Posted September 25th, 2008
Well we are back, have been for a few weeks now but with all the loose ends to tie up its been virtually impossible to get on here and give everyone an update. One thing that I shouldve had up a long long time ago is the wonderful generosity of Russell Bowkett the owner of XANADU BEACH RIDES AND “XANADU ARABIANS”.
Russell not only rode on the trek but gave a generous cash donation to help with our fundraising efforts. Here’s a little information about XANADU BEACH RIDES. With Russell’s personable nature and boundless knowledge of horses and horseriding, this is one trip that just has to be made. Imagine riding along pristine beaches adjoining the Cape Le Grande National Park or through the magical bushland. Its a trip that I will be making soon enough let me assure you. Watch out Russell, here we come!
Xanadu Beach Horses Rides
“Xanadu Arabians”
Esperance W.A.
Ph 0429920957 A/H (08) 90759029
Email russ@shearingwold.com
4 hrs $150 pp
BBQ
*
Camping
*
Bush Kitchen
*
Good fishing
*
Spa avalable
Adult rides Beach & Bushland
1 1/2 hrs $65 pp
2hrs $75 pp
Bookings Essential
Xanadu is situated 35 kms east of Esperance, end of Stockyard rd off Merivale Rd & adjoins the Cape le Grand National Park & Cape La Grand beach
“A Beach for your Playground”
Posted August 26th, 2008
This post is long overdue and I am sorry that I haven’t had the time to get it up earlier. Riders 4 Life would like to give a massive thank you to BHP Billiton NIckel West and Jennifer Scott for their amazingly generous donation of $10,000 to go to the Community Concert. With this we have been able to secure various entertainment to make the night a party to remember for not only the riders but for the Community at large. We had been negotiating with Adam Harvey’s agents from the Eastern States but found that the calibre of production equipment needed to produce a show was unable to be sourced locally so the costs began spiralling out of control. Luckily for us Rob Potts Entertainment Edge are a fantastic group of people to deal with and bent over backwards trying to help us secure what we needed. With help from local musician Mark Hellewell we were able to find some things we needed but still were unable to pull through with the “goods”. With good grace we were refunded our deposit and sourced entertainment Daren Reid and the Soul City Groove from Perth. Hopefully next year we will be able to speak with more companies that are like minded in Community relations and be able to bring some big name acts to Kambalda giving the Community a chance to see and enjoy something that they would otherwise not be able to attend. As this is a free event we are hoping that the majority of Kambalda and surrounding region will be able to attend and make this an event to remember. BHP Billiton Nickel West, you truly are a Community conscious corporation that are willing to put back in the Community. Thank You.
Posted August 26th, 2008
Though we have no affiliation with any political parties currently campaigning for the coming WA election, I felt that it was appropriate to submit this media release concerning one of our participants. Suzie Williams was the very first to come on board, taking me by surprise one evening at a meeting for another equestrian matter. I was speaking of the trek and what would be happening when she grabbed her cheque book, signed on the dotted line and said “right Im in, where do I go!” With such enthusiasm I have nothing but sympathy for her now as she is forced to pull out in order to campaign for the coming election on the 6th of September. I know how disappointed she is not to be able to participate and I wish her all the best for the next couple of weeks. I would like to thank her for highlighting our trek and fund raising efforts in her various media obligations and hope that she is successful in her endeavour.
media-statement-norseman-trek-williams-14-08-08
Posted August 16th, 2008
Its a little bit scary to think that the trek is only a few short weeks away. With all the organization going on behind the scenes, the logistics of catering/travel and a plethora of other considerations, it has amazed me at how smoothly things are beginning to fall into place. I must admit that stress is my new best friend and I really cant wait for September to be over so I can take a step back and breath again. There have been a few cancellations of some riders due to family, work and even political responsibilities but as one door closes for some, another opens and we have new riders joining the fray. Riders are coming from as far away from Perth, Bunbury, Esperence, Kalgoorlie, Coolgardie and Kambalda so there should be a fantastic mix of personalities of horses and riders alike to make this trip an adventure! With the trek being so close, my husband, children and Krista Shepherd decided to drive the route we will be taking for one last time, mapping out various areas for lunch breaks, camping etc. What started as a serious day with serious decisions turned into a madcap day full of testosterone 4wdriving leaving me with shot nerves, Krista doubled over laughing and husband wondering what all the fuss was about. I’m sure the kids weren’t actually asleep in their seats, rather they were concussed (well they did seem a little bleary eyed when we returned home…) The track is a good one with plenty of variation to keep everyone interested. With the generosity of the Norsemen Turf Club giving us permission to stable horses and camp on the evening before we leave, we will be able to lead straight off on the route we had planned being able to ride through the town site without causing too much of a ruckus. We’ve got a couple of very experienced trekkers on this trip in the form of Merv Gill and Colin Rogers. Thanks to their experience and also the amazing amount of gear Colin has from previous treks, we will be able to provide some of the comforts of home that I’m sure a few people have been wondering about. Now the only thing to finally pull together is the concert……. but that’s for another update……..
Posted July 7th, 2008
Yes I know, its been awhile since I updated this blog but believe me I have not been idle. So much has been happening that I hardly know where to begin!! I have been speaking with various businesses concerning sponsorship and have a few people to thank for coming on board with our endeavour. A big thank you to the Quest Yelverton Kalgoorlie for their wonderful cash donation and also the donation of one nights accommodation in one of their fabulous “Spa Rooms”. That will definitely be a highlight for someone (hopefully me!). The Geelong and Essendon Football clubs have also come to the party and each have donated a limited edition club poster signed by all the players. These have been beautifully framed and will look lovely on any proud supporter’s wall. Jason Wells of Kalgoorlie Chiropractic Services has also come on board with a generous cash donation. Apart from being a human chiropractor he is also a fully trained and accredited chiropractor for animals. One of the very few available in WA and we are lucky enough to have him situated in Kalgoorlie. He is a regular visitor to Kambalda and Coolgardie to work on various horsesand ponies that need a little tuning up now and again.
Another fabulous business to participate is Hayden Tancock of DUGAN ST BULK MEATS and MARITANA MEATS. He has generously donated a gift voucher to the value of $100 which will be well appreciated. Hayden has been there many times for the Kambalda Equestrian club with donations of goods, being available on weekends when we’ve been catering for other sporting events and shock horror - nearly ran out of food!! Apart from the fact that in my personal opinion he supplies the best quality meat around, his friendly help service makes you feel like a friend rather than a customer and that makes all the difference in my book!
Thankyou also to KEC of Kambalda for their generous cash donation. That was a lovely surprise as I didnt think I had actually approached you guys as yet. You beat me to the punch! We are also in the process of organizing the Free Community Concert to be held on the 6th of September, our final day in the saddle. Its been a mammoth task with negotiations and wheelings and dealings with the managers of country singing sensation Adam Harvey. If we can source all the production gear needed and maybe a little more help from the business sector financially hint hint….. then we can provide a brilliant concert that can be enjoyed by everyone in the Goldfields region. Being a free concert means that families that might otherwise not be able to attend something like this will be able to bring the kids along and have a fantastic day/evening. I will give you a little more info in my next update!
Posted April 19th, 2008
Well its been a tumultuous week or two. From disappointments to ecstatic excitement, I don’t think my poor ticker can take it! I had a wonderful phone call from a Company in Sydney called The Mac Services with an offer of Gold Sponsorship! I think I nearly hyper-ventilated from excitement on the phone. This Company is reasonably new to Western Australia but a really making a positive impact where ever they go. For those that haven’t heard of The Mac Services, here is a little snippet of what they do.
The Mac Services is an Australian owned public company established in 1988 supplying accommodation and services originally to the coal mining, construction resource and tourism industries. Originally based in Queensland, this Company has grown and expanded to be a forerunner in its chosen field and has been venturing further afield providing services that now include Western Australia and South Australia with many more plans in the pipeline. With the high standards of service and quality of accommodation provided, The Mac Services are receiving more and more contracts throughout Australia. Not only a fantastic business, The Mac Services recognizes the need to put something back into the Communities. Through both direct and indirect support, this Company has a huge positive impact and is an asset to every Community it comes in contact with. If you want to get a really good look at The Mac Services company, then please click here to visit their website.
Riders 4 Life, the Community of Kambalda and of course the Goldfields region greatly appreciates your generous donation of $2000 to a fantastic cause. With the donation of this website and ongoing support from Design House in Hervey Bay Qld to a donation of $2000 from The Mac Services in Sydney NSW, it is amazing the generosity of these Companies that until very recently, I’m sure had never heard of Kambalda!
Hopefully some of the local companies will take a leaf out of your book and come on board with support for an event that is happening right in their very backyard!
Posted April 19th, 2008
You know Ive spoken in this blog before about how hard it is to encourage enthusiasm and support from the business sector for this trek. The bigger the company, the less they want to be involved - well that’s the impression I’m getting but hey I could be wrong. I was disappointed recently by a local corporation KCGM Superpit of Kalgoorlie with their reply. I understand that they and many other companies receive hundreds of requests for donations and sponsorship and I also understand that they have to pass a criteria that enables the companies to weed out the unsuccessful applicants, but… sometimes the reasoning behind the rejected applications truly amazes me. I’m used to people declining to be involved without giving reason as is their prerogative but the reason given to me for declining our request was that we were “NOT LOCAL”.
I was a bit astounded by that as we live in the Goldfields region. I actually live just down the road from the Superpit so unless I move in I couldn’t be any more local if I tried and I’m sure that part of their workforce comes from Kambalda. I did query this response and was told that it had to be something that was of benefit to Kalgoorlie/Boulder. Well yes I understand that too but hey KCGM don’t you think that the continuing support of the Kambalda St John’s to Kalgoorlie is of benefit? I guess its lucky that the community of Kambalda consider Kalgoorlie/Boulder to be “local” otherwise we might have to start doing “fly in/fly out” instead of “drive in/drive out”.
Ah Well, thems the breaks so they say! Like I said before, this fundraising business is bloody hard work!
Posted April 4th, 2008
I thought it was time to give a bit of an update as to how we are going in the horse training, fundraising and generally getting our name out there. Its been a hard slog but 
we are really starting to get a great response from people and companies. Even companies from as far away as Sydney are keen to participate. We’ve had a few disappointments as well but all in all its really starting to gather momentum. Oh we’ve been baking madly again and whipped 
up another excellent cake stall (if I do say so myself) and had a terrific response to that. In other words we sold out fairly quickly. By the satisfied look on my husband’s face after dinner and his slowly expanding waistline, I would hazard a guess as to say that my cooking might not be that bad! Once again thank you to Pam for her fabulous baking skills and Krista for her saleswoman-ship. Its always a good laugh when these two are around! It’s been busy down at the stables too. I’m sure my poor horse doesn’t know what’s hit her with all the exercise she’s getting now. She’s looking good though that I have to say. I recently rode in a novice class and tried my hand at showjumping for the first time in my life. I know on the trek that we wont be jumping but hey, its a good skill to have if I just can’t get around those logs that everyone else in going straight over! I even have a photo (rear shot thankfully) that proves my horse can get off the ground with me on her back. Since the inception of this trek, I’ve been trying my hand at all sorts of different stuff that normally I wouldn’t have the courage to try. Not only is this a fantastic way to raise funds for great causes but a real personal growing experience as well. I’ve had a few spills with the thrills but I have learnt that even though it is a really really really long way down, I can survive so stop living scared and just start living!!
Posted April 4th, 2008
The Kalgoorlie branch of the Water Corporation have come on board with our trek and have kindly donated a large quantity of bottled water to keep the riders going. It never occurred to me that a Government Body such as this would be able to help in any way until it was suggested that I get in contact. I was really surprised at the immediate offer of some kind of support as I wasnt expecting anything and we are really grateful for their support.
Thank you so much for being so friendly and approachable as this fundraising caper is a tough business! Specially if you are a sensitive soul like me!
Posted April 4th, 2008
Nestor of Liberty Fuels has been a great supporter of the Kambalda Equestrian
Club and once again his generosity came to the fore with a wonderful donation of $200 towards our fundraising trek. Its always a delight to go into “Floopers”, grab a bite to eat, fuel up the car and catch up on the “goss” with the girls. With the warm welcoming atmosphere and Nestor’s big infectious grin, you can’t help but feel comfortable and at home. Its this kind of service and generosity of spirit that makes Nestor and Liberty Fuels a huge asset to Kambalda. Thanks for the support guys and keep up the great work!
Well we are back, have been for a few weeks now but with all the loose ends to tie up its been virtually impossible to get on here and give everyone an update. One thing that I shouldve had up a long long time ago is the wonderful generosity of Russell Bowkett the owner of XANADU BEACH RIDES AND “XANADU ARABIANS”.
