Ashburton Courier: July 11, 2024

8 Ashburton
NEWS
Courier, July 11, 2024
www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz
RDAvolunteer’s givenshirts
DELLWYN.MOYLAN
@ashburtoncourier.co.nz
The 30 volunteers at Mid
Canterbury Riding for the
Disabled will soon be the best
dressed in New Zealand Riding
for the Disabled.
Following araffle for Mother's
Day, Ashburton County Lions
gave RDA $1000 to purchase
green and gold tops, complete
with both organisations’ logos.
RDA, celebrating its 50th
anniversary in September, relies
on the support of organisations
such as County Lions to provide
its twice­weekly riding sessions
for pupils from Ashburton
schools.
Lions president Nicola Kelly
said she and fellow members
wanted to give proceeds from the
raffle to aworthy Mid Canterbury
organisation.
‘‘We particularlywanted to
support ayouth organisation and
thought RDA doesn’t get alot of
funding so we could help them,’’
Kelly said
RDA president Maxine Hooper
said the money would enable them to
provideevery volunteer with ashirt.
‘‘It is important that we are branded.
When people turn up to our groundsthey
know who to speak to when we are in our
shirts,’’ Hooper said.
The organisation is totally volunteer run.
‘‘We are always on the look out for more
DONATION: RDA volunteers receive new shirts funded by Ashburton County Lions.
volunteerswho can commit aday aweek to
support the children as they ride, learn skills
andbuild confidence,’’ Hooper said.
‘‘Volunteerscome from not only
Ashburton, but one travels weekly from
Prebbleton, such is the enjoyment they get
out of helping our riders,’’ Hooper said.
About $7000 is paid to RDA throughthe
fees charged to the pupils or their school.
There are many costs associated with
running the programme from vet bills, the
tooth fairy, feed and purchasing horses.
Gifts, like the Lions one, helps RDA tick
items off their wish list which includes a40ft
container for storage, new couch covers and
asign­in board.
Event company finalistsinawards
SUSAN.SANDYS
@ashburtoncourier.co.nz
AMidCanterbury event management company and
the district council are finalists in two categories of
the prestigious New Zealand Events Association
awards.
Rí Rá Events and the district council staged the
ANZ Business of the Year Awards at the Ashburton
Aviation Museum in Februaryattended by 375.
The awards are among six events shortlisted for the
Best Business Event 2024 and five events shortlisted
for the Best Local Government Event 2024.
Rí Rá Events is also afinalist for the Best Food,
Beverage or Lifestyle Event 2024, for holding the The
Twelfth Hour Gin Experienceatthe Methven Trotting
Club Christmas race meeting last year. The Twelfth
Hour Gin Experience coupled fashion and gin to
create amemorable event experience.
Founded in 2019, Rí Rá Events is owned by two
Irish kiwis, Gary Manningand Colm McGrath.
There are 69 finalists across 17 categories in the
awards. Celebratinginnovation, creativity, and
resilience in New Zealand's event industry, they will
be stagedinPalmerston North on August 27.
SHORTLISTED: Rí Rá Events directors Gary Manning (left) and Colm
McGrath.
PHOTO BY JOANNE MCCLOY PHOTOGRAPHY
OUT AND ABOUT
JULY 11
Laser cut dice towercreationevent
for teens aged 12 to 18 at the library,
Te Kete Tuhinga, from 2pm. Ateen
holiday programme event to take
game play to the next level. Cost $5.
Bookings essentialonline via
ashburtondc.govt.nz
SignsPast exhibitiononnow until
September at the Ashburton
Museum. Includes aselectionof
signage collected by the Ashburton
Museum &Historical Society since
the late 1950s, highlighting
changinguse of skills and methods
over the past 70 years. Free entry.
Ashburton Society of Arts annual
exhibitiononnow at the Ashburton
Art Gallery until July 26. Works from
Mid Canterbury and further afield in
avariety of media,all available to
purchase. Guest artists include
Brian Baxter, David Lloyd, Galina
Kim, Lynda Scott, Sara Beal,
Silversmiths Guild and Stewart
Nimmo. Free entry.
JULY 13
Ashburton Astronomy Group
hostingapublic pre-dawn viewing
of the Matariki star cluster, from the
eastern side of Argyle Park,
Ashburton, between 5.45am and
7.15 am. All welcome.
JULY 16
Design and create your own roleplayinggame
journal for Dungeons
and Dragons campaigns using
cardstock and materials, and
decorated with stencils and decals.
Free for teensaged 12 to 18.
Bookingessentialonline via
ashburtondc.govt.nz
JULY 18
Dice and Dragons movie night at the
Ashburton Public Library for teens
aged 12 to 18 years old from 6pm.
Free event, but registration required
via ashburtondc.govt.nz then collect
aticketfrom the library service desk
once registered.Movie is rated M,
some snacks provided.
JULY 21
The Mid-Canterbury Branch of the
Black and Coloured Sheep
Breeders Association are hosting
an open day on at 155 Burnham
School Rd, Rolleston,from 10am to
3pm. It will cover fleece care before
and after shearing. Learn how to
skirt, weigh and clean your fleeces
ready for showing, sellingoruse.
Refreshments available,fleecesfor
sale.