General News
23 March, 2023
RDA puts out plea for more volunteers
Maryborough’s Riding Develops Abilities (RDA) group is putting out an urgent call for volunteers, as local numbers dwindle. Operating locally for almost 40 years, RDA has touched the lives of countless people of all ages from across the district...
Maryborough’s Riding Develops Abilities (RDA) group is putting out an urgent call for volunteers, as local numbers dwindle.
Operating locally for almost 40 years, RDA has touched the lives of countless people of all ages from across the district and while it continues to do so, the group is in need of additional volunteers.
While 34 volunteers were on the books last year, that number has now dropped to 21, which group secretary Judy Webb said makes things hard.
“It makes things very difficult, although we have 21 on the books, we had six people call and say they couldn’t come to our session on Tuesday,” she said.
“Ideally we’d be looking at around 30 volunteers for each session, but even with 25 we can operate much more smoothly.”
The local RDA group support people of all abilities and ages to ride horses. Local school students are among those who benefit from the group’s work, but RDA’s Julie Stork said it’s not just the riders who benefit.
“A lot of people ask why I do this because I don’t get paid and all I say is that I do get paid but it’s not monetary, the payment for me is seeing the smiles on people’s faces when they’re able to ride a horse and the achievement that brings them,” she said.
“It’s wonderful to see what RDA does for people who take part in it and that goes for both the participants and volunteers.”
Ms Stork said RDA is not the only group struggling with volunteer numbers, with other local clubs also seeing numbers dwindle.
“From what we’ve heard a lot of groups are having trouble finding volunteers,” she said.
“A lot of volunteers did drop off during COVID or got jobs which made a difference.
“Even when we do have limited numbers we’re able to work around it, everyone steps up when it’s needed. We have a great group of volunteers and we’d love more.”
There are a number of volunteer roles that can be filled with RDA, ranging from being handson with horses to supporting fundraisers.
“We have a heap of different roles — people can volunteer as spotters who sit on the edge of the arena, bookwork with our committees and even just setting the arenas up, there’s always plenty to do,” she said.
“Volunteers don’t need any experience to get involved, we run training days regularly so everyone is up to speed.
“Even if people are thinking about volunteering, come along and have a look — you don’t have to jump in at the deep end.”
For more information about RDA or to get involved, email mary boroughrda@bigpond.com or phone Aileen on 5460-4539 or Judy on 5461-4114.
