Happenings at last week’s Meeting
This week were once again back at the Sailing Club for our more formal Club Meeting. President Mike welcomed our Guest Speaker Jenny Stidston, from Riding for the Disabled Australia, and then proposed the Toast and Invocation. (Charles has produced a disco boom-box so now, as well as pretty lights, all Members have a chance to hear the Meeting. Ed)
Mike now handed the Meeting over to the Chair for the night, Pete Anderson, who promptly introduced our Guest Speaker and sat down.
Jenny is the President for the Peninsular Group of Riding for the Disabled (RDA). RDA has been in Australia for close to 60 years and started in Queensland. It began in Victoria and South Australia in 1971 and has now covered the whole country as well as providing competitors in the Paralympics since the 1990’s.
Jenny explained how the riding of horses provides profound physical and mental benefits for their clients. The horses need to be placid and able to be trained to not be scared when they are confronted with an unusual setting like being approached by someone in a wheelchair. They are either bought, donated or sometimes leased.
Riding gives the disabled a sense of confidence. They can take a risk and it opens a new world to them. They also get a physical exercise well outside their regular environment.
Recently the Peninsular Group has been able to use an indoor arena which provides for year-round activity. They have a waiting list of volunteers but also welcome visitors on Monday, Tuesdays and Thursdays. The benefits of RDA extend to the volunteers as well as the Clients.
Mike thanked Jenny for an inspiring talk (and apologised for letting her speak so long that her soup got cold. Ed) and then handed the Meeting back to the Chair.
After dinner the Chair called for the Presidents Report.
Mike briefly ran through the Anniversaries and then thanked the Members for their participation in last week’s Committees Meeting, the output from which is improving each month. He did point out that the acoustics at Jetty Road may need to be improved. A number of Members mentioned that the Jetty Road management had suggested some alternatives to help with the sound.
(As the Club Secretary/Treasurer is swanning around Europe somewhere there was no Sec/Tre Report this week. Ed)
The Chair called for Directors Reports and Charles reported that the numbers for the Movie Night are looking good. He also explained that he has borrowed the boombox/karaoke speaker for a test run and if the Club thought it was a good idea he would go ahead and purchase it. The Members agreed that it would be a useful addition to our Club “armoury”.
Harry announced that the demonstration of the SkyHydrant at the Dromana Secondary College was being prepared.
Joseph quickly informed the Meeting that the next Social Meeting is at a Turkish Restaurant and will be on the 5th June at the Baro Restaurant – 866 Point Nepean Road, Rosebud – starting at 6:30. The cost will be $25 per head plus drinks. He has booked two tables of 10 so be there. (or be square. Ed) The repast will include dips, chips, salads, lamb, chicken and cevapi (a grilled dish of minced meat found traditionally in the countries of southeast Europe. Thanks to Wikapedia, Ed)
Chris now reported on the Market preparations. This will be the last Market before we close for Winter. Chris will be beginning the planning and acquisition of what we need for the “new” Market when it reopens in spring. In closing, Chris pointed out that the Club needs someone to take up the role of Secretary for next year. A Club cannot function effectively without a Secretary, and not by handing this off to another office holder and doubling up their workload.
Greg reported that he would be contributing input to the Dromana Master Plan which is being canvassed by the Shire.
Lotto was drawn and won by Pete and then Fines were announced, which meant that Pete ended up being caught for winning, no badge and a host of misdemeanours. (Many made up on the spot. Ed)
The President thanked everyone for their participation and closed Meeting at 7:55
