Rules and regulations
- All team members must be aged 18 or above.
- At the start of the event, each team must have four members.
- Oxfam Australia reserves the right to alter the trail without notice and/or cancel the event in consultation with and under the direction of Emergency Service agencies and major Event stakeholders/landowners. If the Event is cancelled, participating teams have the option of requesting a 50% refund of their registration fee.
- Teams are only allowed to check-in at the start during their designated registration periods.
- All team members must stay together between checkpoints and must check-in and out together at each checkpoint. Staff at checkpoints will not check-in or out incomplete teams with members unaccounted for.
- Any participant who is injured or exhausted must be brought to the nearest checkpoint by team mates for assistance. If the injury is serious, call the Event Safety Officer via the emergency phone number printed on every participant’s race bib.
- Under no circumstances are individuals to be left unaccompanied. If a team member becomes seriously injured and cannot be moved, one person must stay with him or her while the others seek help.
- Any team or walker who ignores road crossing instructions from Marshalls faces disqualification.
- Participants wishing to withdraw during the Event must first report to the nearest checkpoint. Remaining team members can’t continue until the withdrawal of the team member has been reported. If for any reason a participant has to leave the Event urgently, the Event Safety Officer must be called via the emergency number printed on the race bib as soon as possible.
- In order to withdraw, the participant must complete a retirement certificate at one of the checkpoints. A team with less than four members can’t continue without a copy of the retirement certificate. This must be presented at each remaining checkpoint.
- If two members of a team have withdrawn, the remaining two members must accompany another team between checkpoints. This is to ensure that all event participants travel in groups of at least three people for safety reasons. This does not mean that team members join the other team - each team will retain their identity, team number and bib colour throughout the Event.
- If teams decide to leave the trail or checkpoints to sleep, or for any other reason, they must do so from a designated checkpoint. Upon checking-in to that checkpoint, the entire team must contact the Checkpoint Coordinator to notify their intention to leave the checkpoint facility and provide an estimated time of return to the checkpoint. Failure to do so will result in the team being reported missing and a search will be initiated. The team must return to the same checkpoint to resume the Event.
- Teams that fail to leave a checkpoint by the nominated closing time will be withdrawn from the Event and advised not to proceed. Teams that disregard this advice proceed at their own risk. The closing times are calculated to ensure that there is sufficient time to complete the Event in the specified 48 hours.
- A team’s finishing time will be recorded as the last member of the team reports to officials at the Finish. Oxfam TRAILWALKER is a team event. No individual time will be recorded.
- The provided identification race bibs and wristbands must be worn at all times during the Event.
- Oxfam TRAILWALKER is a challenging team event. Adequate time is necessary for training and fundraising before undertaking the Event therefore substitution of all four team members is not permitted. Changing a team member prior to 5pm on the Monday of the Event week: teams must notify the organisers by submitting a completed 'Change of Team Member' form available on the website. Changing a team member after 5pm on the Monday of the Event week: teams must submit a completed 'Change of Team Member' form at the Start and pay a $30 late change fee. No substitutions will be allowed to a team once the team has started the Event.
- Every team must have a Support Crew and must be self-sufficient. The Support Crew is responsible for providing teams with the majority of their food, water and changes of clothes etc. during the Event. Please ensure your Support Crew is suitably briefed.
- Do not litter. Participants and Support Crews must respect the environment and local neighbourhood by using the litter and recycling bins at the checkpoints.
- Dogs are not permitted on the trail or at checkpoints. Smoking is strictly forbidden on the trail and at checkpoints.
- Teams are asked to respect residential and local parking regulations.
- Participants must keep noise levels to a minimum when walking in residential areas during training and the Event.
- Teams must carry a minimum of two mobile phones, preferably on two different networks.
- Each team must carry at least one first aid kit. Prescription medication and painkillers are your team’s responsibility.
- Teams must raise a minimum of $1,000, in addition to the non-tax deductible and non-refundable registration fee, to participate in the Event. Teams must have fundraised at least the minimum $1,000 by the Friday of the week prior to the Event to be eligible to participate. Teams that fail to do so will be unable to start the event without the prior approval of the event organisers.
- Only complete teams of four finishing within 48 hours will be eligible for official ranking.
- Teams raising $5,000 or more by specified due date are eligible for fundraising awards.
- All fundraising activities undertaken by participants must adhere to the relevant state government regulations.
- Entry into Oxfam TRAILWALKER may not be resold at a premium or used for advertising, promotion or other commercial purposes (including competitions and trade promotions) or to enhance the demand for other goods or services. If an entry is sold or used in breach of this condition, team members will be prevented from future involvement in the Event.
- Slower teams must give way to those teams travelling at a faster pace, as the trail can get quite congested, particularly in the early stages of the Event.
- Teams are strictly forbidden to meet their Support Crew at any location along the trail except the checkpoints. Any team found breaching this rule will be disqualified.
