Mallacoota club stays on track to ride out the tough times

A small band of enthusiastic horse lovers in Mallacoota is determined to come through the difficulties faced by their pony club.

MALLACOOTA Pony Club is pushing on despite bushfires, COVID-19, flooding rains and freezing temperatures.

It is clear nothing can stop this small band of enthusiastic horse lovers.

The 2019-20 bushfires destroyed the clubhouse, office, round yard, jumping area and cross country course, the club’s holding yards, fencing, gates, maintenance tools and all horseriding equipment.

“Forty years of history with photos, medals, all gone, with a lot on loan. All irreplaceable,” club secretary Cate Tregellas. said.

The situation for the 14- member club was looking grim but a grant of $50,000 as one of the CommBank Bushfire Recovery Grant recipients will rebuild the club and replace vital clubhouse resources.

Members met recently to receive the Certificate workbooks donated by Pony Club Australia and to have their first look at the newly built round jumping arena. After their July rally was cancelled due to severe weather, the club used this opportunity to come together one last time before stage 3 COVID-19 restrictions came into place.

“The donated certificate books will help the riders keep learning about the safety and welfare of their horses and also about riding and horse handling skills, even while they are in lockdown,” Mallacoota Pony Club District Commissioner Sara Renwick-Lau, said.

“The club plans to provide online rallies, as well as some access to riding instruction within COVID-19 restrictions.

The club was grateful to Gary Harris of Mallacoota Home Improvements, who has just completed work on the jumping arena and a spectator bench, keeping the design in line with the burnt down arena, which had been built with the hard work of previous Pony Club families over many decades.

Club president Stephanie Mew added: “While there is still much to be done, we are continuing to make slow and steady progress to restoring the fire damaged Pony Club grounds and club rooms for the use of current and future generations of riders and visitors.”

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