President's Welcome!
Hello everyone, and welcome to our latest newsletter. We have as always been busy at NSRDA, and are now well into Term 3 of riding.
Our first half year has seen the completion of some projects, a new Rider program introduced and increased Volunteer Training, our AGM in May, plus our first 50th Anniversary event.
50th Anniversary year for North Shore RDA
2025 marks our 50th year as an affiliated Group of New Zealand Riding for the Disabled, a major achievement for us.
50th Anniversary Lunch
We kicked off with a Celebratory Lunch hosted by our NSRDA Ambassador, Tom Webster of Grand Designs New Zealand. The lunch was attended by a small number of specially invited sponsors, supporters, our Life Members and long-serving Volunteers. It was well attended, and all enjoyed a delicious lunch catered by Sherry Kitchen, entertaining words from Tom Webster, a look back over the years by Life Member David Grey and musical entertainment by Richard Fallas. A delicious 50th Anniversary Cake was created by volunteer Kathy Lambert.
50th Anniversary celebrations continue.
We will be holding a Community Open Day in November at the barn. Everyone is welcome to join us for the celebration. We've lots of activities planned, including pony rides and face painting for the kids, and various stalls.
SmartShelters will have their mobile BBQ van on site selling hot food and cold drinks and local Harcourts agent, Nigel Smith will be onsite with their Coffee & Cone Van selling hot coffee and delicious icecreams.
Please come and see our facilities, meet our volunteers and staff and our amazing horses.
Project updates
New Stalls are Complete and in use
Our new stalls are in full use, making a big difference to the working lives of our horses, staff and volunteers. We would like to offer huge thanks to Kalmar Construction for the construction work, Gareth Clay of Coast Plumbing for our drain laying, Haigh Earthmoving for their dedication to this project and Central Landscape Supplies for providing the sand to line the stall floors.
Special gratitude again to Joy and Malcolm Todd. Their generous donation made the construction of these stalls possible.
Other Projects completed
Were our Arena Lighting, purchasing a Hay Steamer, Installing the Hot Water Califont for the wash down area and the purchase of a Kawasaki Mule. We are extremely thankful to generous donors for underwriting these. Funds for Lighting came from The Allright Welfare Trust and The Rotary Club of East Coast Bays Charitable Trust. The Hay Steamer was funded by a grant from the North & South Trust. Our Kawasaki Mule was possible with another generous donation from Joy and Malcolm Todd.
Funding
Funding continues to be difficult and while Rider Fees are increasing slowly, we need to find generous Sponsers like Kalmar Construction who have signed on as a Gold Sponsor.
If you know of a community group or business that may want to make a community contribution through sponsorship, please get in touch or check out our sponsorship program here.
Thanks all
Christine Fallas
President
