Countless people with intellectual and physical disabilities to the hearing and visually impaired have benefited from the charity’s horse-facilitated therapy programs run out of the Association’s Tall Timbers centre at Box Hill in Sydney’s north west.
So imagine the devastation of staff and the centre’s clients when they’d discovered a $50,000 special grant had been cut.
“It has definitely left a hole in our funding,” said RDA NSW Tall Timbers administrator Kerry Souter.
“It costs $1700 to put someone through our program. We cannot suddenly charge each rider the full cost, it wouldn’t be right.”
Instead, the centre limits the cost to participants to about 12% of the actual cost of the program, leaving it to fundraise to meet the shortfall.
So staff took great delight in the news that Biviano’s Restaurant Dural had chosen this year to support RDA NSW’s Tall Timbers Centre at its upcoming The Hills Annual Charity Gala Ball by Biviano’s, also supported by Western Sydney Business Access.
Organiser Mag Hosny said he was confident this year’s community fundraiser on August 23 would net $25,000 to help RDA meet the substantial cost of running its mental health and learning programs.
“We at Biviano’s chose to support RDA because it is local but also because what they do for children and adults is really quite special and they need financial support to carry on this excellent community work,” Mr Hosny said.
The Association has come a long way since the first disabled riding class at Tall Timbers in 1972. Since that time, participants have noted numerous benefits associated with the horse riding activities including improved balance and posture, the development of fine and gross motor skills, better decision making, social integration and improved self-esteem.
“We are really excited that Mag understands what we do and we’re so delighted to be supported at this year’s Biviano’s gala ball,” Ms Souter said. “It will really take a load off us because fundraising can be difficult with a limited number of volunteers.”
Tickets for the black and white ball at Biviano’s Restaurant, Dural on Thursday, August 23 are $120 and include a glass of sparkling wine on arrival, canapés, a 3-course menu and live entertainment.
Guests will include Castle Hill MP Ray Williams, Hills Shire mayor Michelle Byrne and NSW Governor David Hurley who is also an RDA NSW patron and RDA ambassadors.
Western Sydney businessman Jim Taggart will MC and oversee the raffle of a $5000 spending spree at Robert Cliff Master Jewellers.
Tickets are available at trybooking.com/VWSA or phone Biviano’s on 9651 2022 or visit
To learn more about Riding for the Disabled Association’s Tall Timbers centre or to make a donation:
