Time to reflect 12pm until 2:00pm at the posted coords for a celebration of SA's reviewer Tchingal
Back in 2013, SA_Parrothead stepped into the reviewer role for South Australia, becoming known to the community as Tchingal. What followed was more than a decade of quiet dedication to a role that many see, but few truly understand.
For the past 13 years, Tchingal has sat behind the scenes publishing thousands of cache listings and events across our state. Every green “Published” log that popped into existence represented careful reading, checking, thinking, and sometimes a little gentle nudging to help a cache owner get their listing just right.
Being a reviewer is not the easiest gig in geocaching. It’s a delicate balance — upholding the guidelines of Geocaching.com while also supporting and encouraging a passionate community of geocachers who, let’s be honest, occasionally like to test those guidelines just a little bit.
And test them we did.
Over the years Tchingal became well known for his calm, fair, and steady approach to reviewing. Sometimes the answer had to be “no,” sometimes it was “not quite yet,” and sometimes it was the classic reviewer message that made every cache owner sigh and think, “Ah… back to the drawing board.”
But every one of those moments came from the same place — protecting the integrity of the game we all love.
Behind every reviewer note was someone volunteering their time, reading listings late at night, double-checking distances, considering land managers, and making sure that when a cache did get published, it met the standards that keep geocaching fun, fair, and sustainable for everyone.
And let’s not forget — Tchingal didn’t just live in the reviewer queue.
Over the years he’s been a familiar face at countless Geocaching South Australia events, turning up to gatherings, sharing stories, answering questions at newbie sessions, and patiently explaining the mysterious ways of the reviewing world. For many new geocachers, he helped turn the confusing process of publishing a first cache into a proud moment.
After all, nothing quite compares to that magical moment when the email arrives saying:
“Your cache has been published.”
(Unless, of course, it’s the moment you realise you forgot to check the 161-metre rule… again.)
But as with all great adventures, there comes a time when the map turns to a new chapter.
After 13 years of service, Tchingal is stepping down from the reviewer role to allow the next generation to make their mark, just as he once did.
South Australia may be losing one of its reviewers, but the community gains something just as valuable — a knowledgeable, experienced, and respected geocacher who now gets to enjoy the game from the other side of the publish button.
No more reviewer queue.
No more guideline deep dives.
No more explaining why your cleverly disguised cache in a traffic roundabout might not be the best idea.
Just the simple joy of grabbing a GPS, heading out on an adventure, and maybe — just maybe — being the one waiting for that sweet FTF.
On behalf of the South Australian geocaching community:
Thank you, Tchingal.
For the patience.
For the dedication.
For the countless hours behind the scenes.
And for helping keep the game we love on the right track.
Your impact on geocaching in South Australia will be felt for many years to come.
This is a dog friendly event. All dogs must be on a lead and under effective control from their handler at all times.