General News
13 June, 2025
Locals invited to pony come and try day
The Bealiba Pony Club will be showing locals what the club is all about this Sunday with a chance to explore their updated facilities, meet their members, and see what all the fuss is about.
From uncertain beginnings, where Bealiba was often mis-pronounced let alone recognised on a map, the small pony club has grown to seemingly punch well above their weight in state competitions.
Kids and adults alike find challenge, responsibility, friendship and most of all fun according to district commissioner Faye Barnett.
“We’ve been a very strong club. Our main emphasis — we’re often described as a family club because it’s a beautiful setting out here and we’re very laid back,” she said.
The club was started in 1998 when the Bealiba area had kids, horses, and nothing to do — it seemed to be a natural fit.
Ms Barnett recalls being district commissioner in Maryborough then before being sent to help the club find direction.
“I loved the whole innocence of the whole thing. That all these people wanted to learn but nobody knew what they were doing,” she said.
It was enough to get her to stick for 25 years in the position. From organising camps with attendees as far as Melbourne to clinics and coaching teams — Ms Barnett is proud of what the Bealiba Pony Club has become.
“I’m just passionate about kids and horses. Having a pony and having the opportunity to ride with your friends, maybe get into a team and represent your club, it’s an amazing experience. I think it teaches you a lot of life lessons,” she said.
Ms Barnett has seen kids come out of their shell over the club’s three day camp, forging friendships they may not have had otherwise while building new skills.
“Kids might arrive really nervous and shy on day one and by day three they’re buzzing around with new friends. They might have started on a lead but end up trotting around by themselves. It’s a great learning environment,” she said.
A sporting club’s emphasis on community isn’t a strange partnership but it’s one Bealiba almost lost.
Ms Barnett explained when the Bealiba and Natte Yallock football clubs amalgamated a new grounds was built at Natte.
“That left the grounds, the football grounds in Bealiba free, no-one was using them,” she said.
Through years of grants and projects, the club now sports facilities Ms Barnett and the club are proud of — something she hopes Bealiba locals are proud of too.
“There’s a lot of money gone into that area which benefits everyone,” she said.
As the facilities grew so did the club’s accomplishments, winning competitions against clubs many times their size.
“They’ve gone from not having an idea who or where we came from to these kids are good at what they do,” she said.
But through it all, with members as young as three through to adults, the club has kept a variety of activities and simple fun at its heart.
“It’s a busy world, the pony club world,” she said.
Locals interested in the Bealiba Pony Club’s come and try day, which is held on the third Sunday of each month, can find out more on the Bealiba Pony Club’s Facebook page or call Julie Gould on 0407 348 285.
