RDARDA SASA NEWSNEWS Riding for the Disabled Association South Australia Inc. ISSUE NUMBER 32 AUTUMN 2011 Strong support for covered arena recent story in the Victor Harbor and is already before Victor Harbor Council‟s A Development Assessment Panel. Times has sparked some welcome It would be erected at the centre‟s riding area, on community support for a proposal to land sub-leased from Victor Harbor Riding Club. build an all-weather covered riding area The Times story by Anthony Caggiano quoted at the local RDA centre. centre president John Vincent, who said last year they A proposed 20 by 42.5m colorbond canopy with a had cancelled Tuesday and Saturday riding programs soft rubber/sand floor would cost around $120,000 six times because of rain or hot weather. Extreme weather can make things “severely uncomfortable for riders and volunteers,” he added. The Panel is considering possible issues with neighbours, whose backyards abut land on which the arena would be erected. Cr Peter Lewis spoke at the council meeting on March 28, stating he wanted to help the (RDA) group. Support also came from Cr Jim Telfer, who said effects on a newly built house next door would be “negligible”. Council approved the structure provided it met the requirements of the panel. Half the cost of the riding “arena” would come from a State government grant, the balance of around $60,000 being raised by the community. The structure would stand six metres tall and be shared between RDA and the Riding Club. John Vincent said both organisations could use it to conduct lessons and events during any type of weather. John‟s wife, Sue Vincent, centre secretary and coach, said 38 children, living with cerebral palsy, autism and other conditions, attended the riding sessions. “One student‟s sight was affected by the sun; they could only lay on the horse‟s (back) and have someone walking around holding an umbrella to shield their eyes. “You can‟t say to someone with autism „You can‟t go riding today because it‟s raining‟: they don‟t get it. They think, „Okay, it‟s Tuesday, it‟s riding day.‟ “This isn‟t just parading around, it helps them build confidence,” Sue said. Jai Modra, 10, is obviously happy to be at RDA Victor The newspaper story was picked up by a Harbor in fine weather on a riding day. local radio station. Sue said the publicity had – Photo courtesy Sue Vincent – Continued page 2 STATE OFFICE: 215 Portrush Road, MAYLANDS SA 5069 Ph 08 8331 1833,RDA Fax SA 08 NEWS 8331 AUTUMN 1188, [email protected], 2011 PAGE 1 www.rdasa.org.au Samaritan College students present a donation to RDA Whyalla just before Christmas. Pictured are, from left: Samaritan College project co-ordinator Heidi Korossy, former RDA rider and current college student Scott Litchfield, RDA coach Jill Warner, RDA horse Wilbur, RDA coach Mandy Manaley and students Lori Waldron, Tim Fulton, Grace Sires and Tyron Burk. Photo courtesy The Whyalla News. Continued from page 1 he headline in a December Members of the student group T news story by Jade Walker were Tim Fulton, Tyron Burk, resulted in strong local interest in in the Whyalla News read “A Grace Sires, Lori Waldron and RDA within the community and a Scott Litchfield. flurry of very welcome donations special gift”. It told how a group of students Speaking for the group, Lori from individual people as well as said their display comprised local clubs and businesses. from Samaritan College gave RDA Whyalla a helping hand with equipment from RDA including So well done Sue and John and saddles and stirrups and included all the volunteers at RDA Victor $162.25 towards the cost of new equipment for riders. a slide show and videos of RDA. Harbor, who are doing big things RDA Whyalla coach and for riders with disabilities. It was part of the school‟s personal learning plan, which committee member Jill Warner saw 120 students divided into was grateful to the students and groups of five, each group getting said RDA depended on community involved in community service support and if it wasn‟t for these and researching a voluntary donations RDA would not be able organisation. to provide a service in Whyalla. Co-ordinator Heidi Korossy RDA Whyalla has been said each group presented a operating for 19 years. The display at the school Civic Expo, centre is located on land off with $100 for best display, the Racecourse road, Whyalla Norrie, money to go to the voluntary entirely staffed by volunteers. organisation depicted. RDA and the local SES group Driving forces ... RDA Victor tied for first place and each Harbor coach and secretary Sue received $100. The RDA group Vincent, with her husband John also raised $62.25 in donations to Vincent who is centre president. add to the prize. – Photo courtesy Victor Harbor Times RDA SA NEWS AUTUMN 2011 PAGE 2 Progress slow and steady at new O’Halloran Hill RDA centre low progress is being made applications! particularly over winter when the S at the new RDA centre What is the vision? The plan wetted Bay of Biscay soil clags up to developing at O‟Halloran Hill. is ambitious. But if we borrow make horses and people taller. The new home of RDA another analogy, like eating an Wonderful for grapevines and crops, Blackwood moved out of its elephant, it is best done one but not for walking on. temporary “digs” at 6 A fodder shed to store hay Jennibrook Farm during produced on the property. Christmas holidays. “A staged project with 7 An implement shed for Lessons are some time equipment necessary to away. A temporary arena several stages now is being built for riders maintain the property. while works continue on behind us and many 8 Safe car parking. the main arena and 9 Power and water. buildings. 10 An outside arena to use on It is a massive project, more to come” perfect days when outdoors is one of the largest ever best. undertaken by RDA in SA – mouthful at a time. 11 Space for Golden Spur Pony Club probably the largest by the time it activities which RDA riders can join in. is finished. When it‟s “finished” the new centre will have: 13 Happy RDA riders and satisfied “Will it ever be finished?” is a RDA volunteers. question frequently asked and the 1 An indoor arena—larger than the Please donate now. Please give answer is both “no” and “yes”. old one at Craigburn Farm – providing as much as you can as often as “Yes” - it is a staged project year round riding in all weather. No you can to enable our riders to with several stages now behind more cancelling due to bad weather. ride year „round. us, and many more to come. Erection of building frame- 2 A secure waiting area for riders. work last year gave the site a 3 A functional office and kitchen. presence to hundreds of motorists 4 Disability access everywhere. In passing daily along Majors road. 5 Indoor stabling for horses, Since then nothing much seems to have happened – but Memoriam looks are deceiving. In this issue Supervised by a professional RDA Victor Harbor covered arena 1-2 builder, RDA volunteers are now Jai Modra happy young rider 1 David Bowman building a hayshed onsite to store RDA Whyalla – Good Samaritans 2 21 Mar 1957 to 15 Apr 2011 horse feed. O’Halloran Hill steady progress 3 Passed away at Flinders Once completed, attention will In Memoriam David Bowman 3 focus on cladding the admin Medical Centre following a In Memoriam Pam Waugh 3 long battle with cancer. building to lock-up stage, with RDA Pt Lincoln raises $20,000 4 plans and agreements currently RDA staff changes 4 Proud and supportive father of being drawn up. RDA SA State Manager’s overview 5 Paralympic equestrian and RDA The project can be likened to From the State President 6 rider Grace as well as twins the old analogy of a swimming Calendar 6 Emily and Olivia. duck – all serene above the RDA Yorke Peninsula relocates 7 Widely loved and respected. surface but paddling like crazy RDA Blackwood – Halloween & Cup 8 underneath! Vale pony Trumpet after 35 years 8 Will it ever be “finished”? Letters pages 9-11 Yes, but it will take awhile and Looking Back 11 Pam Waugh only be completed after much Night at the Races dinner raises $8K 12 28 Jan 1927 to 19 Sept 2010 fundraising and grant Australia Day honours for Carol & Roy 12 Strongly associated with RDA Quiz night winners 13 SA for 20 years as a donor and Support from Urrbrae student Mae 13 Strategic Plan—the arena vision 14 member and with New Constitution & Agreement 14 RDA Northern Area RDA SA Patrons, Board, Staff, Lifers 14 as a rider. RDA SA 40 years young 15 RDA Riverland Christmas cheer 16 RDA SA NEWS AUTUMN 2011 PAGE 3 “Dinner on the Deck” raises $20,000 RDA STAFF for Pt Lincoln all-weather riding arena DA Port Lincoln raised The musical trio “Who let the R more than $20,000 at a Cats in” played throughout the CHANGES “Dinner on the Deck” event at evening. the Port Lincoln Yacht Club on A special promotional feature I n June 2010 RDA Australia March 26. of the event was a collection of 21 relocated to South Australia, Centre fundraising and deck chairs, which had been to share the state office at 215 promotions officer Susan Hooker painted by local Eyre Peninsula Portrush Road, Maylands.