Sally is riding high

By Russell Bennett
MONBULK Pony Club’s Sally Brownridge had never been into the inner sanctum of Melbourne’s sporting Mecca.
But late last month, Brownridge was at the Melbourne’s Cricket Ground accepting the honour of being named Community Coach of the Year at the State Government’s Community Sport and Recreation Awards.
“It’s a huge shock and I still don’t think it has sunk in yet,” she said.
“I only found out the week before that I was nominated.
“It was a massive shock, but a very nice surprise.”
Brownridge took her god-daughter along to the Monbulk Pony Club 14 years ago, and has been involved there every since.
Her current role involves her running the club’s miniature games team and organising ‘musical rides’.
“I’ve always been hugely interested in getting kids involved – it’s a great sport,” Brownridge, 56, said.
“It’s good for kids who love their sport and horses, but don’t really have the athletic ability.
“Sport is about participating and pony club fits into that.
“It wouldn’t matter if you had one arm or leg.”
Brownridge explained that musical rides involved pony club riders in teams of four organising their own riding routines set to music.
“There’s a lot of skill involved, but it’s not an elite sport,” Brownridge said.
“Whether you have a dressage horse or a Shetland, it doesn’t matter.”
Brownridge has worked full-time for Yooralla for the past 15 years and taught swimming for the past 20.
But she still makes time each week for her beloved pony club.
“I absolutely love it,” she said.
“It’s better than sitting at home doing nothing!”
Monbulk Pony Club has about 40 members, ranging from four years of age to people in their early twenties.
Brownridge, one of four Monbulk nominees at the Community Sport and Recreation awards, said her club was “a great movement” and members had a lot of freedom.
“But it takes a huge parent involvement, a huge commitment from them, and a large number of available mums and dads to make it work,” she said.
“That is really a strength of the whole area – other sports in Monbulk do a great job with the kids as well.”
Brownridge, who celebrated her birthday the day after the awards, thanked district commissioner Loreto Hosking and the pony club for nominating her.
“They were very nice to do it,” she said. “I still can’t believe it.”