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Long-awaited vehicle drives Riding for the Disabled expansion

Announcement posted by Wagga Mutual Credit Union 15 May 2013

For an organisation that usually specialise in hooves, saddles and reins, the arrival of a new set of wheels today at Wagga’s Riding for the Disabled (RDA) paves the way for an expansion of the much-loved group’s services.

Wagga Mutual Credit Union has presented the RDA with an eight-seater wheelchair friendly vehicle that will allow the group to transport children who otherwise could not access horse-riding and carriage driving lessons at the RDA’s arenas on Plumpton Road.

The vehicle has been purchased and converted to become wheelchair-accessible following a $30,000 grant from the Wagga Mutual Regional Fund and an additional $35,000 in financial support from RDA donors and the Wagga community.

RDA president Bev Amery has been eagerly awaiting the vehicle’s arrival and was today presented with the keys by Peter Rutter, General Manager Community of Wagga Mutual’s parent company Community CPS Australia.

Already Mrs Amery has plans to keep the vehicle busy travelling across the region picking up children and bringing them to the Plumpton Road arena.

"Now that we have the vehicle we’ll be able to pick up children from local schools which have not had their own means of transport and bring them here for lessons starting from next week," she said.

"We’ll also be using the vehicle to transport our riding coaches to training sessions and RDA state conferences.

"This is truly a highlight for us and marks a turning point in our long history. We started almost 40 years ago with six clients and now have more than 100 clients visiting us each week. The smiles we receive from our clients and the strength we see them gaining from their lessons is incredibly rewarding and we know they, and their families sincerely appreciate every trip to the RDA."

Mr Rutter said the RDA was the second annual recipient of the Wagga Mutual Regional Fund Grant, which provided much needed support to a key community group in the region.

"Bev and her team of volunteer trainers have been providing riding lessons since 1975 and are making a real difference to children and young people with disabilities," Mr Rutter said.

"Today marks a special day in the history of RDA and it is with absolute pleasure that Wagga Mutual can present the car to Bev and her hardworking team of volunteers to help them extend their already popular services."

About THE COMMUNITY CPS AUSTRALIA GROUP

Three-time winner of Money magazine’s Credit Union of the Year award (2012, 2008) and Best Credit Union (2005) and winner of the Mozo People’s Choice Award for Best Credit Union (2012), the Community CPS Australia Group is one of the largest customer owned financial institutions in Australia. With assets under management approaching $4 billion, the Credit Union employs 598 staff across 46 branches to service more than 186,000 members. Community CPS is located in South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory, and operates as Wagga Mutual Credit Union in Wagga Wagga, Companion Credit Union in the Hunter Valley and United Community Credit Union in Western Australia. The Group comprises activities in banking, the community (through the Community CPS Foundation) and professional services (wealth management, tax and accounting services via Eastwoods). For more information visit www.communitycps.com.au