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Our Beginnings The RDA started in New Zealand in 1972, and in May 1978 a meeting was held in Whangarei to gauge public feeling regarding the establishment of a branch in Whangarei. A committee was duly elected to set the branch up, and membership fees to belong to the organisation were set. A constitution was formed in March 1979 and in 1981 the Whangarei RDA Headquarters in Ranfurly Street were upgraded with the help of Whangarei South Jaycees and local businesses. The land being used belonged to the Auckland Education Board and when the Education Department advised in 1984 that the land was to be sold, RDA found new premises in Jack Street, Otangarei with the help of the then National MP, who was the Association's Patron, and local firm, Parkland Developments Ltd. RDA Whangarei was situated there for three years, then circumstances changed again, and after three more moves, with much fundraising each time, approval was given by the Whangarei District Council to move RDA Whangarei to Barge Showgrounds in Maunu in 1994, which is where you will find us today. We are now one of the largest RDA groups in New Zealand. We operate four days per week with riding therapy lessons from Monday to Thursday, and up to 65 riders participating each week. We have a waiting list of riders but are unable to accommodate them all as we do not have enough staff or volunteers to run the sessions. If you have some spare time available during the week, and would like to make a real difference to someone's life, we'd love to hear from you. Please click here, contact us on (09) 438 7521, or send an e-mail to info@rdawhangarei.org.nz.
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The People Who Make It Happen
Staff
Lotus Seville Lotus is our Head Instructor. Some of you will know Lotus from Horse Play, the programme she runs in the holidays and some days after school. We welcome her to the team. Lotus has been involved with the RDA Whangarei on and off for a number of years, we are pleased to have her on the team. | 
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Jeannet Penney
Jeannet is our Occupational Therapist. We received funding for Jeannett from The Oxford Sports Trust for which we are very grateful. Without their support we would not be able to have Jeannet on board providing her very professional therapy, advice and help for our riders.
[more to come |
 | Frances Wrigley
Frances is our Stable Manager and keeps everything out in the stables running smoothly. She is a very devoted member of our team and puts in far more hours than she is paid for � and is very much appreciated by us all.
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Joey is our newest Insructor from England, Her background is in teaching physical Education and really enjoys the rda as it involves her passion for horses, with her love of working with people.
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 | Paul, (more info to come ) |
Sue Neilson
Sue is our Office Manager who joined us in May 2008. She has very quickly become an integral part of our operation, keeping us and our paperwork all in line. She is very efficient and Vicki�s Right Hand lady and even came in over the holidays to help with spraying the weeds! her only flaw/fault is that she is "not into" horses! Never mind; we may get her to pat one this year!
Executive Committee:
The Whangarei Riding Therapy Centre is very fortunate in that we have a professional group of people willing to serve on our Executive Committee. Without our committee, our Centre wouldn't be experiencing the success that it is. Meetings are held every month and there is an Annual General Meeting once a year
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Volunteers (more to come )
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