06-December-2005
Speeches, Community
Mr ROBB (Goldstein) (9.13 p.m.)—I rise tonight to pay tribute to—to acknowledge—a truly wonderful organisation that is active in my electorate and in many other parts of Australia. I refer to an organisation called Riding for the Disabled.
Riding for the Disabled is an organisation for people with disabilities and volunteers throughout Australia to experience enjoyment, a sense of challenge and a sense of achievement through participation in equestrian events, resulting, in many cases, in the development of life skills that all sorts of other techniques and approaches are unable to give these people—improved quality of life, for many of them a sense of achievement and attainment of important personal goals that they have set for themselves once they have had the introduction to this wonderful organisation.
This organisation began in Queensland in 1964 and classes started in Victoria, my state, in 1971. It is a not-for-profit organisation which operates across 38 centres throughout Victoria, with over 1,100 participants and 900 volunteers. There are 900 people in Victoria alone who give their time, their patience, their expertise and their goodwill to the proper running of this organisation. The organisation runs varied sessions or classes, which include games, coordination exercises and trail rides. In many cases, people are encouraged, where they have got the ability, to enter into competitions and recreational equestrian events, with some riders able to participate in national and even international teams.
I visited the Moorabbin centre of Riding for the Disabled a couple of months ago with intellectually disabled clients from Marriott House. Marriott House is part of Marriott Support Services, a group that has been in existence in my electorate since 1985. It provides both a day program and a very important employment service for around 80 adults who are intellectually disabled. Marriott House offers its services to around 70 adults ranging from 18 to 67 years of age. It is a wonderful facility, which I have already had a lot to do with in the 12 months that I have been a member of parliament. It has been a great privilege to spend time at this facility, to see the very caring and happy place that it is and the wonderful things that have been done there with these intellectually disabled people. The day centre caters for those who have severe disabilities through to those who have the potential, with some support and help, to develop the skills to transition and live comfortably in the community. The support service has a factory employing 80 disabled people in light production work, blister packing and light assembly work.
It was with two groups of intellectually disabled people from Marriott House that I visited Riding for the Disabled. It was a wonderful experience. I have had horses all my life. They are wonderful animals—strong, spirited, gallant and, most of all, responsive. You can see the effects that they have had with these intellectually disabled people. The Riding for the Disabled classes promote an ability to think ahead. Sequencing of actions can be taught. They build self-confidence, self-esteem and a sense of achievement. It is such a wonderful joy to see the experience of these people.
In conclusion, I would like to commend the commitment and the selfless contribution of so many volunteers for the work they do for these classes in preparing the horses, grooming and feeding them and even selecting them. I would like to congratulate Riding for the Disabled and all those involved with it on their outstanding contribution and wish them a well-deserved break over this festive season.