REPORT FROM GUNALDA MEETING - 23rd Aug 2009

BELOW IS THE REPORT SUBMITTED BY RUTH PORTER AFTER THE WORKING GROUP MEETING HELD LAST MONTH

A wave of interest in Welsh Pony classes at Agricultural Shows was generated in the SE Qld area from posts placed on the All Welsh forum under SE Qld Shows. The discussion site had well over 4000 hits. Many of the bloggers shared information about Welsh programmes at Ag Shows in their local areas and it became evident that due to the activity and support from members and the RPG that several areas had clusters of Welsh programmes available to them. It was evident that the northern end of SE Qld which included the geographical areas of Wide Bay and Fraser Coast and the inland region of the Burnett, plus the northern Sunshine Coast did not have the same Ag Show classes. Classes usually consisted all Sections together as Stallion/colt, Mare/filly, some with gelding classes and several that did not allow the gelding to compete for Champ if he did have a class. These classes were frequently attended by part welsh ponies also.

A group of members with the common interest of addressing this situation decided to hold a meeting at Gunalda Hall which was a good mid point for the region, to see whether there was enough interest from across this large region, to engage Ag Shows to the introduction or expansion of their Welsh programmes.

I will backtrack briefly to 12 mths prior when a meeting was held in Kilkivan to look at whether a Feature Show could be organized in 2009 in the region. For those of us who were there we know what a terrific Feature Show was pulled together by member Pracilla Pearson of Ludlow Park Welsh Ponies, who had an advantage by being a senior member of the Fraser Coast Show Society, but that advantage at an executive level in no way diminished the enormous amount of planning and work that went in to the realization of classes on the ground at the Fraser Coast Show, with Frances Best from Victoria judging. In short, the members in the region had a good role model to follow in what can be achieved. I must also mention that Wondai Show in the South Burnett had a Welsh Feature eg expanded classes across all sections in 2008 due to the generous sponsorship of Mark and Lauren Blamires, local Welsh Pony owners, and Mark`s family business.

So returning to the Gunalda meeting held on 23rd August 2009. About 20 members attended the meeting chaired by John Riley with Sue Groundwater and Kathy Pile from the Qld RPG Comittee also in attendance. John gave the meeting a comprehensive overveiw of a Working Group and those present voted to form a Working Group with Terms of Reference agreed upon. John advised the group that Qld had 3 Medal Shows and that a 4th may like to be planned for this region.

The general consensus of the meeting was that:

1. The Working Group would target 6-10 Ag Shows across the region in question, to provide an expanded Welsh programme at their shows in 2010. The RPG would provide assistance to this endeavour. A Hi-Point system across these shows with annual awards was considered an excellent idea to encourage members support of the shows.

2. An education day covering preparation, showing and ring craft for Welsh Ponies be held before the 2010 show season, perhaps to be discussed at the AGM as to how that could be organized. Gunalda Showgrounds as a central point could be considered as a venue. It has lots of shade and being just off the Bruce Highway is accessible.

3. Depending on the interest shown and the momentum that may be created by members, a Native Pony Show may be held in 2010 or 2011.

There was good representation of members from across the region and these got together in clusters to meet each other and exchange contact details so a co-ordinated approach to selected shows in their particular area could be made.

Sue Groundwater has distributed the email addresses and other contact details of people at the meeting who agreed to be contacted.

Anyone not able to be at the meeting is encouraged to contact Sue or myself to stay in touch with what is happening with the Working Group or to get involved with others in their local areas to approach the Show Societies.

Finally, a big thank you to the Qld RPG for it`s support for these initiatives and for it`s guidance in helping create the Working Group. As we all know John, Sue and Kathy all attend every RPG meeting, John the COM meetings in Victoria, and here they were attending another meeting in their busy schedules all in the name of supporting members and their ponies.

Ruth Porter.

WORKING GROUP CONTACTS: Sue Groundwater harmonyhillponies@hotmail.com or Ruth Porter ruth56@bigpond.com


APPENDUM
I am adding this as inspiration to the Working Group. Noosa Show expanded it`s Welsh programme after members approached the Chief Ring Steward, who was most approachable. The call for funds went out as Noosa needed to cover the costs of this. Funds, above the requirements, were dedicated within 24hrs and Dracmoore Welsh Ponies stepped in with prizes for the Champions of each section. Christine told me personally that she was astounded and delighted by the interest in, generosity of and politness and co-operation displayed by all the Wesh members she dealt with. She is more than happy to consider the expanded programme in 2010 and tentatively offered the stand alone Western Pleasure arena for a full Welsh programme. On the day of the show we all walked into the arena and followed the line of the fence around to our area for judging, nose to tail, creating enough interest from our numbers to get the show announcer thoroughly involved in attracting attention to the Welsh ponies and the classes.