, a true gentleman of the sport and always a pleasure to work with on the BK Committee or to chin wag with after an event.
Currently interstate, we will reflect from afar on the 1st September.
Condolences to the family.
Condolences to Mike’s family and friends. I will miss seeing Mike on bush orienteering courses. Thank you Mike for all support and inspiration.
Mike was a quiet and effective presence in many areas of orienteering. He has contributed so much to the sport and to documenting its history. Very much missed.
It is with heavy hearts that John and I write this tribute to Mike our long time friend and mentor. Wherever there was Orienteering Mike was there organising, competing, advising the ultimate volunteer year after year , decade after decade . His boundless energy and deep knowledge of his beloved sport makes him one of the true pioneers of Orienteering in Australia and for that we must say thank you Mike Rest in Peace . John and Jenny Sheahan
Vale Mike. A stalwart of orienteering in Australia from the very beginning. Few contributed as much and even fewer without concern for personal reward. And always with a friendly smile. (Unfortunately I’ll be unable to attend his memorial service as I’m away interstate). Barry McCrae
Sorry to lose such a good friend. Mike’s encouragement and support contributed greatly to the success of the Scout Series. Schon and I will look back with fondness on the times we shared. Our condolences to friends and family. Schon and Geoff Hudson.