As many rogainers will be aware current ARA Secretary and Immediate Past President of QRA, Paul Guard, lost his parents Jill and Roger in the MH17 tragedy. You can read his tribute to his parents here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cgVZ_RuGz-pRSaBSlyrbxvYFEIXlCeLrO7h_rBHf00Y/pub

In addition to being Paul’s father, Roger Guard was well known to many rogainers through his ultra-running exploits.

From memory he still holds the Queensland, and possibly Australian, M60 24-Hr record of 181km. Roger also competed in several QRA rogaines with Paul. Their first event together was the Dark Side of the Moon 12hr Rogaine in 2003, where they finished in 8th place overall. They also competed together with Paul's cousin Linda at the 2003 Queensland 24hr Championships where they won the Mixed Open category. They ran together in the 2010 Great Escape 6hr Metrogaine which was held in Toowoomba, and won the event (certainly assisted by Roger's intimate knowledge of the Toowoomba escarpment trail network!). Roger also competed in the 2006 No Surrender Nukinenda 6hr event with daughter Amanda where they came third overall and he also assisted with the setting of the 2010 Up Hill & Down Dale 24-Hr event. Both the rogaining community and the trail running community in South East Queensland will miss Roger deeply.

The thoughts of the entire rogaining community go out to Paul, Amanda and their extended family at this most difficult of times. Anyone who would like to further honour their memory are encouraged to contribute to causes that Roger and Jill were both passionate about, donations in their memory can be made using one of the links below.

Here is their Supporter Page for Medecins Sans Frontieres:
https://msfinmemory.everydayhero.com/au/jill-and-roger-guard
Here is the Support Us Page for the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation:
http://toowoombahospitalfoundation.org.au/support-us (please mention Jill and Roger in the 'seller's instructions' field)

Richard Robinson
Immediate Past President
Australian Rogaining Association