Our Executive Committee

The Whangarei Riding Therapy Centre is very fortunate in that we have a professional group of people willing to serve on our Executive Committee.

Our Chairperson is Vanassa McGoldrick. She is responsible for Funding and Staff and Legal matters and contact person for our Occupational Therapist. She began her involvement with the Whangarei Riding Therapy Centre as a rider when the RDA was situated at Whau Valley.  Anne Cozens (our current Head Instructor) was Vanassa's first instructor back then, too! 
Vanassa is a Legal Executive with Henderson Reeves, but still finds time to championing causes for people with disabilities in the community. 

Ian Benson is our Deputy Chairperson and has lots of horse knowledge.  He is responsible for the horses, riders, paddock maintenance e.g. grass, hay, fertilizer, etc. 
He has developed a system using horsemanship techniques to improve human and horse relationships and has spent a lot of time teaching our staff and volunteers how to change the way we work with our horses so our horses understand us better!  Ian travels to Germany regularly running clinics over there, but if you would like to contact him, please email on info@true-humanship.com or visit his website at www.true-humanship.com.

Vicki Robson is our Treasurer and she is responsible for the administration and the payroll. Vicki joined last year too, and has lots of accounting experience having previously worked for Grant Thornton. She has already made a positive impact on the administration side of our operation, setting up a new financial reporting system which has made it even easier to see where all our funding goes!  Our accountants, Yovich Hayward Pevats Johnston, are also grateful that Vicki is onboard as it has made their job much easier when it comes round to the end of financial year.  

Colin Dunn has been a committee member for the past three years and a volunteer for even longer!  You can usually find Colin treating the horses to carrots, and at every pony party that we have held.  Colin also starred as Santa Claus for one playcentre and proved a very popular choice. Colin is the contact person for the volunteers and helps with the organisation of the Pony Parties!

Nola Sooner is the Committee's  Secretary (compilation of Minutes of Committee meetings) and is responsible for arena and horse float hire, pony parties re catering and bookings and the Website content and has filled an important niche - she's the one who bakes all the fancy cakes and desserts at our bi-annual "thank you" dinners and provides lots of support behind the scenes.

Philip Langley joined our Executive Committee last year and is responsible for our vehicles and property maintenance.  Philip has multiple sclerosis and started riding at the Whangarei Riding Therapy Centre nine months ago.  He has already noted a huge improvement in his mobility which is a direct result of his riding.  Philip has a plan to source a buggy or wagon for our Centre for those people who are unable to ride but may be able to drive.  If you can help, please contact us on 09 438 7521 or email admin@whangareirtc.org.nz

And, last but not least, Steve Sandford-Hill. He  joined the committee just a few months ago and is together with Ian responsible for the horses, riders, paddock maintenance e.g. grass, hay, fertilizer, etc. 

Without our committee, our Centre wouldn't be experiencing the success that it is.  Meetings are held every month and theres an Annual General Meeting once a year. 

 

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