Riding for the Disabled Association NSW

Spring/Summer 2012

Congratulations “Tall Timbers” on your 40th Birthday NEWS FROM THE CENTRES

“Tall Timbers” A Milestone Celebration – 40 years of RDA “Tall Timbers”

In April 1972 our Founder, Pearl Batchelor, held her first riding class for people with disabilities at West Pennant Hills. On the 23rd October, 1972 a meeting took place with the name and constitution being established.

Much has happened in the 40 years since then. The years have been absolutely jammed with RDA riding, driving and vaulting programmes, competitions, workshops, various activities, awards for both riders, drivers and volunteers and the many fundraising events. There has been so many people involved with the establishment, continuing growth, day to day routines of “Tall Timbers” it would be impossible to name them all.

“Tall Timbers” Centre has been recognised by RDANSW as the founding Centre of Riding for the Disabled Association in New South Wales.

We have so much to be proud of: the opportunities that can be given to people with disabilities coming to us either with a group or as individuals and their achievements no matter what size; the volunteers’ achievements and generosity of time and energy; the memories that our special horses over the years have created and the commitments our coaches, committee and staff, past and present have made. There has been an amazing contribution from so many different people from all walks of life, to come together and make our Centre what it is today.

Fundraising is constant and at times, challenging. We no longer have lamington drives with the abundance of coconut, jokes and cleaning up or Beef and Heifer shows in the indoor arena. In this day and age some functions just do not bring in the funds as they used to. Catering at the Castle Hill Show has been going on forever and takes quite a bit of “people power” but with everyone pulling together these and other fundraising events have been successful and at times very entertaining. Working bees and individual input continue as they have in previous years for the improvement of the facilities for our riders, drivers, volunteers and horses. Sponsors, supporters and volunteers are always precious to us. Also treasured are our family members, friends and neighbours that help us when they can. Promotion of RDA and the “Tall Timbers” Centre is also ongoing, whenever we are out in the public eye or at stands at various events and shopping centres.

Special mention and thanks must go to our equine partners, their unique contribution gives so much pleasure and provides so many benefits and opportunities.

In our 40th year – RDA “Tall Timbers” programmes are ongoing and being expanded and the property at Box Hill continues to be improved. The water tanks and dam are full and the grass is green. Our riders are beaming and we are smiling with them.

We continue on, working together as a team, to provide equine assisted activities for people with disabilities to develop and enhance abilities.

by Karen O’Neill, Honorary President

MY STORY OF THANKS - RENEE SMITH I was first introduced to Tall Timbers in 2003 during my school's yr 10 work experience program. I enjoyed the experience, so I returned as a volunteer straight after I finished my last HSC exam, and continued on into the next year where my Uni timetable allowed. Volunteering was not only a very rewarding experience, but more importantly, for a young person it was a learning experience. I took away many life lessons from spending time with the riders especially. “Focus on what I can do, not what I can’t” became very important to me a few years later, and was the attitude that helped me stick at it and not give up. Thank you Tall Timbers for taking on young volunteers and giving them the opportunity to learn as I did. In 2008 I sustained an injury that doctors first thought was causing sciatica, and would right itself in time. Unfortunately my condition worsened, and scans 2 months later showed what I had really done. The bottom part of my spine had been moved over the right (luckily still protecting most of my spinal cord though), leaving the edge of some of my vertebrae holding my weight, damaging discs and nerve roots for my legs- my right leg in particular, causing weakness and loss of sense in some areas. I’ve spent the past three years working with a team at a rehab hospital, and while everyone there was nice to be around, I struggled with the changes. My injury meant that I had to give up horse riding (showjumping was my chosen horse sport), but it was always something that I wanted to do again. When my doctors and rehab team finally consented to the idea of trying riding again, I decided to ask Nicole for advice. She was able to find a space in a class, riding the trust-worthy and bomb-proof Apex. I started riding at the beginning of this year, while at the same time taking a break from the formal rehab hospital program. People would ask why I was riding again when it caused increased pain, fatigue, and carried a risk of further damage if I had a bad fall from a horse. Tall Timbers gives us riders the chance to show that disability doesn’t rule our lives. A special thank you to the horses who take good care of us and adapt to the different ways that we ride. At first there was some scepticism as to whether swapping a team of therapists and their rehab plan for a 45 min sit on a walking horse was such a good idea or if it would bring any benefit. My neuro physio and I spent last year playing left and right games, mirroring her movements, walking while we throw a ball back and forth etc. By the end we hadn’t really progressed far and I was quite frustrated! I saw her the week before I started riding, and then again in late September. She was amazed at the changes she saw and especially how I was moving with more symmetry. Here was only one of the pieces of evidence that horse riding therapy combined with the games designed by the coaches has great benefits. I’ve been able to share more exciting changes with Joan and the Monday volunteers. My previously uneven walking gait is looking more balanced, I now have less falls thanks to improved balance, I can take my feet in and out of the stirrups by myself, and I smile, laugh and have fun. These changes may seem small, but to me they are really exciting, as my progress with other rehab programs had reached a plateau. It encouraged me to not give up hope that I can still keep improving. Being at Tall Timbers has also helped to change my attitude towards my disability. Previously my stubborn and determined will meant that I wanted to go on being “normal”- I wanted to still do everything by myself, having people do things for me would leave me feeling useless, I didn’t like accepting living aids, and therefore made life harder for myself than what it needed to be. Thank you Tall Timbers for being an environment safe from judging, where I could learn to be me and that there’s nothing wrong with that. Accepting people’s help is now something that fills in the gaps between the things that I can do, and together we are a team. I cannot thank every involved at Tall Timbers enough for the piece of my life that you’ve given back to me. While at times it hasn’t been easy and frustrating when I want to ride like I used to, being around people who encourage me to focus on what I can do rather than trying to be like others, and seeing examples of para equestrians who develop their own way of communicating with their horse, has been a great motivator. I am now determined to continue riding and developing my own riding ability. Sometimes just being able to smile and have fun is more than enough, so I thank the Tall Timbers team for making therapy fun.

Tamworth Volunteers were recently saddened by the sudden death of Duncan Martin’s wife Roberta. Duncan is a Life Member, a past secretary and a hard working volunteer. Most of our volunteers attended Roberta's funeral to support Duncan and his family. Roberta herself was very much involved in community work over many years.

In the past few weeks our Centre has had the use of three new ponies. They are only about 35” high, but wonderfully quiet to use for our really small client riders and adult groomers.

“Addie is a Cremello mare, “Buttons” a skewbald mare and “Tonto” a skewball gelding whose owner/ volunteer brings him in each week. The three of them are very popular with volunteers and clients.

On a recent weekend our Centre volunteers were invited to man the BBQ at Tamworth's huge“Tonto” new Bunning's & Brenda, “Addie”Store which & Tony is &the “Buttons” largest &store Nicole in regional Australia. We had two big days with many volunteers helping for the time they could. 3000 sausages were sold over the two days. We were fortunate to make a good profit which will be used to maintain our Centre operations.

The Centre’s grounds are looking lovely at present after a mild summer and plenty of rain. It is a very pleasant place for us to operate.

“Tonto” & Tim, Bailey, Belinda & Brenda “Addie” & Gill with clients

Tie-up yard “Buttons” & Kelly, “Addie” & Gill Latest from Tamworth… Tamworth Centre has been very busy in the past months looking after our usual clients and several new clients. Luckily we have some new volunteers as well. All are welcome at our Centre. Two Coaches and two Whips and one Trainee Assistant Coach attended the North West Regional Workshop at the Coonabarabran Centre. The Coonabarabran volunteers were very welcoming and Jackie Laing and Margot Bulger very interesting.

Three ladies are training to be Assistant Coaches and two men are training to be Assistant Whips at our Centre. We look forward to their participation in the future.

On the 20th and 21st of April next year it is planned to hold a Regional Workshop at our Centre. Plans are being made and we look forward to many visitors participating.

Arrangements are underway for our annual Christmas function for our clients. Hopefully Santa Claus will arrive in our red cart.

We plan to take the opportunity to present Life Membership to past president and hard working volunteer John McBride at this function.

Ballina

Manning Great Lakes

MYALL LAKES COMMUNITY AWARDS

The 2012 Myall Lakes Community Awards have just been announced and our Centre had finalists in all categories

The outstanding news is that Jeff was named 2012 Myall Lakes Community Citizen of the year. We are thrilled for Jeff, it is very fitting and well deserved acknowledgement of his work not only at our centre but in the community as a whole.

The awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of many individuals and groups in Myall Lakes and is a way of saying “thank you” to those many volunteers who make our communities a better place.

The inaugural Myall Lakes Community Awards were presented by His Excellency Rear Admiral Peter Sinclair AC in Forster on Saturday 27th October in front of an audience of more than 300 people.

There were five categories of awards which were:

Myall Lakes Citizen of the Year, Myall Lakes Senior Person of the Year,

Myall Lakes Young Person of the Year, Myall Lakes Sports Person of the Year

Myall Lakes Community Group of the Year.

There were more than fifty nominations from which the judges selected the finalists, and the winners. RDA put forward a nomination in each category and each nomination was announced a finalist.

Our nominees were as follows:

Myall Lakes Citizen of the Year – Jeff Patterson

Myall Lakes Senior Person of the Year – Maureen Turner

Myall Lakes Young Person of the Year – Chelsea Nuttall

Myall Lakes Sports Person of the Year – Tara Copp

Myall Lakes Community Group of the Year – RDA Manning Great Lakes Centre

We were thrilled to have each of our nominees announced as a finalist and receive a framed certificate.

Topping it all off was when Jeff was announced the Myall Lakes Community Citizen of the year for 2102. COMMUNITY GROUP OF THE YEAR

NOMINATION FOR MYALL LAKES COMMUNITY GROUP OF THE YEAR

What a year it has been for this group.

The 20mx40m arena has finally got an all - weather roof. No small feat for the Centre and volunteers. After being successful with a grant application to purchase materials, the next task was to erect the roof. Volunteers from the Centre rallied around and canvassed the local community for support. This culminated in the local community getting together to support the Centre and erect the roof. A celebration was held in July.

The work done at RDA is centred around creating opportunities for people with a disability and to assist each person to extend themselves as far as then can and then reach a little further. This is true for the riders and the volunteers at the Centre.

Riders have had the opportunity to participate in three State events this year – a Video Dressage Competition, Video Musical Ride Competition and State Mounted Games. There have also been opportunities to participate in regional events – the Mid North Coast Regional Mounted games. In October three riders will travel to Werribee for a national competition. All this costs money ... most has been raised by the volunteers at the Centre.

Volunteers come to the Centre to help out for a variety of reasons. Some have spare time to fill in, some have emotional barriers, some are out of work, some just love horses and some just love to be around people. Whatever the reason, there is a place and task for everyone at RDA. The commitment shown by the volunteers is recognised at every opportunity, in particular during National Volunteers Week and International Volunteer Day. Without the support and hard work of the volunteers the Centre could not operate.

RDA provides programmes for people with a disability and also to people who have a mental health issue. Part of this service provision now also extends to those who have been subject of abuse and/or neglect, children and adults. The experiences gained at RDA through the programme and the support of the volunteers assists people to gain back confidence, self esteem and feels they are gaining strength and control of their lives again. While these programmes have a set time to run, the Centre has found that many of these participants come back again later on as volunteers.

A father of a rider recently thanked the volunteers of the Centre for assisting to make the Centre such a warm community. He said the welcoming attitude and can do approach of all the people involved will ensure the Centre goes from strength to strength. JEFF PATTERSON

NOMINATION FOR MYALL LAKES CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

Nothing is too much trouble for Jeff.

Jeff is the founder and a very enthusiastic member of Manning Great Lakes RDA. He is also a member of the Lions Club of Hallidays Point.

Jeff is a committee member, coach and leads the maintenance crew at RDA. He also organises an annual major fundraiser for the Centre and assists with all the others.

Jeff has been instrumental in the development of the new RDA Centre at Rainbow Flat. A retired builder, Jeff saw the potential in a disused council site building. He organised support from Mission Australia “Work for the Dole” Scheme and a clubhouse was the end result. The other projects he has led have been the sub division fencing on the property, stables, sheds and more recently a roof over the 20x60 meter arena. Jeff leads a small team of volunteers maintaining and developing the land and facilities. Whether a piece of equipment is needed or an adaptation to something is required, Jeff is at the ready to suggest innovative solutions and then complete the task by building/making it.

Jeff coaches on Mondays and Saturdays and is a favourite with riders. He plans activities to suit all the riders and creates opportunities for inclusion. While coaching riders he is also mentoring and teaching volunteers.

Jeff has been an active member of the Lions Club of Hallidays Point. Supporting projects in the community he has often offered his large shed for use by club members when building bus shelters in the area.

Jeff is always willing to assist anyone who needs a hand. He is a mentor and teacher to volunteers and is a resourceful volunteer himself.

CHELSEA NUTTALL

NOMINATION FOR MYALL LAKES YOUNG PERSON OF THE YEAR

It is becoming increasingly more difficult to find young people who are happy to give to the community and receive no material thanks for their efforts. Chelsea Nuttall is one such young person.

Chelsea has been volunteering for Manning Great Lakes RDA for 12 months. Any time Chelsea has available you will find her at RDA. She helps out some afternoons after school, during school holidays and on Saturdays.

Chelsea helps with the horses, getting the ready for lessons, looking after them and cleaning the stables and tack. She helps out in the lessons, leading the horses, sidewalking with riders and setting up the activities for the lessons. She is a wonderful role model and provides encouragement to the riders during the lessons.

Chelsea is now a mentor for other young people who come to volunteer at RDA. The experience and knowledge she has gained during her time at RDA means she can now lead other young people in their experience.

Chelsea’s refreshing attitude (and smile) are her greatest assets . She is full of energy and never tires of helping out.

MAUREEN TURNER

NOMINATION FOR MYALL LAKES SENIOR PERSON OF THE YEAR

Maureen always has others and the community in mind. She is one of the “youngest” 76 years olds you could find (even though she always says she is 27 and some months).

Maureen is a State Assessor with RDA NSW and a coach at the local Centre. Having been involved with RDA almost since its inception in NSW 40 years ago, she holds a wealth of knowledge and experience to impart. She works at the local Centre running lessons each Wednesday and Thursday, is the Horse Manager, on the committee and assists at most fundraising events.

The hours put in by Maureen are immeasurable. As Horse Manager she develops the care and feeding routines for the horses. If a horse is ill, Maureen is the one to call the vet and stay with the horse as needed (Last week she was with a horse till 9pm after having coached all day).

This year Maureen took riders to the Sydney Royal Show, floated the horses, cared for them and coached the riders while there. She also took riders and horses to Kempsey for the Regional Mounted Games, and next week will be taking riders and horses to Werribee Victoria, to compete in a national competition.

Maureen also assists riders and their families where needed, including transport and bed to sleep in if they need one.

She is only too happy to share the breadth of knowledge she has in our equine friends and over many years has assisted other people in the community overcome difficulties they may be experiencing with the four legged friends. Often this has meant transporting horses and people places, long days, late nights and lots of miles.

Maureen is also very involved in her local church. She is a dedicated member of the parish and takes on roles in prayer groups. Having a flair for writing (poetry), Maureen often writes prayers for others to read during the Sunday services. Maureen has completed the Education for Ministry course and is now mentoring others through this four year course, running weekly groups. You have heard the saying “if you want something done, ask a busy person” – Maureen also assists the local Salvation Army with the Red Shield Appeal. She has been the main collection supervisor for Hallidays Point, enlisting other to help her knock on all the doors in the area during the appeal. To raise additional funds she also organises auctions at the fish markets in Tuncurry.

Maureen has been guest speaker at just about every community service group in the local area, some have even had her back two or three times. On each occasion she has been able to raise awareness and money for RDA and also increase the numbers of volunteers assisting at the Centre.

It is an honour to share some of the things Maureen does in the community and to nominate her for this award.

TARA COPP

NOMINATION FOR MYALL LAKES SPORTS PERSON OF THE YEAR

Tara is a 10 year old girl who rides with Manning Great Lakes RDA. She has been riding at the Centre for just over a year and has two years ago to say that Tara wanted to give her little pony Buttons to us as she had out grown her. Giving Buttons to RDA would mean that Tara no longer had a horse to ride and she was keen to find out if she could ride at the Centre.

Buttons came to live at RDA and Tara continued her riding at RDA. Such is her commitment (and also her Dad’s commitment), she was soon riding three days a week. Every time Tara came to RDA she would go and give Buttons a pat, then she would be ready to ride.

Tara was able to ride Buttons at a trot by herself however riding one of the bigger horses at RDA would be a challenge. It was however, a challenge Tara was ready for and one she mastered very quickly. Tara very quickly graduated from the more “docile” horses at RDA and late last year she teamed up with Banjo. Together they have formed a bond that is taking them “places”.

Tara and Banjo participated in the RDA Regional Mounted Games competition late last year with great results. This saw Tara selected for the State Mounted Games Championships to be held at the Sydney Royal Show this year. Tara and Banjo “hit the mark” at the show and Tara was awarded the State Champion in the “walk section”.

Tara has just participated in the Regional Mounted Games competition again, this time in the “trot section”.

Tara is willing to give anything a go, so this year she also started learning about Dressage. Initially thinking she would start in the “walk tests” she learnt her tests quickly and well enough to go one step further. Tara has entered the RDA State Video Dressage competition in the “trot tests”.

While riding at RDA Tara also does a little jumping and helps look after Banjo. Tara is an excellent role model for other riders and is happy to show the correct way to do things or show that things are not really too hard. Tara particularly likes to go on trail rides and show other riders how to go up and down hills, encouraging them to give it a try.

Tara rides with confidence and pride. Unfortunately her little pony Button passed away this year, sad for us all but having graduated onto other horses, Tara was able to cope. This was no small feat, considering Tara has Autism.

The benefits gained by Tara’s donation of Buttons to the group were great. Tara assists the Centre in other ways also. She helps her Dad raise money for representative teams who are going away, she helps the Coaches catch all the horses, saddled Banjo herself and also helps other riders saddle their horses on occasions.

It is with pleasure we nominate Tara for this award.

WAGGA WAGGA

Wagga's biggest charity ride provided an unusual sight. RDA Wagga Centre is now one step closer to being able to buy a much needed bus.

Saddling up for charity (video) PRIME7 - Yahoo!7

http://au.prime7.yahoo.com/n4/news/a/-/local/15362534/saddling-up-for-charity-video/

Our Centre competed at the excellent Regional Mounted Games Day held at Kempsey Centre on 22nd September. Congratulations to Kempsey for hosting such a great day, and to our eight riders who had a wonderful time. It is a great opportunity for families to see the riders in action and very good for the horses and volunteers to visit other Centres. We are looking forward to hosting the event in 2013.

Congratulations to our Wauchope Primary School students who were successful in the Led Musical Ride DVD Competition for 2012. This year we entered two groups with a Slim Dusty theme and the children enjoyed the music and will be thrilled to receive their rosettes and ribbons.

Our Melbourne Cup Day was a great day with all the riders parading for the spectators and taking part in a “race”. All the horses were winners receiving a rosette.”

Upper Hunter

Undercover Area Official Opening

Left: Volunteers and Riders from the Upper Hunter Centre. Above: Presentation of the cheque which funded the undercover area.

A Display of Generosity by Newcastle Permanent “(The Foundation)…

A need to provide an all-weather area make our dream a reality. provided the for our horses and volunteers also On the 19th of July 2012 several funding required to created a second need… funding. members from the foundation attended It was not apparent how we could make our dream a an official opening at our centre. raise the funds required, that was reality.” until our president made an application to the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation for support. The foundation generously granted The new undercover area will benefit everyone at the centre, including our the Centre’s application, which volunteers and riders. provided the funding required to

A New Undercover Area For All The undercover area has already The new structure, which was kindly proved more than valuable, sheltering supplied by ABC Sheds, provides us from a rainy day that would have protection from the sun, and allows us otherwise meant our farrier would to carry out other chores and have had to cancel. In the protection activities when the weather is not of our new shelter, we had all ten cooperating. horses trimmed or shod. Something It will benefit not just our volunteers, that could not have been done prior but also our riders and those who to its construction. donate their services such as our For this everyone here at the centre is farrier and our equine dentist. It also extremely grateful and we cannot means that our horses now have thank the generous people at the shade for their preparation and Newcastle Permanent Charitable mounting yards. Foundation enough! HANNAH’S PARALYMPIC JOURNEY By Nicole King, Paralympic Groom

What a Journey London 2012 was! After an 18 month lead up the final few days in Melbourne were nail biting, exciting and filled with anxious moments. It was a very special day when the horses were presented with their uniform, Green & Gold rugs! With the final vet check complete and Kiwi was given the all clear to go there was a surreal moment watching Kiwi leave on the truck bound for the airport! There wasn’t a dry eye around as that was the moment the riders realised they were definitely going to the Paralympics! 36 hours later we were in Sparsholt UK seeing the horses for the first time after their flight. We had had a message to say they had arrived safe but it wasn’t until you see them in the flesh that you believe it. Sparsholt College was an amazing venue for our training camp and we settled into a routine fairly quickly. Horses were safe in their stables at night with newly installed motion sensor alarmed barn doors just for us. There was plenty of food for us with 3 full meals a day I was so full I barely ate any chocolate in the first couple of weeks! There were a few organised outings to give us a break in the outside world which were a relief however it was still hard to really get into the spirit of sightseeing. We travelled to Cardiff to attend the Australian Paralympic Team launch and collect our own Green & Gold uniform. It was very exciting that day to see the whole team together for the first time and walking into Cardiff Castle with locals cheering us in and the Australian Flag flying on top of the original castle! Sparsholt College had organised a demonstration evening for our horses and riders to put some pressure on and iron out some kinks before heading to Greenwich. It was great to see some familiar faces with Joan Guppy (Monday volunteer) and Marion & Norrie Valentine come along, they were there on their own holiday and were also very excited to be part of the Paralympic experience. When the day finally dawned to head to Greenwich the team were so excited, we knew we were ready. The Grooms, horses and Team Vet all headed to Greenwich on a very fancy horse transport truck and we waved our riders goodbye as they headed to the Paralympic village. Once in Greenwich we set about setting up the stables for our 2 week stay, we thought we were going to have to squeeze all our gear into 2 stables, imagine 4 tack boxes, bales of hay & bags of feed, freezer, physio table, 3 scooters in two stables but when we arrived we found we had 4 stables to set up, Luxury! The riders eventually made it to the stables after getting lost in the village and later that afternoon the horses were out of their stables and under saddle. I remember Hannah riding past with the biggest grin on her face, “My first ride! I’m here”. The next week we carried on with our routine each day building up Kiwi & Hannah’s work together. Peter, Hannah’s personal coach was by her side every training session and we both rode every stride with her. Other exciting moments was our first look at the Main arena, Hannah’s first ride on the main arena, Hannah’s dad arriving in Greenwich, my first hour out of the village – I had Fish n Chips at the local pub that had adopted the Aussie Para Equestrian team. Seeing more familiar faces with the Armstrong clan and the Watts family cheering us all on in the stands and having some time with them when we weren’t busy will always be cherished memories. Trot up day was so nerve racking for me – it was my turn to be judged – there is a reason I don’t compete! Although we were there, although the training and preparation had been done it all came down to the horse being accepted by the Ground Jury. All the grooms were leading our horses out together and one by one the Australian horses were called to Trot up. With Hannah, Peter, Tori (Kiwi’s owner) all watching on I ran Kiwi up and back and finally I heard the words “Waikiwi Accepted”. What a relief that was, I could breathe again. It was then into competition mode, with an air of anticipation and all the riders having their own routines, the job of us as grooms and support crew was to facilitate the best possible outcome for the riders. There was a sense of relief for the riders when their first rides were complete, there were the high’s of Jo winning the Gold medal and the lows of Grace’s withdrawal and the excitement and sense of accomplishment for everyone when our jobs were done. For Hannah & her support crew we knew the blood, sweat and tears were all worth it and she was so proud to be part of the London 2012 Paralympic Team and so happy that she has achieved her dream of being a Paralympian and representing her country. Everything now is a bonus!

Sunday 23rd September 2012

VALE

JENNY ARMSTRONG & JUDY CUBITT

JENNY ARMSTRONG

Jennifer Anne ARMSTRONG suddenly passed away early Sunday morning. Jenny had been a stalwart of all things voluntary in the Ryde area, but especially for RDA. Jenny became involved in RDA 30 years ago when twin daughters Jaci and Leisha were looking for an activity. Therapeutic Riding came into focus and they have not looked back.

In the last five years Jenny has given a full time commitment to redeveloping RDA’s Ryde Centre to give people with a disability in metropolitan Sydney the best services possible. Working with a small team of similarly dedicated volunteers, she has secured grants to finance construction of the Centre and was involved in almost every aspect of the new facilities.

JUDY CUBITT

Judith Anne Cubitt (OAM). has sadly passed away after a battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Judy was a highly regarded and well respected

Judge, Mentor and Coach who devoted many years of her life to Equestrian sport.

In 2004 she was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to Equestrian sports as a Dressage judge and administrator and to people with disabilities, particularly through the Riding for the Disabled Association of Australia. “Bugger – I told you I was sick” Judy was an A level Dressage Judge, Dressage Mentor and Level 1 Non-Jumping Coach Riding mentor always looked for the positives… Judy’s life in a nutshell

Going ... Judith Higley, as she was then, taking a tumble at the Royal Easter Show in 1967 after her horse clipped the rails. Photo: Ted Golding Judith Cubitt was one of the Australian equestrian community's most respected and loved personalities. She was an A Level Dressage judge, Level 1 non-jumping coach and mentor. She spent many years both as judge and administrator, and served as an Olympic national selector.

She joined Riding for the Disabled Association of Australia (RDAA) in 1995 and helped to guide the para-equestrian team to its debut in the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics. She was Chef d'Equip to the Sydney 2000 Paralympic team that won two gold and two bronze medals, the best result to date.

In recognition of her dedication, Cubitt was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2004.

Gone ... these images featured on the front page of The Sydney Morning Herald. Photo: Ted Golding Judith Anne Higley was born on October 26, 1942, the third of five children of Charles Higley, of Balmain, and his wife, Joan (nee Coulcher) from the Hunter Valley town of Quirindi. She grew up in Malabar, attended Maroubra Junction High School, and from the start was stubborn. When Charles wanted to recarpet the house, he told her to clear the floor in her room. She refused and in the end, hers was the only room not to get the new flooring.

She was also horse mad. She rode track work for Randwick-based race horse trainer T.J. Smith and taught his daughter Gai (now Waterhouse) how to ride. Cubitt was also serious about her showjumping career, but thought it a great laugh when the front page of The Sydney Morning Herald on March 18, 1967, featured three photographs titled ''Going, Going, Gone'' as she gradually parted company with her mount. A bad fall some years later needed extensive plastic surgery, and she began to look to dressage. In 1981, Cubitt married her "lamb chop", John Cubitt, a returned veteran from the Korean War. They moved to Dee Why and shared five happy years until his death.

Cubitt had a long and busy career with the Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW but her happiest days were working as relief officer. With a caravan hitched to her car, and often family members on board, she would travel all across the state, all the time making contacts in the equestrian world.

Retirement gave Cubitt the chance to begin a second career, with horses, of course. She first worked as the manager of a riding academy in Freemans Reach north-west of Sydney.

She was also in demand as a dressage judge, and it was while she was at an event in 1995 in Clarendon, on the outskirts of Sydney, that she wandered over to an arena where the RDAA were holding their National Dressage Championships. She was so inspired by what she saw she immediately offered her help and expertise.

She became a much loved mentor and friend to many. A close bond was formed with blind rider Sue- Ellen Lovett. The first time they met Cubitt had come to fix the music for Lovett's freestyle test. Lovett was riding a horse called Vision, which Cubitt thought was hilarious. Cubitt took Lovett and her campdrafting horse to dressage and to Grand Prix level in just two years.

In 1997, Lovett rode from Melbourne to Sydney with six horses and her guide dog Eccles to raise much needed funds for the Sydney Paralympic team. Cubitt was there at every stop. At the finish line, the Sydney Town Hall, Cubitt took horse and rider up in the lift and on to the balcony to see the crowd. She then organised riding lesson for the NSW minister for the Olympics, Michael Knight.

When Eccles had to be retired from guiding, the dog became Cubitt's constant companion. Whatever the problem, from persuading airlines to take guide dogs in the cabin with their owners, to helping rewrite the rules for paralympic dressage, Cubitt looked for the positives first. She encouraged people to always aim higher and, if there were difficulties, would provide the assistance to make it happen. Her talent extended to fixing things as well. Gremlins in the computers at the RDAA office were banished without reference to the manual, because that took the fun out of it. She loved gadgets, and fiddling with things, anything to make life easier for her riders and their horses. She spent hours on her computer composing, cutting and pasting music for freestyle tests to give to Equestrian Federation of Australia and RDAA competitors.

As her own illness, Parkinson's disease, progressed she devised a tongs and pulley system that enabled her to pull on trousers, and buttons were swapped for Velcro on her shirts.

Her motorised scooter was another tool to help transport gear and equipment.

Cubitt loved to laugh and loved to have the last word. She had been barely conscious in the final hours at Hornsby Hospital, but when her nephew, David Maher, leaned over and asked quietly "Can you hear me?" With her eyes shut, she answered, "No". As a fitting send off to a colourful individual, the coffin was decorated by her family and friends with images of Cubitt and her horses, and brought in by a roaring Harley Davidson motorcycle. Judith Cubitt is survived by her sister Robyn and brother Peter.

Lynne Cairncross

Judith Cubitt 1942 - 2012

The last word ... Judith Cubitt, esteemed judge and coach.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald 19 November 2012

Musical Ride with a Theme or Story - Led 1st place Raymond Terrace & Lower Hunter Centre “Tribute to Col Campbell” 2nd place Orange Centre “We are One – We are Australian”

Musical Ride with a Theme or Story - Unled

1st place Coffs Harbour “Jingle Bell Rock” Drill Ride to Music - Led 1st place Wauchope/Port Macquarie “G’Day G’Day” 2nd place Wauchope/Port Macquarie “Looking Forward”

Congratulations to all winners and place getters. It is great to see our Centres participating and achieving results in our Musical Ride Competition!!

Lucy Pentony Office Coordinator

Season’s Greetings and a Safe & Happy New Year to Life Members, Members of the Board, Lucy, Volunteers, Paid Staff, Riders, their Carers & Families, Supporters and to our Special Horses

Lyn Lazarus Editor, “Bits ‘n’ Pieces”