Well it is still Winter however the days have be absolutely beautiful.
Although the nights have been cool and the early mornings can be crisp we have something to warm you up and that’s the 2015 State Championships!!!
We have been busy organising ribbons, prizes, nominations and so much more to make this State Championship one to remember for all who attend.
Would like to present
2015 State Championships
22nd and 23rd August
at
QSEC
Cnr Tuckeroo Drive and Beerburrum Road,
Caboolture
Fancy Dress, Mounted Games and so much more.
Come and cheer on our amazing riders from RDA Centres all around QLD
If you would like to volunteer and help out at this amazing event please call 3888 5277 or email admin@rdaq.org.au
RDAQ STATE CONFERENCE
19th – 20th SEPTEMBER 2015
VENUE: Crowson Park RDA
129 Crowson Lane Greenbank 4124
AGM
19th SEPTEMBER 2015
VENUE: Greenbank Community Centre
145 Teviot Rd, Greenbank QLD
More information will be sent out to Centres soon.
President Report
RDAQ Matters
Much is happening this month the preparations for the State Event are in the final stages. We are very pleased with the number of nominations and I do thank all volunteers for supporting our riders to get them to the event. It is a huge effort but will be so worthwhile for all involved.
This year we have opened our event to non-affiliated centres; this was done with a view to rebuilding relationships and recognizing that at the end of the day our riders are the people that count and not past politics
We will be in need of all hands on deck for the event including people willing to assist with Dressage penciling and other tasks.
The Board has finalised the content for our State Conference and AGM next month, with our guest trainers Sally Francis and Wendy Mongumery presenting sessions for coaches and volunteers on therapeutic riding, progressing the riders and horse handling. The ladies will be complemented by a short session from Warwick Coach Tracey Sexton on procuring volunteers through schools and colleges, something Tracey has had remarkable success with.
Our AGM will be held on the early evening of the Saturday to enable all to attend. I must thank Linda Gaffney, Trish Hollis and the great team at Crowson Park for offering their centre as a venue for the event.
With many plans on the go the Board is looking forward to catching up with Centre Representatives for the AGM and I do remind you all that much of our funding is dependent on a full representation from Centres so please mark the dates 19th and 20th September and contact us regarding travel and accommodation assistance
Looking forward to seeing everyone at State Event and Conference
On behalf of the Board our best to you all
Megan
Get in the Game Funding Program
The Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing has advised the opening dates for the upcoming round of the Get in the Game funding program:
– Get Started Vouchers($150 toward the cost of child membership) – Round 6 opened 15 July – closes 30 September 2015
– Get Going Clubs(up to $7,500 towards projects that help clubs grow) – Round 4 opens 3 August – closes 2 October 2015
– Get Playing Places and Spaces (up to $100,000 towards facility improvements) – Round 4 opens 3 August – closes 2 October 2015
– Get Playing Plus (from $300,000 to a maximum of $1.5 million towards facility improvements) – Round 2 opens 1 September – closes 15 October 2015
If your club is intending to apply for the Get Going Clubs, Get Playing Places and Spaces or Get Playing Plus program, please contact Council’s Sport and Recreation Unit on 3283 0326 or email , to discuss your project with a Sport and Recreation officer who can provide advice and assistance with your application and organise a letter of support for suitable projects.
If your club is planning to submit a funding application for Get Playing Places and Spaces or Get Playing Plus, clubs must ensure that they have completed and returned by 4 September 2015 an Improvement Works Application (IWA) to Council for assessment, prior to sports clubs undertaking any capital improvement works on MBRC owned or controlled land. This application helps to capture the relevant information regarding the club’s proposed project, seek written consent from Council and determine if further development approvals are required. The response information will feed into the club’s letter of support for the above funding programs.
The Moreton Bay Regional Council Community Grants Program is now open. The program is comprised of six categories under which applicants may apply for funding.
Facility Development Fund – facility planning, facility improvement, interest free loan for facility improvement
Organisation Development Fund – small equipment, governance and business planning
Community Events Fund – local events
Community Projects Fund – environmental sustainability, community initiatives
Individual Achievement Fund – youth achievement, Commonwealth & Olympic Games
Regional Arts Development Fund – developing creative skills, creative tourism, collections & stories, creative concept development, interest free loan
Applications for the Community Grants Program close on 31 August 2015. Application forms and guidelines are available at www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au .
Gambling Community Benefit Fund
The latest round of Gambling Community Benefit Fund is now open. This funding program has the objective to allocate funding to not-for-profit groups to enhance their capacity to provide services, leisure activities and opportunities to enhance Queensland communities. Funding up to $35,000 is available and applications close 31 August. For more information and to apply visit GCBF.
Some sad news came from RDA Western Australia this month who advised us that Ann Sands OAM sadly passed away.
Ann was instrumental in establishing RDA in Western Australia and a founding member of the National Organisation (RDAA). Ann was awarded both life membership of RDAWA and Hon Life Membership of RDAA in recognition of the lifelong commitment she made to our organisation and helping others to develop their abilities and enrich their lives. Ann was also awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 1992 for the contributions she made to the community through her involvement with RDA.
Our thoughts are with RDAWA and are terribly sorry for your loss. Ann will always live on in RDAWA.
Ticket Sellers and Collectors Required
We currently have several positions available to sell tickets and also become collectors on a part-time commission base. We require honest, friendly and reliable people to sell and collect for a great cause to help continue the programs at RDAQ. Equal opportunities exist for male, female, able bodied, disabled and seniors in all areas of Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.
We will require a resume and a Police check which will be reimbursed on successful employment.
If you have any questions please contact Jenna on 3888 5277 between 9.00 am and 2.00 pm Monday to Friday.
Please email your resume to .
RDAQ Raffle in conjunction with PCAQ Personality Quest
Would you like the chance to $1000.00?
The PCAQ Personality Quest is back and so is our raffle! Help us raise funds for our Centres, while you have the opportunity to win $1000.00, $600.00 or $400.00.
A great big thank you to the PCAQ contestants raising funds for the RDA Centres of their choice:
Georgia Rigby who nominated Crowson Park RDA
Claudia-Rose Mules who nominated Mackay RDA
Emily Collits who nominated Currumbin Valley RDA
Peta Andrew who nominated Gemfields RDA
Good luck to all the book sellers.
Centre News
RDA Maryborough
The Year 2015 So Far
The first half of 2015 has been a very busy one for RDA Maryborough.
Early in the year we were fortunate to obtain a grant from the Community Gambling Benefit Fund for a new tractor c/w front bucket, sprayer and fertiliser spreader. The latter items will used to help improve our pastures. Our small old tractor is no longer suitable and slowly dying. It will be passed onto one of the service clubs who have expressed interest in obtaining it.
The boundary fence is now many years old and had deteriated to the extent that we were worried our horses might escape. Kangaroos had also damaged it in several places. A decision was made to replace it. As you can imagine, having some twenty plus acres, the fence is quiet long.
With a very generous grant from FCRC, we have been able to purchase the necessary fence posts, wire etc. Our Volunteers have been able to complete to date a substantial length of fencing. The new tractor helping immensely with boring post holes, tensioning wire, and carrying posts etc.
Our next project is to build a new combined Tack, Hay, and Feed shed, currently they are in three separate places with considerable carrying etc. required between them. Work has already commenced with the laying of fill and profiles before putting down a concrete floor.
During the year we have had to put down one of our older ponies (cancer). This was very hard on our riders and volunteers as he was a much loved part of RDA Maryborough.
On the brighter side we have been gifted a very nice pony (Sparkles) who is fitting in very well. Because he is small and quiet the little kids love him.
A kind donation from the Maryborough Lioness has been put into a special fund to purchase another horse bringing out total back to seven. We currently have a horse under a six week trial to see if he will make an RDA horse. So far Mickey is looking good.
With Hervey Bay Special School now bringing riders on a Tuesday morning we have just about reached the maximum number we can handle, being restrained by the number of volunteers we have.
A majority being retired folks and not always able to attend for various reasons.
Parents of a number of potential riders parents had stated that they are unable to attend our regular Tuesday mornings, so we have started riding on alternate Saturday mornings. This has proved successful in that we now have 9-10 new riders and their parents can attend as well. It’s very satisfying to see the joy on both the riders and parents faces as the former complete their exercises.
A new group of volunteers have also joined up. Most of them attending high school or work during the week.
So, currently with the Tuesday riders (28-30) and the Saturday group(9-10), we are kept very busy.
Due to the lack of grass, we are feeding our horses every day. Hard feed and/or hay. This is an expensive item, even after kind support from our feed merchant. A lot of our fund raising going towards it. Some of the other expenses are Hendra Inoculations and Farrier.
To help us meet this, we have received considerable support from local service clubs, and individuals. Without them we would find it difficult to fund our Not-For-Profit organisation.
Kind Regards
Noel Ryan
RDA Crowson Park
August is of course the Horses Birthday so “Happy Birthday to all of the wonderful horses involved in RDA programs” Again I’m proud to say we have even more improvements added to our centre during the last couple of months. We now have our holding yards all completed with steel and ready to hang another shade sale. We also welcomed Georgia Rigby’s visit to our Centre. Georgia is in the PCAQ Quest and has nominated our centre to support. Georgia spent time with us and learnt all about what RDA represents so when she is out and about she can raise awareness for RDA. We are currently very busy readying riders and horses for the State titles this month. On behalf of everyone from Crowson Park I would like to thank the Committee of RDAQ for their hard work . We appreciate the support they are giving to our riders and centre and thank them for covering all costs for our riders to compete at States.
RDA Samford
Open Day success
Thank you to everyone who helped to make the first Samford RDA Open Day such a success.
It was wonderful to see so many people, including our sponsors and partners, attend the event on August 1st. The Open Day was a chance for locals to see first hand how horse riding can assist people with physical and intellectual disabilities, and a way to show our many supporters just how their greatly appreciated financial support is used.
Local residents and Gold Horse Sponsors, Gordon Plenty and Judith Pyper, took advantage of the Open Day to spend some quality time with their sponsored horses. Gordon sponsors Promise while Judith sponsors Lady.
Thanks to:
JOIN THE RDAQ TEAM
RDAQ is run by a dedicated team that comprises our committee, administration manager, volunteers and horses.
Make a difference, volunteer your time and skills to assist people with a disability experience horse riding.
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The volunteers are not only extremely kind and pleasant company, they are a ...
Sue and Wayne Williams
Samford RDA has changed my life! The horses help so, so much with my anxiety and my team of coaches and volunteers mean so much to me. I feel as if horses give me the freedom I need and if it wasn’ ...
Rider
Finding Samford RDA when we did just over four years ago has turned out to be a lifesaver both for my son Andrew and for the whole family. Andrew is now 47 years old and has Down Syndrome. Up until 8 ...
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Making An Impact
Across Queensland
18
Centres
65
Coaches
700
Volunteers
100+
Horses
554
Riders
1985
Year Est
Want to find out more about the impact that RDAQ makes in Queensland? Go to the Get Involved page