THE RYDE REVIEW. From the President. Riding for the Disabled Association - New South Wales. In this edition:

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1 Riding for the Disabled Association - New South Wales THE RYDE REVIEW Volume 1, Issue 4 Summer 2012 In this edition: ~ President s Report 1 ~ RDA Hong Kong 3 ~ New Horses 4 ~ Volunteer s Story 5 ~ Volunteers lunch 5 ~ The year that was 7 ~ How to help 8 From the President Welcome to the final newsle er for As I write this, our horses are se ling into their holiday home 20 lush acres by the river! I would like to say a big thank you to rider Natasha and her family for providing such a wonderful holiday home. Also thanks to volunteers, Bruce and Diana, who went with them to ensure they arrived safely. We will welcome them back relaxed and ready for another year on Friday February 8 th. January Diary Dates Saturday 5 th - tack room clean up February Saturday 2 nd coaches mee ng Friday 8 th - Horses return Saturday 9 th - 2nd and 4th Saturday volunteers required to feed and wash the horses Tuesday 12 th general mee ng Saturday 16 th - All Saturday volunteers training day Saturday 23rd - Saturday rider assessment day - for all riders March Saturday 2 nd - 1st and 3rd Saturdays recommence riding Saturday 9 th - 2nd and 4th Saturdays recommence riding Tuesday 12 th - AGM Since our last newsle er, the Ryde RDA community has mourned the loss of two of our longstanding volunteers Jenny Armstrong and Kaye Magarey. At the recent Open Day we were able to recognise Jenny s invaluable contribu on with the plan ng of a tree in her honour. On the horse front, we lost our lovely Elle due to a bad accident. Bindi has been leased to coach Louise. In their stead, we welcomed Jeht and River to the Ryde horse team. We s ll need at least two more horses to complete our team. In consulta on with Kaye s family, the money donated in her memory will be used to buy our next horse. The last few weeks have been very social with the first volunteers lunch at Marsfield Park. Thank you to coach Brenda and her team for hos ng the day and our catering team par excellence lead by Robyn for the sumptuous spread. A great me was had by all.

2 The RDA Ryde hosted the Combined Chambers of Commerce Christmas hoedown. Several members and volunteers a ended and it was a great night. The Chambers are talking about returning next year. We received a grant of $37,000 from Community Building Partnership and sponsorship by Epping Boys High School - Bendigo Bank for $ The last Sunday in November was the date for our first Open Day at Marsfield Park. Despite the soaring temperatures, we had a really good turnout with our Paralympian Hannah Dodd providing a demonstra on of the skills that saw her finish 12 th overall in her class in London. A huge thank you to the Open Day sub-commi ee led by coach Nicki for all their work pu ng together a successful day and to all the volunteers who manned stalls and BBQs despite the heat! Over the Christmas break, we are planning to undertake some necessary building works. We hope to have put covering over the grooming yards, changed the level of the moun ng area and put covering over the entrance to the MFC. These improvements are planned to provide greater safety and comfort for our riders, volunteers and horses. I d like to close by taking this opportunity to wish all riders, their families, volunteers and members a safe and very Happy Christmas and all the best for I look forward to welcoming you all back next year. Regards Jane, President, RDA NSW Ryde Centre THE RYDE REVIEW ~ 2 ~

3 Riding for the Disabled in Hong Kong Started in 1973 by the Governor s wife and a few wives from the HSBC, the RDA Hong Kong ini ally used mules le by the Bri sh Army and its premises were a large Country Club up by the Chinese border. Later, some horses were donated and the RDA moved down to Hong Kong Island and started using the Hong Kong Jockey Club premises. Now, the RDA owns 35 horses and ponies, operates three centres and has a three year wai ng list. The Jockey Club is responsible for all horse care side and in return they used our horses for their able bodied lessons. I was also very involved with the Hong Kong Riding Club where we ran events every month with both the RDA and Jockey Club horses. It was quite amazing to see these ponies careering around at the weekend gymkhanas, or the RDA horses doing beau ful dressage tests and then se ling into the more sedate RDA work from Tuesdays to Saturdays! I started volunteering with RDA when Jamie was 5. We were always short of helpers, so I helped wherever I was needed. I was up on the board as Jamie s Mum - for years that was how I con nued to be introduced! A er 15 years they persuaded me to become an Instructor. I felt I was far more use as a general dog s body but they got me in the end! Our volunteer force was made up mostly of expat women, so we saw many people come and go as their husbands contracts ended. Sadly that applied to the Instructors as well. The year I qualified, I was one of 7 candidates. By the end of the year, I was the only one le. We started to employ local people. This usually worked well. Although for a while we had a manager who spoke American Cantonese. He had great trouble communica ng with his riders as they had learned to ride with the way we pronounced le or right and Stop! There was a lot of input from visi ng experts. Mary Langdon and Sally Francis were frequent visitors from here and many from the UK, NZ, Germany and Israel. Our examiners came out from the UK every two years not only to do the Instructor exams but also give us all a week of clinics. It was never said, but the clinics were pre y much compulsory. Having been a part of RDA Hong Kong for so many years, coming here has been a bit of a steep learning curve for me - so many more rules and regula ons. I am very proud to be a part of RDA Ryde in its re-birth. We are all here for one reason which is giving the less able a chance to enjoy and benefit from horse riding. We have an amazing amount of knowledge, enthusiasm, experience and skill spread throughout us all. Together, we really can work miracles well almost!! Nicki THE RYDE REVIEW ~ 3 ~

4 New Horses Jeht A recent arrival, Jeht is a 14hh, 12 year old black gelding with a gorgeous long mane and forelock- a very handsome lad indeed. He has just finished his extensive training and trial period and loves his new home and work. He is a very sweet tempered horse and takes everything in his stride. He par cularly loves having riders with sidewalkers as he just loves people around him. Ryde is very thrilled to have found this pony for our program. (below le ) River River is our latest recruit and is currently s ll on trial to assess his suitability for our Riding Program. River is a bay 13.3hh bay gelding brumby. He originally came from the mountains close to the Victorian high country. He is very sweet tempered and willing to please. He enjoys working with the other horses and is adjus ng well to all the exci ng games equipment in the arena. He has made great mates with Jeht with whom he now shares yards and is already a firm favourite with many of the volunteers always coming over to the rails when people are around for a en on and perhaps a carrot or two. (above right) THE RYDE REVIEW ~ 4 ~

5 A Volunteer s Story Wal has been a volunteer with the Ryde Centre for more than 21 years. In that me he has been a dedicated regular helper feeding and grooming the horses, cleaning out sheds and yards as well as assis ng with classes for riders with all types of disabili es. He is a willing worker and his organiza onal skills with rider prepara on and class ac vi es are much appreciated by the coaches. Wal also has a good rapport and his cheerful personality is appreciated by both riders and his fellow helpers. Wal has taken an ac ve interest in the management side and is also a generous supporter of the Centre. He travels from the other side of Sydney to Ryde Centre through peak hour traffic to help with classes and a end the evening management mee ngs. He is of an age where he is no longer covered by the Volunteer Insurance Scheme but this does not deter him from doing what he loves working with horses, riders and friends. Wal serves the community in other ways too. Through Scou ng, where he has been nominated and awarded an OAM for his service to youth and for the last 64 years he has been one of the guardians of the Cenotaph and Chief Cenotaph a endant in Mar n Place for the ANZAC Day Service. With his caring concern and hard work, Wal is an inspira on to all of us. Volunteers Lunch THE RYDE REVIEW ~ 5 ~

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7 The year that was at RDA Ryde Centre On September 23, a er decades of dedica on to and hard work in RDA Ryde, Jenny Armstrong died suddenly. She will be missed by many. Assessments Chris e Wallace and Linda Lawson are now qualified Coaches Jane Donnelly is now a qualified Assistant Coach Awards Hannah McRae was an RDA regional winner for the Young Volunteer of the Year Joan Grant and Wal Sco -Smith were recognized as worthy Volunteers by the Rotary Club of Carlingford Fundraising Funds were raised through the sale of : Grants uniforms for Volunteers chocolates pony poo marmalade books We received a grant of $37,000 from Community Building Partnership and sponsorship by Epping Boys High School - Bendigo Bank for $ Visitors Two groups of Veterinary Science students from Sydney University came as part of their Animal Husbandry and Handling Skills Experience. United Way organised two Backyard Blitz days to work on the Centre surrounds by the Commonwealth Bank Corporate Community Volunteer Day and AMP Legal Corporate Community Volunteer Day Ryde Macquarie Park Chamber of Commerce breakfast mee ngs Several groups of young adults with their Carers to pat a horse and enjoy the peace and quiet. FDC construc ons Workshops that were a ended by members of the Management Commi ee: Child Safe Organisa ons Seminar Governance for Not for Profit organisa ons Northern Sydney Volunteer Coordinators Forum THE RYDE REVIEW ~ 7 ~

8 How to Support the Ryde Centre There are many ways in which you can help. Support our Horses Our horses are essen al to our ac vi es and we welcome full or part sponsorship of them. It costs about $10,000 per annum to care for each horse. If you or your organisa on is interested in providing support, please contact us. Support our Programs You can support our programs and ac vi es in many ways, such as, volunteering at the Centre, helping with the horses and riders, assis ng with the purchase of special equipment, training and IT resources and/or contribu ng to rider par cipa on fund. Please contact us. Support our Facilities Through dona on, help us pay our on-going expenses like electricity, water and council fees. If you wish to help, please contact us. We value our Supporters In return for suppor ng us, you will have the sa sfac on of being part of this voluntary organisa on and knowing how much your contribu on is appreciated by the smiles on the riders faces. Our supporters also receive our newsle er upda ng you on the happenings at Ryde RDA, invita ons to special events and acknowledgement on our website. Contact Details Riding for the Disabled Associa on (NSW) - Ryde Centre Marsfield Park 118 Culloden Road, Marsfield, NSW 2122 (Opposite Macquarie University between Epping and Waterloo Roads) PO Box 3821, Marsfield, NSW 2122 Phone: h p://rdaryde.org.au/ ryde.rda@gmail.com ~RIDING DEVELOPS ABILITIES ~ The Ryde Review is edited by Toni Reiseger. Contribu ons are invited - please send to secretary, Ryde RDA Prin ng of the Ryde Review is sponsored by Phoenix Educa on, Educa onal Publishers. THE RYDE REVIEW ~ 8 ~