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A five-year-old from a family with a strong sporting background loved watching the sporting events on television during the Paralympics in Paris. One evening, while at home with her Nanny, she was totally absorbed in watching the athletes who, despite the loss of an arm, leg, or both, could still compete for their country in their chosen sport.
As she watched the competitors in action, Little Miss Five-Year-Old, who understood that her much-loved Nanny had previously had breast cancer, necessitating the removal of the affected breast, said very seriously, “Nanny, you could be in the Paralympics next time, too, because you only have one ‘boob,’ don’t you?”
Five years old! She was sharp, and she had it all worked out!
RDA: 36 YEARS IN COBRAM
Cobram Riding for the Disabled has been operating in Cobram for 36 years, providing clients from local disability groups with a range of horse-riding activities that are beneficial to their general well-being.
Their broad smiles as they sit in the saddle of their favorite horse—whether it’s Zena, Cobler, CC, or Ace—show just how special this activity is for them each week. Their joy is boundless.
Riders begin their day by warming up with a trail ride in the morning, followed by a varied program of games and activities in an enclosed area. Riders of all abilities are assessed, and while some may require two side-walkers and a horse leader, others may only need a leader, and some are able to ride independently.
Over time, riders gain confidence in the saddle. Riding is beneficial to their general health and well-being, improving balance and posture, increasing hand-eye coordination, and providing a personal challenge that often leads to a sense of achievement.
Head coach and hardworking secretary Carol Doherty was just 36 years old when she joined RDA in Cobram and is immensely proud of the organization today. The group has 18 helpers who come along each fortnight to assist in setting up the facility and ensuring that riders feel safe and well looked after.
“It has been a brilliant year and we are so grateful for all the assistance we have from our fantastic volunteers and trained people who all help to make it such a happy place for our young riders. It makes you feel good when you see their happy smiles,” Carol said Carol.
“Some are non-verbal, but still their smile tells the story!”
Currently, Cobram RDA has 16 riders who take turns riding three quiet, well-trained horses brought to the Cattle Pavilion at the Showgrounds by Gordon Gannon for the past 21 years, all the way from Deniliquin to Cobram. Gordon, a generous horse lover, has been actively involved with RDA in Deniliquin as well.
New member Emily Hehir is currently working toward obtaining a coaching qualification and also brings her horse Ace, a magnificent Haflinger, to the fortnightly program. Generally standing between 13.2 and 15 hands, the Haflinger is known for its striking appearance, elegant movement, and gentle, calm temperament, making it particularly suitable for children.
The breed originates from the Tyrolean mountains between Austria and Italy, where the horses were used as pack and work animals. Today, they are highly sought after for equestrian and dressage events.
Cobram RDA is planning a Club Games Day on Thursday, November 14, and the community is welcome to come along and support the day. Riders will be put in teams, and prizes will be awarded to the overall winning team. Until then, the riders will be busy practicing their skills on horseback in preparation for this big occasion.
For further information on Cobram RDA, please contact Carol Doherty on 0419 157 987. She would be pleased to hear from you.
BUSH KINDER ON THE BEACH
Enjoying Bush Kinder at Quinn’s, besties Larni, Rylee and Clare.
Pre-schoolers at Eileen Taylor Kindergarten are enjoying every aspect of their year before heading off to big school next year. In particular, they love the fortnightly outing to Bush Kinder, where they experience a range of activities in the shallows of the Murray River on Quinns Island.
The excited squeals and laughter from the 4-5-year-olds as they romp near the water's edge, paddle in the river, throw sticks into the water, wrestle with each other in the sand, and take part in running races are an absolute delight to see.
In 2023, the pre-school applied for School Readiness Funding, and its educators attended a bush kinder development program to integrate the four-year-olds into a special program. A $6000 grant provided resources such as rainwear, gumboots, trolleys, a portable toilet, tents, tarps, binoculars, and magnifying glasses. A local ranger from Parks Victoria also visited the kindergarten in Term 2 to speak to the children and facilitated cooking damper over a campfire.
This year, both groups, the Turtles and Possums, visited Scotts Beach each Wednesday in Term 2, and in Term 3, they attended Quinns Island. Indigenous Rangers visited both groups to speak about the Yorta Yorta people, their history, and the significance of Country.
The pre-schoolers engage in a range of fun activities not generally available to them, such as climbing fallen trees, splashing in puddles, discovering fish bones, identifying animal droppings, spotting koalas and kangaroos, and finding animal tracks.
One of my new little friends very proudly came to me with a giggle, saying she had touched some poo in the sand. When I asked her what animal she thought it was from, her reply came with a shy smile, "I think it must have been a dog because it was very big!"
Footnote: The Goulburn Region Preschool Association has 17 services within the Goulburn area, all of whom pride themselves on proactive initiatives of conducting Bush Kinder or Nature programs. They value the overarching benefits to children of reconnecting with nature and the importance of incorporating this into their annual programs.
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