General News
16 October, 2023
Maryborough RDA’s Aileen Marshall awarded for work
A Maryborough resident has achieved a state-level accolade for her contribution to the local Riding Develops Abilities (RDA) organisation — with the award recognising four decades worth of her commitment. Having volunteered with the Maryborough...
A Maryborough resident has achieved a state-level accolade for her contribution to the local Riding Develops Abilities (RDA) organisation — with the award recognising four decades worth of her commitment.
Having volunteered with the Maryborough RDA for over 40 years, the vice president and chief instructor of the club, Aileen Marshall, was presented with the Kevin Coombs Lifetime
Achievement Award at the Victorian Disability Sport and Recreation Awards, held earlier this month.
The awards shine a light on the work undertaken by volunteers, athletes, officials, programs and clubs to empower and support people with a disability in achieving their goals and getting active.
“I must admit, I was a little bit surprised,” Ms Marshall said.
“What the RDA volunteers do in town, we don’t do it for the awards — we’re just a little country town that do what needs to be done to help people.
“This award does however make me really proud of our centre and myself because it shows that little towns and ordinary people can still make a huge difference. I’m also especially proud of the fact that our group is completely voluntary so I think this is an achievement forall of us.”
As someone who’s grown up with horses, Ms Marshall co-started the Maryborough RDA in the 1980s, and took on the coaching role to train disabled riders.
“When I was first asked to start up the group, I didn’t know anything about disabilities but I did know a lot about horses,” she said.
“Back then, I went to a centre to see what RDA was about and saw a young man in a wheelchair get on a horse and once the horse started moving, the rider’s demeanour changed, he became more focused and had a smile from one ear to the other.
“After seeing that, I went around the back of the shed and cried — that’s when I decided to take up the opportunity because it was amazing.”
The local RDA chapter, according to Ms Marshall, is an important fixture of the town — empowering the area’s disabled community.
“Horses are the most amazing creatures, they’re wonderful and gentle with all our riders,” she said.
“If you’re in a wheelchair, it might feel like everyone’s looking down on you but once you’re on a horse, everyone is looking up at you and on that horse, the world is your oyster.
“I think our horses have transformed some lives but we’ve also been supported by the community in Maryborough. The people are also the backbone of our group because they give up their time and volunteer.”
If you’d like to volunteer with Maryborough RDA, contact Aileen Marshall on 5460-4539.