The RDA Australia National Volunteer Awards are an annual presentation that recognises the significant contributions that volunteers make to our service across Australia.
Over 3000 people give almost 400,000 hours of voluntary service to our Centres each and every year. The collective effort and input is immense, and vital to the efficient and effective delivery of our services. The collective effort is essential, and we are incredibly grateful for everyone who volunteers in our network, but within the collective effort, individuals also shine, and the RDA Australia National Volunteer Awards are our opportunity to recognise some of these individuals.
Read there stories below, here from the judges and their colleagues and be inspired.
The RDA Australia National Volunteer Award presentations kicked off at RDA Swan Hill . Jan Croser presented Alison Gibson (right) with the 2023 Volunteer Encouragement Award!
Alison is well deserving recipient, having volunteered for the past 5 years. In Alison’s time with RDA Swan Hill, she has improved horse welfare techniques and strategies, and has created an emergent, enthusiastic and rejuvenated Centre.
She has also provided 4 of her own horses throughout her volunteer service.
Congratulations Alison, you are a true inspiration!
A huge congratulations to Rose Mether, our RDA Australia Young Volunteer Award winner
from Pegasus Riding for the Disabled of the ACT, presented by Jan Croser.
Rose has been volunteering with Pegasus since early 2021 and has shown maturity well above her age in everything that she does. She has progressed from leading and side walking to completing her Level 0 coaching all while doing her year 12 study!
Rose is seen by all as an extremely positive and effective influence on service delivery and her passionate and enthusiastic demeanour will continue to provide an outstanding contribution for many years to come.
Congratulations to Frances Hardy! Our Recipient of the 2023 Service Excellence Award – Riding for the Disabled Oakbank in Riding for the Disabled South Australia.
The award was presented as a nice surprise at Oakbank’s Christmas lunch, attended by the Riding for the Disabled Association of Australia (RDAA) Executive Officer, RDASA State President and staff as well as a some of Frances’ family and RDA Oakbank colleagues.
Here’s what Oakbank had to say about the impact Frances has made at the Centre.
“Frances became a Level 0 Riding Coach at RDA Oakbank in 2016. She took on the responsibilities of Volunteer Coordinator and Competency Coach shortly after she was accredited. She has continued to hold that role and has been pivotal to building and maintaining a strong, committed team of volunteers.
Frances has been a member of the RDA Oakbank Committee of Management since 2017 and was elected as President in 2018 and assumed the role of Client Coordinator in 2021.
Frances has helped to develop and maintain a supportive relationship between RDA Oakbank and the central Adelaide Hills community. This rapport has reaped many benefits including ongoing sponsorship from charitable organisations and businesses. This has provided the purchase of horse shelters, rainwater tanks and the transport and set-up of a transportable office.
Frances is also committed to the continual improvement and strategic progress of RDA Oakbank. She readily perceives what needs to be done, does not hesitate to get her fingernails dirty as part of the workforce, and skilfully consults with and brings others along with her.
All the roles that Frances has enthusiastically assumed are time consuming, require astute people skills as well as attention to detail. Frances’ personal attributes, strategic thinking, positive energy, and unfettered commitment have allowed her to excel in all the positions she holds within RDA Oakbank Centre. Frances’ influence and contributions have enabled RDA Oakbank to continue to expand the services it provides, to maintain and improve the quality of its service provision, and to create a high level of volunteer commitment and clientele satisfaction”
A dedicated, diligent and hardworking volunteer, a humble recipient and a very worthy winner.
Judges’ Comments…..
“When you read the information submitted for the different awards, it never ceases to amaze me the depth of knowledge and dedication of people in our organization. We are truly lucky to have these people as volunteers. Unless reading something like this or knowing them personally you would never learn these things about people”.
Judge, Judy Doyle – RDA Coach and Board Director
Judge Judy Doyle – RDA Coach and Board Director.
“We are so lucky to have such energetic and dedicated young people coming on through the ranks of volunteers, assistant coaches and going onto to be coaches in the future”.
“Every volunteer should feel proud that they were singled out to be nominated by their centre, I was both very impressed and encouraged by the young volunteers who were all worthy of selection, I wanted to give each one a prise, the future of RDA is cemented by our young volunteers”.
Judge Jan Croser – RDA Coach and Life Member.
“The senior sections were an inspiration to read of their individual service and I congratulate each and every one on their nomination”.
Judge Jan Croser – RDA Coach and Life Member.
“All applicants are to be congratulated for their efforts and the time they give so generously week after week. I think anyone who gives of their time so generously deserves an award, with many giving many years of service”.
Judge, Lyn Cameron – Catering and Accommodation Manager at Marcus Oldham College.
“May RDA continue to flourish and continue to grow for many years into the future”.
Judge, Lyn Cameron – Catering and Accommodation Manager at Marcus Oldham College.