Riding for the Disabled does not receive funding from any State or Federal Government department.

We rely solely on fund raising and donations from interested community organisations to meet the

cost of operating our centre.  Our hardworking volunteers devote their time to raising the money

needed to keep our centre operating.  These funds ensure that people with disabilities in the

Hunter Region have opportunities to develop their quality of life, self-esteem and independence.

We thank the following organisations for their contributions and support in 2010.

If you would like to visit individual organisation websites, click their logo.

South Newcastle Rugby League Club

On Monday 2 August, South Newcastle Rugby League Club hosted the Newcastle area Community Development Support Expenditure Scheme (CDSE) grant funding presentation.

The South Newcastle Rugby League Club chose to support our programs over hundreds of other community based projects in the Newcastle area.  They have generously provided grant funding of $4,000 to meet the Centre’s costs for riders who reside or attend school in the Newcastle Local Government Area.  This will subsidise almost 150 individual rides during our 2011 program year.

Souths support of our Centre’s riding and driving programs will allow us to continue to provide quality therapeutic programs that meet the needs of people with a disability.  In honour of the Club’s generosity, Madeleine Sobb (Monday Dressage) and Jessica Storey (Dressage) presented Tom Butler (Souths President) with a Framed Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of our Newcastle based riders and drivers.  Tom and Steve Pringle (Souths CEO) commented on what a pleasure it was to meet two of our riders, and have a chance to speak first hand with them about the impact that being a part of Riding for the Disabled has had on their lives.  They also invited us to apply for funding next year!!!

We have invited representatives from Souths to come to our Centre to learn about what we do, and see our riders, drivers and volunteers in action.  Tom and Steve accepted the invitation on the day, and will be coming to RDA with a group of interested people in the coming months.

The South Newcastle Rugby League Club is located at 46 Llewellyn Street, Merewether.  For more information visit www.southsleagues.com.au or call (02) 4963 1120.

Alexander Park Dressage Club

Alexander Park Dressage Club has been supporting our Centre for many years.  We are proud to be a sister club to Alexander Park, and we take great pride in their ongoing relationship and active interest in our dressage riding programs.  On Sunday 1 August, Roly Taylor was invited to attend a dressage competition day at Alexander Park Dressage Club in Medowie.

Roly had been invited because the Club had heard that we were in desperate need of a dressage trained horse for our programs. Not any horse is suitable for an RDA dressage program, and we haven’t been able to fill this gap with horses that have been loaned or donated to us.

Bruce McVey (President) presented Roly with a $1,000 cheque to assist us in purchasing a specially trained dressage horse. This is an incredibly generous offer from a group that understands the positive impact that our programs have on people with a disability.
The Monday and Wednesday Dressage Programs riders wish to thank the Alexander Park Dressage Club for their support. Our Horse Manager, Isabel Taylor, is already looking for a suitable horse. We hope to have a new dressage horse in our programs soon.

As a thank you from our Centre and all of our riders and drivers, Roly Taylor will be presenting Bruce McVey and the Alexander Dressage Club with a framed Certificate of Appreciation in the coming weeks.

Subway Heatherbrae and Raymond Terrace Money Tins

Michael Murphy continues to support people with disabilities, and RDA, by having a fundraising money tin on the counters of his two stores at Heatherbrae and Raymond Terrace.

Recently, one money tin was collected from Subway Heatherbrae.  It contained $112.55 and all money is donated to RDA. We would like to thank Michael and his staff for their ongoing support.  So far this year, Subway has helped us raise $413.55.

Don’t forget, if you would like to ‘Eat Fresh’, why not pop in to Subway Heatherbrae at Shop 1, 1A Hank Street, Heatherbrae or Subway Raymond Terrace at Kiosk 2, Raymond Terrace Market Place, William Street, Raymond Terrace.

Local Lions Clubs Support RDA

The annual Maitland Ball in the Mall is held each January on the Australia Day weekend.  It is organised and run by the collective efforts of all the region’s Lions Clubs with the aim of raising funds for local charities.  The charities benefiting from the Ball in the Mall are selected by each of the participating Lions Clubs.

We were fortunate to be selected by the Maitland Lions Club as their nominated charity for 2010.  The other participating Lions Clubs are the Kurri Kurri Lions, the Rutherford Lionesses, the Rutherford Lions, the East Maitland Lions and the East Maitland/Beresfield Lionesses.

A presentation dinner hosted by the East Maitland/Beresfield Lionesses was held recently with the Mayor of Maitland, Peter Blackmore, being the keynote speaker.  Zelda and Malcolm Storey represented our Centre and accepted a cheque of $472 from each of the participating Lions Clubs.  Malcolm was able to give a brief talk about what we do and how we will be able to put their money to good use.  RDA was fortunate to have as the presenter of the cheques someone who has visited our Centre and was extremely impressed after watching one of Linda Pepperall’s Saturday morning sessions.  He suggested to all the other Lion’s Clubs present that they should follow Maitland Lions example and also arrange a morning tea at RDA to experience what a great local charity is achieving.

It was great to continue our link with Maitland Lions.  We won their hearts after a large group of them visited our Centre one Saturday and watched Linda and her team doing what they do best.  Having seen our Centre they asked if the money could go towards constructing an “all weather” shelter at the front of the arena where people with a disability, particularly wheelies, could get out of their vehicle and into a chair without being drenched when it rains.  Carol Brown has already done some preliminary plans and cost estimates, so it is now just a matter of raising the remaining funds and getting the job underway.  We look forward to continuing our relationship with the Maitland Lions as the project eventually becomes a reality.

Three cheers for Maitland Lions!

Revised: 25 August, 2010.