80 Candles For The Red Ant!! Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
By suscoe on 09-Jun-18. Waypoint GC7NKQQ

Thank you for hosting this geocaching event! The date of the event has passed. We automatically archive events after 30 days (60 days for Mega- and Giga-Events). Attendees can still log archived events, log trackables, and share their experiences.

This is a gentle reminder to any one who attended this event to make sure that they submit their "attended" log by end of June.
We will be archiving this event cache at the start of July.
Thanks.

HAPPY Birthday Laurie.

Would love to have attended however we did not realise the event was on until today - a bit to long a drive at short notice.

Enjoy your Birthday event and keep chasing those caches!

Cheers from Susan and John (K.I. bug)

Well done to Ross, Sue and the NGW Joy for the great night that had cake, balloons and a happy looking Bushfire.

Thanks to suscoe and the NGW for organising such a great event. It was really good to be able to catch up with so many of the locals and a heap from out of town as well and a huge Happy Birthday to Bushfire!

What a lovely way to celebrate an awesome milestone. With Suscoe presenting a "this is your life", it gave us all a true look at this gentleman of caching. It is a privilege to be able to attend and help you celebrate. Have a great birthday and thanks to Suscoe and your lovely wife Joy for organising. Cheers Caz

Congrats 'you old B'. What a milestone - a true legend in life and in the geo-community.
It was an entertaining evening kept lively by the "This is Your life" roast revealing some interesting and unknown facts about the Red Ant. held in a perfect venue. My meal was most delicious.
Very nice to see Joy there. You couldn't wipe the smile off her face. Was that because all the planning and collusion went successfully?
Thanks for hosting this enormous candle party suscoe

What a memorable evening with a wonderful milestone for the ageing Bushfire OBR. Thanks to suscoe and Joy for all the organising this well run and informative event entailed. Much joy and happiness from all throughout the night in celebrating with Bushfire. A real privilege to be in attendance Thanks again suscoe

Like so many others I made the sojourn down to Geelong to help the Red Ant celebrate this milestone. Congratulations Laurie. may there be many more.

An 80 year old bushfire[?][?]
Apparently the ageing Bushfire aka Red Ant was having an 80th birthday party and since I owed him a mug or two, I really wanted to attend.
So Rex and I headed off in the Corolla for what ended up being a 4 day road trip to Geelong, Warrnambool and back to Shepparton during which I finally finished the Victorian Premiers whereigo [^][|)]
Had some great company exploring around Geelong prior to the birthday event, we attended 2 flashmobs and yes... I even managed to get pulled over by the police in Geelong (apparently a case of mistaken identity ) on the way to the 3am flashmob and the other geocachers in the car in front of me didn't even realise and just left me! [:o)][:o)]
The next day Rex and I spent ages in the Botanic Park doing a Bushfire multi and sadly we had to bother to CO for a nudge (with a bloody hammer). Then to cap it off, a muggle found the cache for us
I finally got to drive on the GOR and I have to say that I was so glad that I wasn't on my motorbike as it was rainy and blowing a gale for almost the whole road
We saw glow worms [^] and thoroughly enjoyed clear skies and no rain as we did so [^] although bering in there on my own at 2.30am was a bit freaky , then the moment we got back in the car, the rain and wind started again
We spent the night on the way to Warrnambool on the side of the road only to find in the morning that we'd been sleeping right on the edge of a cemetery
All in all an amazing, scenic and fun trip [^] where there was 6 DNFs and 63 cache finds over the 4 days

As I am about 8 months behind in logging, I'm resorting to template logs to catch up.
My heartfelt thanks to the COs who have placed some tricky, funny, exercise required, scary, interesting and devious caches in some amazing spots! [^]
Rex and I have had some amazing adventures and enjoyed some incredible moments thanks to this fantastic hobby

TFTE suscoe

18:00
What a fantastic way to celebrate such a special birthday with the legendary Bushfire!
The secretive, devious and detailed planning by Suscoe and the NGW (Joy) culminated in an awesome event.

PS. Reading the logs it seems quite a few teams also quietly celebrated special milestones amongst the fun - well done to all of them as well.

Our appreciation and thanks to suscoe for organising a great event.

Happy 80th Birthday Laurie.
Well done suscoe on hosting this fantastic event.
Nice to finally meet NGW Joy.
Great to catch up with so many and help celebrate on this auspicious occasion.

Of course Mary & David were there. Can't believe Laurie is 80 - whatever his secret is, he'd better keep on keeping on! A tribute to his popularity as a person, cacher and friend that the room was packed. Great food as usual, wonderful cake, and Ross's "This is Your Life" tribute and quiz was just magic. Had forgotten that his first find was on one of our caches. He could add to Bushfire and Red Ant some other names, such as Peter Pan, and Mr Barwon. Happy Birthday, Laurie! Our thanks to suscoe.

A huge thank you to suscoe for hosting a fabulous night. Great work on the research for the this is your life quiz.
Most importantly a massive happy birthday to Bushfire
It was great to finally meet the NGW (Joy).

I normally don’t have a problem writing a cache log but after the birthday event last Saturday I really don’t know where to start.
Where do you begin to thank so many wonderful folk who attended the event and to the those who organized the night.
I guess the correct thing to do is to start with Ross and Sue and the NGW (NON GEOCACHING WIFE,) Joy , her first event after fourteen years). Ross and Sue started planning this Event weeks ago with a mobile call and while Ross was talking to me on the mobile, Sue rang Joy on the land line and the plot started.
Even on Saturday things were happening behind the scenes that the ageing Bushfire was not aware of, so many things were organised such as my life’s journey and profile, the numbers who attended the venue, the lovely cake, and finally, the staff of the Waurn Ponds Hotel who helped to make this night a great success.
We did not want any cachers to bring gifts but so many wonderful presents arrived, so a big thanks to those that did but it was not part of the plan. I have a list so when my new green ant path tag arrives you will all receive one. Please accept my personal thanks, one and all!
I cannot recall so many cachers ever having attended an Event in Geelong, in particular many travelling from all over the state, I was totally overwhelmed at seeing so many of my caching friends helping me celebrate my Birthday.
On a different note there were a lot of milestones reached tonight -this was not only the ageing Bushfire’s 80th birthday but also VKC1SR 2000th find, the McLookers (Ballarat) 200th Event, and The Tritonz 10,000th find - what a terrific achievement by all these wonderful friends.
Another birthday was also celebrated today, our dear friend Mary (maccamob ) “Happy Birthday, my dear friend.”
A special thanks for my personal vintage, no doubt, I will have great pleasure in tasting some fine red wines in the coming weeks on my return from Sydney.
Before I finish my ramble a big thank you to all the folk who have placed some wonderful notes on the cache page who could not attend tonight.
This is one Event which is etched in my memory for ever!

Firstly and most importantly, a massive, huge CONGRATULATIONS and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to a most lovely gentleman.
Thanks to Suscoe and Joy for organising this event and allowing us to share Laurie's birthday with you and the caching community. It was great to see soooo many people in attendance and he did so seem to have a great night.
It was lovely to meet Joy and hope that we will see her out and about with Laurie at least every now and then.
Lovely company, lovely place, lovely meal, lovely cake, yep a great night all round.

Definitely one of the more memorable geocaching events I've ever had the pleasure to attend. I learnt a lot about Bushfire and a little about his family due to the wonderful efforts of suscoe. The very well attended event was a tribute to how Bushfire is regarded by those who know him whether personally or by reputation.
Happy birthday, Laurie!

19:23
Well worth the change of plan to celebrate the Red Ant's milestone tonight. Laurie, happy birthday... it looked like you had a good time in the limelight this evening. We certainly did.

Thanks to the wonderful cachers that organised the event, and to the staff at the pub for helping make it a success.

OH, and we got cake. Yum.

#4050

6:00 pm #6009
A very well attended event for a legend’s birthday!
Great food, great company, great hosts.
Happy birthday Laurie! Here’s to many more to come.
Thanks for organising and hosting this event, suscoe

What a fantastic evening to celebrate a fabulous milestone. Thanks suscoe and congratulations to Bushfire. This was a very fitting event for my 200th event milestone.

After getting the other half away (1SR) from his fishing rods we came in to Geelong to celebrate the Old Bushfire's milestone.

Was good to see both Bushfire and other geocaching faces we have not seen for a while.

Was also our own little milestone of find #2000

What better way to tick that box!!!??!?!

Thanks to Suscoe and others for a good catchup.

VKC1SR

Nice find

#921
Great to be there to celebrate the 80 candles day with Bushfire and other cachers tonight and thanks in particular to Ross and Sue for the 'this is your life Laurie' and organising the evening.

Fortunately this one was kicking on past the scheduled time and I managed to catch the tail end and put a few faces to names of those whom I have spoken to/messaged etc including the guest of honour. My first event log, hopefully many more to come.

What a great night we’ve had. So many now familiar faces, but still met yet more Geocaching legends. Of course Bushfire’s the reason for the celebration, and well deserved. Great venue, great food, great speeches, lovely people. What more could we want. Thanks Suscoe for your effort in putting the event and running it. We had a great time to add to a perfect day on the Bellarine Peninsula and environs.

Happy Birthday Laurie, great birthday event, looking forward to many more geo hides from you.
Attended with Sorceysal and 6Hinemoa2. As always fun was had by all.
Hip Hip..Hooray, ..Hip Hip..Hooray, ..Hip Hip..Hooray

I came to Geelong for the sole purpose of attending this event, although I did manage a couple of caches beforehand. It was great to celebrate Laurie's birthday, and wonderful to see so many others do the same. A great job by the hosts in arranging the event, and for the research for the "This is your life" segment of the evening.



My thanks to suscoe for organising such a great event.

Congratulations to the Red Ant for the milestone! A place that we were by now familiar with and a good speech from Mr Suscoe too. All in all a good evening.

**Find # 5920**
**Attended at 6:00pm on Saturday, 09 June 2018**
Well this was the culmination of a wonderful afternoon caching on the Bellarine, and around Geelong.
A well attended and fun filled event to honour the aged Bushfire and help him celebrate his big milestone.
Suscoe did a fabulous job as the MC, and it was interesting to hear about the paths the celebrated gentleman had trodden to get to this point.
We had done quite a number of caches in the afternoon so it was a great way to wind up our day.
Also good to catch up with all the attendees, some of whom I hadn't seen since last Wednesday.
Again, Happy Birthday Laurie, well done on your achievement. I'd like to say I hope I'm as fit as you are when I reach 80, but I think it's already too late, and I still have another 12 years to go!

**Thanks suscoe**

What a fantastic event, well organised and well attended by so many people knowing Laurie, many thanks goes to Ross and Sue for organising this celebration of the life and times of **"THE RED ANT"**.

[:(!] Thanks for an awesome effort.

I like it

Another one off the list

TNLNSL TFTC/TFTH/TFBUH Suscoe [^]

What a well-attended and fun event this was! We arrived on time and found the venue already abuzz with excited geocachers, lovely decorations, food on some tables, and stories just filling the room. Though we were on a tight time schedule, we managed to stay until the end of the hosts' lovingly prepared "This is Your Life" presentation and subsequent quiz. Great work, suscoe, we could hardly drag ourselves away! [^]
We even managed to finally put a few faces to names that we have been reading and hearing for years and years. This event has pulled in a magnificent crowd, one to remember for a long time.
And one more time: Happy Birthday, Red Ant, thank you for being a stalwart friend in the geocaching community! We love your work and your company and the fact that we can call upon you when stuck in the field (when we think we have worked out a location for GZ). [:X]

Suscoe would like to thank everyone for their attendance at the "80 Candles for the Red Ant" event in Waurn Ponds on Saturday 9th June 2018. It was a tremendous to see so many people come along to say, "Happy Birthday Laurie!"
We enjoyed getting together with the Red Ant's wonderful wife Joy to put on this event to celebrate Laurie's 80th birthday. He seemed to enjoy himself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was also great to read the messages sent by those who were not able to attend on the night.
We have enjoyed so many geocaching trips with Laurie over the years and we look forward to many many more.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUSHFIRE!!!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAURIE/BUSHFIRE/RED ANT
What an amazing Evening to celebrate Bushfire's 80th Birthday OBE with his family and friends. With the brilliant MC Suscoe to give us a 'This is Your Life' insight.
The Great turnout showed how much he is respected in the Local and caching community.

Thanks for organising an such an entertaining evening Suscoe.
#4,086

First off Happy birthday again young fellow.
And a big thank you for Suscoe for hosting this fantastic event for a fantastic member of our caching community. We learned a lot about Laurie and his great life pre geocaching and also some interesting antidotes since starting caching. It was a great evening with much laughter. excellent food and a memorable MC. But most of all it was an honour be be able to help this good mate celebrate getting his OBE.
We wish him many many more.
Thanks Suscoe for organising this event and also all who helped out on the night.

TB Drop

Jinky and John had a great night listening to tales of the old man. Next 80 should be fun Bushfire!

It was an honour and a privilege to be able to share this momentous occasion with one of nature’s true gentlemen.
I think the first time I geocached with Bushfire was at Wedderburn where we found some ingenious hides together.
The last time was between a few events on the same day in the Geelong area, when I came down on the train and he so kindly ferried me between events, finding caches en route.
Thankyou for your friendship and your willingness to share your knowledge.
I’m so pleased that Muggle Hubby gave up his golf game to bring me down here for this, Thankyou so much Suscoe for running this event in his honour, we’ve loved being here

Happy 80th Birthday Laurie, we are privileged to share this night with you . A popular man as the great turnout shows.
Thanks for holding this event for the young man, Suscoe , we are pleased to make it our 10,000th find.

Great night for
Red Ant 80th Birthday.
Well done Laurie A big thanks to Ross and co and Joy.
Vicfire.

Sadly I have been sick since Wednesday. I really dont want to spread it amongst everyone else, so I think its best I stay at home,

Happy Birthday Lawrie, I hope you have a fantastic night.

Apologies for not being able to attend tonight, but wishing Bushfire the very best none-the-less. I'll be raising a glass in his honour tonight. Looking forward to his next 8000 finds and 150 hides!
Lots of love, WesPro and SueHut.

Droppping off trackables

If there's fresh rabbit on the menu I might fly by.

I cant make dinner but as mentioned to the man himself I will endeavour to make my way down the hill some time before 8 for a quick beverage and a hello. Would be rude not to attend an event at my local!

Alas we won't be able to make it to this event. Congratulations on your 80th Birthday Laurie/Red Ant/Bushfire. Wishing you all the best for the day. Have a great evening with all the other cachers able to share your celebration. All the best from Zedaycee, Tally Tiger, and Angelique_Anja

×2 wil be there

Sorry would love to have attended but currently on our way home from our journey west. Hope you have a great day.

If it’s not too late we’d like to go to this event too.
Surefoot24 and The-Evil-Muggle.

We can't make it unfortunately but want to wish you Red Ant aka Bushfire aka Laurie a wonderful Birthday celebration! 80candles .. we can't believe it.. we were sure you were only in the sixty candles vicinity! Have a great night, and we will catch you out caching or at an event sometime soon. Best Wishes and many more candles from Plowfive aka Ken, Cass & the kidlets (Luke, Will and Tess).

Sadly, we're not going to be able to make this one Family commitments have come up. Hopefully we'll get to catch up with Red Ant soon and wish him congrats, but please pass on our regards.

I'll be there to celebrate "the ageing" Bushfire's 80th.

1 to attend
I can't miss a mile stone event if I can help it. Cheers

Can't attend, but I do want to add my tribute to the ageless Bushfire.
The Red Ant/Bushfire/Laurie is the cause of my addiction to geocaching, because it was his cunning, creative caches around Anglesea and Aireys that got me started. From time to time he still frustrates me with some evil hides that my ageing eyes just can't see. Can anyone lay claim to having found all of Bushfire's 157 caches? What a commitment to maintain so many caches.
I did enjoy getting busted by Laurie outside his home as I searched for a cache, and claiming a joint FTF when we met up along the Anglesea Road.

Laurie, how much would you be worth if you were a bottle of wine? Not as much as you're worth as a fellow cacher.
Turning 80 represents a great deal of knowledge and wisdom. Now if only you can still remember it all!
Bushfire, you are a legend. Happy Birthday.

Unfortunately I won't be able to attend, but I'll take this opportunity as a (long-retired) geocacher to wish Laurie all the best! We met early on in my caching career (~2007), and enjoyed the race to both hunt and place caches over the same couple of years.

(I actually can't believe you're turning 80 already; how time flies!)

All the best, and I wish you many happy caches in the future!

Cheers, Mr Emu (Peter)

Only just got back to Australia from the USA and Canada after 3.5wks away with micaparamedic and saw this event listing.

Laurie is awesome and if I can get there I certainly would love to help celebrate this milestone.

Muggle Hubby is going to give up his golf for this auspicious occasion, but dalerious is an apology as he has a prior event to attend.
So it will just be the two of us to help Bushrire blow out his candles, just so we don’t start another bushfire!

It's not often we get the opportunity to celebrate the birthday of a legend! Count us both in please.

x1 for us.

"We're getting the band back together."

Count us in for two (2)

Sounds like a reason for a drive to warn ponds.. just me.

[8)] It's not often we get the opportunity to celebrate the birthday of a legend! Count us both in please.

Wouldn't miss this for quids!!!
Thanks for the invite.
Only 1 of us this time.

Suscoe will be there X 2.
Looking forward to a lovely evening celebrating the Red Ant's 80th!

I will be there.

Am hoping that the M & M's might be able to make it to celebrate with the Red Ant appreciation society.

[:(!] There will be two of us in attendance. [:(!]

Have met Laurie a number of times now and he is always so helpful. The two of us will certainly make every effort to be there

We would love to attend this special event, 2 for dinner

Put me down for one.

90% certain I can make it.

I'll do my best to make it.

Met Laurie at a recent event over Ballarat way. This is a milestone worth celebrating!
Planning to be there.

After a text from the CO to let me know this was on, I couldn’t miss it. I’ll be there with bells on.

Jinky and John will both be attending.

I be there x 1

Oh wow, only met Red Ant at a recent event. Would never have put him at 80. Cannot be there for the event but wish him well.

Planning to be there, that's two of us.

We'll both be there to hopefully celebrate 8000 finds in 80 years.

Count us in...3 people please.

I would love to come and help celebrate Bushfires birthday. x 1

We both will be there to celebrate the young mans birthday.

Will attend with +Wife.
This is a celebration too good to miss! [^]

Will attend with n0w0rries.
Looking forward to partying with the octogenarian.

I hope to be there

Bugger, I'm away that weekend. Sorry I can't make it. Have a good one Laurie.

Thanks Suscoe flying back from Sydney will not miss this event on holidays.
Please put us down for 2 to wish the "silly old bugger" happy birthday.

Count us in 2 please

I'm sure going to try my best to get to this event, if it is at all possible!
When visiting from SA some of us South Aussies have been escorted around Geelong by Laurie and had a great day and night out as a result!
Then more recently the apparently Ageing Bushfire has also kept me out caching until 1.30am so you can't tell me he's 80!
Can't wait to wish you a happy birthday Red Ant!

One for this celebration for the Red Ant. In my diary already

We'll both be there.

Will do my best to get there - Just me

Published

We will swing by after work How exciting!

Plan to be there to celebrate this milestone. Best plan for 2 please

Wouldn't miss it!! Two of us please.

Wait until I see S & R as the family wanted to know what I wanted and I said NO PARTY it is only another day.
I guess I had better turn up, I wonder if the NGW will attend!!!!!

Well the things that go on behind your back, it appears that the NGW was in the know all along as for the extremely devious suscoe cachers one phoned my mobile while the other rang the home phone, how sneaky. So I guess that means you had better put US down for two to attend. Thanks guys. This will be a first after 14 years.