ROMP Burnet Institute
Frequently asked
questions
We hope we have answered all of your questions here . If there is something else we can help with email us at askus@cityromp.com
No, the Romp is accessible to all. We've had baby Rompers and grandparents alike take part - it's a great day out for all.
No. Running is not allowed so being athletic won't give you an obvious advantage. The Romp is a game of strategy that involves teamwork and using your collective brainpower to plan your route around the city solving the clues and Checkpoint Challenges. Teams are encouraged to use public transport as the majority of checkpoints are situated in close proximity to tram/train/bus stations or they can walk.
Yes, entry details including team members' names, addresses and contact details can be changed online at any time up to a week before the event at no charge. No refunds can be made for people who withdraw, but you can replace team members at no charge by simply amending their details. If a concession member is being replaced by an adult, the difference in entry price will need to be paid.
All team members are encouraged to fundraise for the Burnet Institute's fight against The 'Big Three': HIV, TB and malaria through this Romp for a Cure event. For every $10 raised by a team through sponsorship from family, friends, or work colleagues, we'll give you 2 Romp points up to a total of 300 points. Prizes are still awarded to teams randomly on Romp Day but these extra points earned will boost your chance of winning a category trophy.
Extra points gained through fundraising will be awarded up until 25 March 2012. Any fundraising done after 25 March 2012 will not count toward your Team's Romp points.
Previous Rompers will be more familiar with the event and may have worked together as a team before, but there are new Checkpoint Challenges for the 2012 Melbourne City Romp are new so everyone has an equal chance of winning!
Teams queue in the Romp start area just before their nominated start time of 10:00am, 10:30am, 11:00am, or 11:30am.
As soon as you reach the end of the queue you'll be asked to SMS the word 'GO' to the hotline. Your four hours start as soon as we receive that text message. You'll get an SMS back advising your first compulsory. Show this SMS to a Romp volunteer at the Start Desk to receive a Romp Clue Sheet. Head past the Romp Bag collection area to pick up your free Romp Bag and you're off and Romping!
A Romp Posse will hand your team a randomly selected Romp Checkpoint Challenge card. You cannot exchange your Challenge card if you don't like it and you may only attempt one Challenge per location.
A range of different challenges are allocated to each Checkpoint so teams may be solving different challenges at the same time, so there's no point trying to cheat or asking your friends in other teams to help!
Once you've solved your challenge, SMS your multiple choice answer and we'll text back if you're right, how many points you've just earned, your total points score and how much time you have left to Romp - it's that easy! Then head off to whichever Checkpoint you decide to go next...
It's up to you. An average Romp team will visit between 10-15 Checkpoints but it's physically impossible to visit them all. Chose the ones that interest your team most and discover parts of Melbourne you never knew existed! All Rompers are encouraged to travel between Checkpoints at a comfortable pace to enjoy this special event. Remember - the Romp is a strategy game, not a race!
This year, most of the prizes will be awarded randomly to Romp fundraisers.
To reward the great efforts of our fundraising teams, we'll be giving the majority of the prizes in our Romp Prize Pool to randomly selected individuals from Teams who have helped to raise additional funds for Burnet. Each team member from Teams who raise over $150 will go into the draw for prizes in our Bronze Prize Pool, for those who raise over $300 will go into the draw for prizes in our Silver Prize Pool, and for those who raise over $500 will go into the draw for prizes in our Gold Prize Pool.
A number of prizes will also be awarded randomly on Romp Day from the stage at the Romp Concert to Rompers who are in attendance.
PLUS there are great prizes for teams who score the most points.
The Melbourne City Romp is an event open to everyone, and welcomes all families no matter whether heterosexual or homosexual. So if you're a single parent, are married, in a defacto relationship or have a partner and want to Romp with your kids and/or your relatives you qualify for the family ticket. So get Romping!
To be eligible for a concession/student price you must either be a full or part time student with a concession card or a student ID card. Holders of an Australian Government or Centrelink Healthcare Card or pension/senior citizen card are also eligible for the concession price. If you are a full or part time student over the age of 17 but do not have a concession or student ID card please contact the Romp Hotline. If you are a student aged 17 or under you can also enter as a child.
You need a minimum of 2 people and no more than 6 (including children and infants). Your team will receive one bib number for each team member and that bib number is your ticket for free entry to Romp Checkpoints on the day.
The Melbourne City Romp is an event open to everyone, and welcomes all families no matter whether heterosexual or homosexual. So if you're a single parent, are married, in a defacto relationship or have a partner and want to Romp with your kids and/or your relatives you qualify for the family ticket. So get Romping!
1. A Melbourne City Romp branded bag that you can fill up with sponsor goodies collected at Checkpoints throughout the day
2. Free entry into major Melbourne venues that you visit as part of the Romp
3. Chance to share in thousands of $$ worth of prizes (Rompers who fundraise have even better chances of winning these prizes)
4. Certificate of completion
5. Romp Passport (Kids under 13 only)
6. Supporting the Burnet Institute's fight against The 'Big Three': HIV, TB and malaria which cause the deaths of seven million people each year.
Yes, you'll have to use one of the paper entry forms and send in a cheque or money order made out to the Burnet Institute. You can download an entry form by clicking here.
Yes, enter a team now and update additional team member details online later using a password and pay the additional fee for new members. All team members must be completed and entered online prior to 5pm on Tuesday 13 March.
No. However, you can replace team members right up to the day of this charity event. No refunds will be made under any circumstances.
No, charitable donations are only tax deductible if you don't receive a benefit. As Rompers are taking part in an entertainment event and have the chance to win prizes, that's counted as a benefit. However, funds raised through donations of $2 or more by Rompers are tax deductible as long as you are not donating to your own team.
No. However, it is compulsory for the team captain to carry a mobile phone (make sure it has sufficient credit and that it is fully charged!). The team captain's mobile phone will be used to receive information from us during the Romp and for your team to submit answers to Checkpoint challenges.
Normal SMS charges will apply (normally 25 cents per SMS depending on your carrier). If your team captain is on a monthly plan, it is possible that all of the SMS's sent by your team during the Romp will fit within the fixed monthly plan. The average team will send about 12 x SMS's during the Romp, so the total SMS cost would be around $3-$4.
The Romp Map and your Romp Team Kit will be mailed to you 5 days prior to the event. The Romp Map will only show grid lines and not indicate any Checkpoint locations or other information. You receive the vital Romp Clue Sheet which directs you to the various Romp Checkpoint locations from a Start Desk on event morning.
That's right. Once you've entered and paid your entry fee, you get your own unique Romper Team Home Page to upload a team picture as well as individual team member photos. Let the world know you are Romping, amend team details, see messages of support from friends and family that sponsor you and view your results post-Romp.
All the latest Romp info and news will be available in the official Romp Newsletter e-Romp. So, it's important that your team captain and all team members enter a valid e-mail address when entering so that they can receive e-Romp.
Legally we have to make sure that anyone under 18 has their parent or guardian sign and agree to Romp Rules and Terms & Conditions. Your team captain, who needs to be aged 18 or over, is also responsible for keeping these signed forms safe. The team captain in the schools team is the only adult allowed in the team.
For teams who enter using the entry form, it's sufficient for a parent or guardian to sign the entry form acknowledging that they have read and agreed to the Romp Rules and Terms & Conditions. Teams that enter online need to print off the Rules and Terms & Conditions sign them and ask the team captain to keep them safe. To print a copy of the Terms and Conditions, just click here.
Yes, however you only need to hand it to Romp management in the very unlikely event that something happens to one of your team members on Romp day.
No. A discount coupon is only valid for the initial entry transaction, so you need to pay for everyone in the team upon sign up.
No. All questions are designed to be fun and interesting, but will also require you to keep your wits about you and to read the question carefully. The majority of Romp Checkpoint Challenges have been set at an achievable level, although challenges do range in difficulty from very easy to reasonably difficult. At each Romp Checkpoint you will be randomly allocated a challenge and you cannot request a specific level of difficulty. This is all part of the game!
For Rompers who want to stretch their brains a little more, we'll be running a Mind Bender Challenge on Romp Day which few of you will be able to solve. This challenge doesn't count for overall Romp results but has its own prize.
To charity! All proceeds go to the Burnet Institute, Australia's leading medical research and public health institute focused on infectious diseases which is based in Melbourne but also operates public health programs in 15 countries. Among the priorities at Burnet is the race to discover new vaccines in the fight against The 'Big Three': HIV, TB and malaria which cause the deaths of seven million people each year.
YES! We encourage all teams to get into the fun spirit of the event by having a 'team outfit' or theme to set you apart from other Rompers. There'll be special prizes for the best outfits - so get creative!
Winners will be announced post-event once we've trawled through the photos taken by our Romp snappers who will roam the city on the day.
Yes, there will be prizes for the highest fundraisers but what's most important is that ALL fundraisers are in the running for some great prizes. Each team member from teams who raise $150 or more will go into the draw for prizes in the Bronze Prize Pool. Each team member from Teams who raise $300 or more goes into the Silver Prize Pool draw. Members of teams who raise $500 or more have the chance of winning some of the fantastic prizes in the Gold Prize Pool.
Yes, prams can be used on the day as the majority, but not all, venues will be accessible. Public transport will be popular on the day for Rompers and the general public so it may be worth considering using a baby carrier or deciding on a route between Checkpoints that uses minimal public transport.
No, you will need to purchase a Sunday saver Metcard at a cost of $3.20 per person (price as at Nov 2011). This will enable you to travel into the city, as well as on trams, trains and buses during the Romp, then home again. A great transport option!
You can order Sunday Saver Metcards online (minimum purchase of 4 cards ie: $12.80 total purchase) or you can buy them at selected retail outlets and premium train stations, click here for further details.
To plan your travel on Romp day, use Metlink's fabulous Journey Planner.
To talk to someone at Metlink with your specific public transport travel enquiry, call 131 638.
Some of the same Checkpoint venues will be used however we are also unveiling some new and quirky Checkpoint venues to consider visiting alongside Melbourne's icons. There's new Checkpoint Challenges too so if you have Romped before, don't worry, there's plenty of exciting, fun challenges to enjoy in 2012!
Bring an alert brain, your mobile phone (if you are team captain) and a sense of fun! Also consider the predicted weather conditions and bring a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and a water bottle that you can refill during the day. In the case of cold/wet weather, bring extra layers of clothing, a rain jacket and appropriate (comfortable) footwear.
All teams entered in the 2012 Melbourne City Romp must start at their agreed allocated start time between 10.00am - 12.00pm.
After you visit your compulsory first Checkpoint which is randomly selected by the Romp computer, you are free to plot your own course around the city. Teams will be given one of two ‘sets' of 40 Checkpoints. You'll only be allowed to go to the Checkpoints given to you but you'll be spoilt for choice with about 40 different Checkpoint locations to choose from. On event morning, your team will also be given a “Fab 4” list of four separate Checkpoints. If you visit all four locations, you will be in contention for the major prize draw.
Shhh….that's a secret till Romp day! But all the Checkpoints are located within the City of Melbourne boundary which is outlined on the Romp map you will receive in your Romp Kit 5 days prior to the event.
The average Romp team visits 10 - 15 Checkpoints on Romp day from a choice of over 40 different locations. Just choose which venues interest you and enjoy but remember, the Romp is a game of strategy, not a race!
The Romp is a treasure hunt with a twist. You'll pick up fun items along the route to fill up your goodie bag and have a chance to win some great spot prizes at various Checkpoints, but the main ‘hunting' involves solving the clues to find Checkpoints and trying to score points by answering your Romp Checkpoint Challenge question correctly.
Our crack team of question setters have created Checkpoint Challenges that vary in difficulty and carry different point ratings. To make it fair for all, questions are randomly given to teams at each Checkpoint. We've assessed each Checkpoint Challenge on three levels:
1. Difficulty of the Checkpoint Challenge - 1 being the easiest, 5 the hardest.
2. Estimated time it will take your team to find the location and solve the Checkpoint Challenge.
3. Distance from the Start Location ie; the further you travel from the start, the more you will be rewarded.
This way, you'll be rewarded for answering more difficult Checkpoint Challenges as well as being rewarded for the time it takes you to get there.
You can still participate in the Romp, but instead of SMSing your answers, you will need to write your team number, time and answer on the back of each Checkpoint Challenge card and hand your challenge cards in at the FINAL Checkpoint that you visit, or at the Romp Customer Services marquee at the finish location. All your Checkpoint Challenge cards must be stapled together by one of our Romp Posse. These cards will be manually checked and your total point score will be posted on the website within three days of the completion of the event.
The Romp will take place rain, hail or shine - but remember to dress for the predicted weather conditions and smile!
Preferably on the front of your clothes above the waist, but it can be attached on your back, arm, leg if that is more comfortable. Your bib numbers will be sent out in the Romper kit. You MUST wear it on Romp day to receive free entry and access into Romp Checkpoints. For babies in prams, the paper bib number can be attached to a visible external point on the pram. The Team Captain's bib will have the words ‘TEAM CAPTAIN' written on it. Only team captains will be handed the Checkpoint Challenge card.
Queuing is a Romper's nightmare so we have planned the event to minimise queuing. Rompers do not have exclusive access to venues and we ask that you are respectful of the tourists and general public who are also visiting venues on Romp day. If you arrive at a Checkpoint location and there is a queue to get inside the venue, one of the officials will advise you how long the wait time in the queue is expected to be, so that you can decide whether to move on to the next Checkpoint or wait.
Absolutely! Remember you can also take a break at any time, whether it's to take a rest or to simply enjoy some part of the city you've never seen before. After your initial SMS that gets you started on Romp day, you have four hours from when you receive your confirmation SMS to complete the Romp. Any break will be included in your four hour time limit. Remember, all team members still participating must be together when collecting Checkpoint Challenges.
Your team must stay together. If you lose a team member or your entire team and can't use mobile phones to contact them, you should return to the last location where you were all together and wait there for your team mates.
Yes and No! Each team is allocated a surprise list of Checkpoints, if your team and the other team you would like to Romp with end up with the same list then you can Romp together. If this is the case, the first checkpoints you visit will be different, then you can go to the next ones together. When you do arrive at a Checkpoint together, both teams will receive different Checkpoint Challenges to solve.
Of course you are free to go home and re-live your Romp experience. But why not join other Rompers enjoying some fantastic entertainment at the start/finish location from 2pm - 5.30pm.