Henderson Riding for the Disabled
Newsletter
A warm welcome back to riding everyone. What a wet and cold winter it was. We were very disappointed to cancel Term 3’s riding but it was just not practical to continue.
However the committee has not been idle. Riding might not have been on over Term 3 but we were busy making applications for funding, caring for the horses, planning Term 4 and organizing corporate volunteers. Thank you to everyone for the work you have contributed over the winter.
Thanks especially to Sandra and Erika who spent a lot of time caring for our ponies in very wet and muddy conditions. It was hard work feeding out hay and keeping the horses healthy.
Riding Dates:
We started riding on Tuesday 25th October and the last day will be Tuesday 13 December
Henkel Sellotape – Corporate Volunteers
On Friday 23 September we had five volunteers from Henkel Sellotape join us for a day. As we had no riding on, Michelle, Liz, Murray, Bryce and Janice helped us give the horse pens an upgrade. They weed-whacked the area, fixed the loose wood and scrubbed all the woodwork with mould remover ready for fence stain. They also helped us paint trotting poles. All of them worked really hard and were great company. So a huge thank you to Henkel Sellotape for giving us your time. We really appreciate it.
Also, a big thank you to Sandra, Bob, Erika and Richard and Norma who turned up on the day to organize the project. Bob’s wife Fay made us a lovely morning tea too. Thank you everyone.
Mobil – Day of Caring
On 19th October we were lucky enough to welcome another group of corporate volunteers from Mobil Oil. Fifteen eager workers turned up on a very wet Wednesday but enthusiastically pitched in to help us clear rubbish, whack weeds, scrub out the hosing bay, paint equipment and paint the horse pens. We were delighted with how much they achieved and again enjoyed their company.
Mobil’s Day of Caring is run with the support of United Way New Zealand, a national non-profit organisation which supports corporate volunteering programmes and funds community groups. United Way kindly contributed $450 towards equipment for the day.
Also thanks again to Bob, Sandra, Erika and Dave who came along to muck in and help organize the volunteers.
Volunteer Profile – Linda Graham
Linda has been volunteering with us for about a year. She has always had an interest and love of horses and used to teach at the Laingholm Riding Club. Linda had in the back of her mind that she should get involved with RDA. Then she met our volunteer Erika. Erika and Linda’s husbands are both friends through their shared interest in cycling. Erika encouraged Linda to come and join us when we were short of volunteers in Term 4 last year. Linda has been coming back ever since. She says,”For me personally it is good to be back working with horses. But more than that, it gives me great pleasure to work with the children, see the smiles on their faces and to see their progress. Even if sometimes it is very small steps. I also really enjoy working with the volunteers who are a great bunch of people.”
Linda lives with her husband and two grown up daughters in Parau. We appreciate all your help and good humour Linda. It is wonderful to have you on our team!
Feasibility Study for Covered Arena Project
Our committee has decided to go ahead and pay for a Feasibility Study to investigate the options for building our covered arena and perhaps finding new premises. We shall be using the consultancy firm Visitor Solutions for the study. We shall keep you posted on progress and outcomes.
Committee Meeting Dates
Please note that everyone is welcome at our committee meetings. They are held on the first Tuesday of each month (term times only) after the rally. We would welcome new people to get involved in the committee. We discuss all the issues related to running the group and new ideas and perspectives are welcome.
Autism Speaker
On 6th September we welcomed Neil Stuart to RDA to speak to us about autism. Neil has 22 years experience of teaching children with autism and was a lively, funny and interesting speaker. He gave us lots of ideas and insights into autism and how to better communicate with the children we help. Many thanks Neil for an interesting and thought provoking talk.
Volunteer Required
Norma has been writing the newsletter for the past six years! She would like to pass the job to someone else. We produce three or four newsletters a year to inform our riders, families and supporters about our work and successes. If anyone would like to put their hand up to do the newsletter Norma would be very grateful. The job probably requires about three hours a term. Erika Bouwmeester can still do the final layout and photo arranging and Norma will still be on hand to contribute and help.
Thank you Titirangi and Blockhouse Bay Women’s Institute.
You might remember from our last newsletter that Norma gave a presentation about RDA to the Titirangi and Blockhouse Bay Women’s Institute back in June. Following the talk, they very generously sent us a cheque for $2000 for our covered arena project. So another huge thank to all the ladies at the Women’s Institute. The money has gone into our arena fund.
Thank you Ara Lodge
Many thanks to Ara Lodge 348 (Irish Constitution Freemasons) for their donation of $2,000. Their continued support is much appreciated and the money will go towards buying new equipment and care of horses. Also it was lovely to have a visit from Marshall Basham of Ara Lodge and his wife at the end of October.
NZRDA Perpetual Members Fund
sent us $500 to buy some lightweight helmets for our younger riders. Sandra bought these this week.
COGS
The Community Organisation Grants Scheme has allocated $4,500 to us this year to help us with our running costs. This will go towards horse and paddock management and coaching.
Brainwave Trust Presentation
Norma delivered a presentation on infant brain development and the importance of the first three years of life on Tuesday 15 November at the Pony Club
The talk was attended by RDA volunteers/families and parents from the local antenatal classes.
Thanks to everyone that came along.
The talk covered:
• How experience shapes the brain.
• Critical periods in brain development.
• Attachment
• Effects of abuse, trauma and neglect
• Evidence for this knowledge
• How to build healthy brains.
If you would like to know more about Brainwave, visit http://www.brainwave.org.nz/
We acknowledge the support of the Henderson Valley Pony Club in allowing us to use the clubrooms for the presentation.