Members trot to

By Kath Gannaway
HEALESVILLE Pony Club celebrated its 30th anniversary earlier this month with a get-together of former members and their families at their ‘new’ grounds.
In fact, the three arena complex at the Don Road Sporting Complex is not so new any more. The club moved there from its second home in River Street 15 years ago, taking their club rooms with them on the back of a truck.
Maureen Chlupac became an instructor with the club when her eldest son, Martin, joined at the very beginning.
“We had a meeting in the Memo (Memorial) Hall to get the whole going and had help from the Amateur Racing Club to set up there,” Mrs Chlupac recalled.
She said the club soon moved to land owned by the Shire of Healesville in River Street, adjacent to the bowling club.
“After a while we got together enough money to build the club house, built mostly by members.”
Janette Mackenzie is a past District Commissioner of the club and an active committee member. She joined as a 12 year old and became involved again when her daughter, Sarah, started riding.
“A tent served as our clubrooms for quite a while and we used to ride over the strawberry rows,” she recalled. Eventually, she said the members managed to make a good cross country course near the Watts River and raised funds to build the clubrooms.
“It was fabulous to see such a good turn-up and everyone getting together and catching up and sharing memories and stories of the club,” Ms Mackenzie said.
The club currently has 52 members and there is a waiting list. At one time, there were over 80 members and the club had to meet on both days of the weekend to accommodate all the riders.
Club president, Kelly Mulcahy was also very pleased and welcomed the opportunity to talk with past members.
“I was thrilled to bits to see so many past members and riders. We have a great little club with a good reputation for our riders showing good sportsmanship, polite and well behaved.
“Pony club teaches responsibility, it’s not like having a rabbit,” Ms Mulcahy said.
“Community awareness starts very young here because this is a community club and there is a great deal of community networking.
“It was good to have this opportunity to catch up with everyone because the club would not be so successful without the help we have had from a lot of people over the years, and the help we continue to get.”