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A
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SOUTHERN VALES DRESSAGE CLUB
In 1977 a meeting was held one evening in a hall at Gates Roade,
Hackam, SA in order to form the Southern Horse Education Group (SHEG).
The first organized meet was held in March, in a paddock at Mel
Kennedy's property, Kentara (now known
as Shilo Park) on Kelly's Road, Morphett Vale. There was a good
attendance of about 30 riders and in April 1979 we became a registered
Incorporated Body.
Subsequently the Club moved to the Morphett Vale Riding Club
grounds on a shared basis for a couple of years,
this being at the corner of Wheatsheaf & Panalatinga Road,
Morphett Vale.
Later on we were able to have our own grounds through the Urban
Land Trust, so we moved again.
This time we operated on 10 acres at Spriggs Road in Hackham. We
were able to provide a large shed
including a small Clubroom with the local Council helping with
post and rail fencing plus a cross-country course.
We staged unofficial competitions, occasionally an official day,
and lots of instruction costing only $5.00 per lesson! Some past
Instructors have been Les Szathmary, John Vaughn, John Schroder,
John Patterson, and Vicky Powell.
In those days the Club was a very low key organization, however
fulfilling a need over the next 10 years, and they were fun
times in a stable situation.
The next necessary move took us to Commercial Rd at Seaford on
the Seaford Riding Club grounds, then on to the Symonds Reserve,
Hamilton Rd, Aldinga. Here the administration was from an old
(repainted 1950s caravan) and all arenas formed from simple rope
and metal pegs, as always needing volunteers to do THE WORK.
During this period Julie Jantke, Hon Life Member, seemed to be
holding the Club together assisted by a minimal committee. What
equipment the Club had was apparently stored in various safe
places - not easily available for competition days. Many will
remember Julie appearing in her saloon – with The Club (in the
boot)! One card table, two chairs and some twisted ropes on
battered reels, together with a sort of PA system, needing to be
hurriedly
placed into some sort of organisation for a competition to be
run. Happy days. The helpers of today have greater
responsibilities, but hey, how super are those facilities at
Equestrian Park?
The Equestrians in The South, recognised the need to move
forward! Val Cadell was instrumental in the move toward
obtaining a permanent facility. She became an elected local
Councillor, rallied the necessary support, and subsequent to
MANY meetings and negotiations, finally the (bare) land lease
was secured. This really
does prove that if you believe in your cause, it can be
achievable.
Equestrian Park on the Aldinga Sports Complex was the next home
from 1995, later for two years at LesleyAnne Taylor's Skansen
Park Indoor Arena at McLaren Vale.
In January 2002 a final move returned SVDC to Equestrian Park, Port
Rd, Aldinga. Since the official opening in September 1995, the
two/three resident Clubs and Management Committee have worked to
improve the venue. So many fund-raising hours, paying of
rent,actually doing work on the site, whilst still organising
regular competitions, has provided perhaps $60,000.00 of arenas.
The input since then over the last 12 years in terms of
fundraising and just plain hard work has been huge and a
tremendous achievement.
In October 2005, SVDC very successfully
hosted the hacking, showjumping, novelty and dressage events for
the 10th Australian Masters Games.
Thanks to the hard work of our
tireless committee and volunteers and the support and generosity
of our many sponsors, the grounds looked fantastic and everyone
had a great time and got into the spirit of the games.
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