Wairoa Pony Club - 2019 AGM District Commissioner report
Welcome to the 2019 Wairoa Pony Club Annual General Meeting.
Over the past 12 months Wairoa Pony Club members are continuing to participate in a variety of
equestrian activities including regular rallies, the A&P Show, other equestrian competitions and
hunting with Mahia Hunt Inc. Having visibility in the community keeps raising our profile which can
be only positive.
While our membership role dropped slightly from last season it is still very healthy. We are a grass
roots club and we now have members who couldn’t rise to the trot when they first joined, to now
achieving their C certificate and competing and hunting confidently.
During the past 12 months our fundraising efforts have been outstanding resulting in upgrading our
facilities and assist coaches with up-skilling.
Thanks again to the First Light Community Foundation and Eastern and Central Community Trust for
supporting us with grants to upgrade equipment shed and our jumps and trailer.
Thank you to QRS, Eastland Vet Services, Tairawhiti COGS committee and PGG Wrightson Real Estate
for their sponsorship and donation during the year. Thank you to a number of smaller sponsors who
continue to support us when approached. The complimentary feed back received from the business
community is so good to hear. They watch and read about our members, and see how well they
represent Wairoa Pony Club – a reason why we have so much support.
Once again our sawdust fundraiser was a huge success. A huge thanks to East Coast Lumber for
supplying truck loads of sawdust. So many people supported our cause as they watched the children
working away and not just the parents.
Our club was entered in the Wairoa Sports awards and then in the Hawkes Bay Sports Awards –
Grass Root Club category without success. I often wonder what non-equestrian people’s perception
is about Pony Club – perhaps it is time for the NZPCA brand to be reviewed. It hasn’t changed since
pony club began!
Thanks to the A&P Committee for supporting and encouraging Wairoa Pony club. We are so lucky to
have free use of the showgrounds to call our ‘home’. We have contributed to the Society
throughout the year with working bees and sponsorship. They too have benefitted from our new
shed and jumps. It is important to keep supporting the Society where we can, as community groups
benefit so much more when they work together!
A huge thank you to our coaching team led by Jo. Kendra, Karen, Sonya, Elsa and Amanda Powdrell
the time you give preparing rallies is of huge benefit. Thanks also to Caroline Richardson, Rachel
Martin and Anna McNicol who have helped and supported the club during the year.
Aren’t we lucky we live in a place where people are so generous with their time and knowledge,
willing to help without the need to put their hand out. I will always support a volunteer who is keen
to up skill - and this year Jo attended the C-C+ coaches course and she and Karen are heading off to
the coaches conference. Professional development for any club can only be beneficial to its
members.
Thank you to Robyn Mackay and Annabel Parkes for giving up their time to examine the certificates.
Congratulations to Oliver, Amanda, Tattie, Georgia and Isobel for passing their C Certificates. Kayley
and Maisey passed their D+ Certificates and Annabel and Amelia sat and passed their D certificates.
A huge credit to you all and your coaches.
Thanks to Mandy Jarden - she loves coming to Wairoa to share her knowledge. I look forward to the
day when we send a games team to zone games.
A lot of the work that Bronya and Amanda Alexander do goes unnoticed. Being a charity and part of
a national organization requires ongoing reporting and this can take up a lot of time. While our club
grows and takes on more activities, more admin and managing behind the scenes is required, so a
huge thanks to you both.
We introduced the Rally & Fundraising Coordinator rolls for the first time last year. Thanks Jo and
Sara for all your work to lesson the load of others.
We have a great club - the camaraderie is awesome. We have different backgrounds, personalities,
strengths and weaknesses, but most of all we are all volunteers, which is why our club rocks!
Our time is so valuable but it is always extremely valued.
Sue Wilson
Wairoa Pony Club District Commissioner
May 2019