PAST and present Kerang Pony Club members gathered on Sunday to mark 55 years of fellowship and competition.
More than 70 people helped celebrated the launch of the club’s official history – The History of the Kerang Pony Club 1959-2015, celebrating 55 years – penned by life members Dorothy Peacock and Sandra Neivandt.
The book focuses on the club’s growth – when it was the Kerang Horse and Pony Club – and its rejuvenation as the Kerang Pony Club after the group went into recess in the mid-1960s.
The reformed group, which commenced operating in 1970, began with 37 members and remained in the high-20s and low-30s for the next decade.
The club’s number dropped to seven in 1988/89, before increasing to 23 in the following five years.
The club had 13 members registered last season – double the figure from 10 years earlier.
Participants take part in club rallies on the first and third Sundays of the month, with major competitions being the annual trials and gymkhana.
Club members also travel to district competitions as far away as Tocumwal, Finley and Mildura, as well as State competitions.
“Participants think it is a lot of fun, and they learn from quality instructors about how to ride in the different disciplines,” club president, Sarah Archard said.
“Members also make a number of good friends, as well as get to learn how to care for and be responsible for horses.”
The club had planned to mark its 50th anniversary with the launch of its pictorial history, but needed to source a State Government grant to produce the book.
The government came to the party late last year, providing a $3520 grant to fund the book’s publication.
“The club’s history would have been consigned to people’s homes if not for this government grant,” Member for Murray Plains, Peter Walsh said
The event marked the presentation of life memberships to three long-serving members – the first time the awards have been given out since 2006.
The club’s current secretary and past president and treasurer, Sandra Peacock – who first became a member when she was a girl – joined founding member and committee representative, Maxine O’Neill and long-serving steward, Barbara Williams in receiving the honour.
