This is the view out of our caravan door, for all of this week. :-). Pretty easy to take.
We are at Fernholme, Tarrea Valley, Gippland, Victoria.

When Reg and I camped at Alice Springs for six weeks last year we became friends with a couple camped near us, who were running the Alice Springs group of Riding for the Disabled.

RDAA is a very active non-profit, volunteer run group in Australia, it provides opportunities for anyone with a disability to enjoy safe, healthy stimulating, therapeutic, horse-related activities  

Knowing the therapy value of close communication with animals and the incredible freedom  and appreciation of being mobile, these organizations provides opportunities for anyone with a disability to enjoy safe, healthy stimulating, therapeutic, horse-related activities.  

Organisations to encourage and provide horse riding for the disabled have sprung up worldwide.

In North America, there is the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association. Individuals with the following disabilities commonly participate and benefit from equine facilitated therapy and activities provided by NARHA:

Muscular Dystrophy
Cerebral Palsy
Visual Impairment
Down Syndrome
Mental Retardation
Autism
Multiple Sclerosis
Spina Bifida
Emotional Disabilities
Brain Injuries
Spinal Cord Injuries
Amputations
Learning Disabilities
Attention Deficit Disorder
Deafness
Cardiovascular accident/Stroke

Most of the disabled people, who participate in these riding for the disabled sessions, require mobility products, when not on the horses back. The experience, of riding almost allows them to forget for a while, any handicap they  may have  For the volunteers, to see the joy on the faces of the participants, must be an incredible reward for their hard work.  

At least there are now many aides available to help keep handicapped people as independent as possible, mobility compare , is a good place to begin researching special needs mobility items.

 

A dray was a low-sided, heavy four-wheeled wagon.

Drays in Australia were most often pulled b a single horse or a pair of horses.

Wagons and drays are different from carts, which have two wheels.

I have memories of Clydesdales and drays at Gulf Station at Yarra Glen J.

Also memories, of several, Buninyong Gold King festivals and the Carlton and United Brewery, Team, of Clydesdales and dray.

 

Go directly to details about these popular parks:

• D'Aguilar National Park 
• Daintree National Park, Cape Tribulation and Mossman Gorge
• Fraser Island, Great Sandy National Park
• Inskip Peninsula Recreation Area
• Kenilworth Forest Reserve
• Lamington National Park 
• Moreton Island National Park 
• Noosa National Park
• Northern Cooloola, Great Sandy National Park 
• Whitsunday Islands National Park
  
  Of these parks, reg and I have two favorites, Hook Island in the Witsunday Isands and the Lamington National Park, but all are fantastic locations we would recommend.
  
  This post is illustrates wth a seascape from the art of Kathy Shell.  This can be purchased as a fridge magnet for http://www.fridgemagnetart.com

Immediate Release                                                                                                9 February  2010

 

Parks Victoria is inviting residents of Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula to comment on proposed new visitor facilities at Taits Point, Lake Connewarre State Game Reserve (between Geelong and Barwon Heads).

 

Barwon River Parklands Project Manager, Andrew McKinnon, said more than thirty people attended a recent Open Day at Taits Point to view concept plans and discuss the proposed new visitor facilities with Parks Victoria staff.

 

The concept plans cover improved car parking, viewing decks, walking tracks, improved access to Lake Connewarre, and information about natural features and cultural history of the area.

 

“The feedback we received to the concept plans at the Open Day was very positive. People overwhelmingly supported improving visitor facilities at Taits Point,” Mr McKinnon said.

 

“People at the Open Day were particularly interested in the proposal to install viewing platforms at Taits Point, and were supportive of the opportunity that viewing platforms would provide to see out over the wonderful Ramsar wetlands of Lake Connewarre and Hospital Swamp,” he said. 

 

Mr McKinnon said community consultation about the proposed new visitor facilities is open until Monday 15 February. Anyone who would like to provide feedback can download the Concept Plans and feedback from www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/3taits_point.cfm

 

“Taits Point is currently accessible to the community, however facilities are minimal and there is a significant opportunity to establish a destination that showcases Lake Connewarre and the Barwon River Parklands,” Mr McKinnon said.

 

“We want to provide upgraded and expanded facilities that will encourage more people to come and enjoy this significant area, and we urge interested people to comment on the concept plans by 15 February,”

 

Taits Point is part of the Barwon River Parklands project which aims to create a chain of new parkland along the Barwon River connecting Geelong to Barwon Heads. For further details about the Barwon River Parklands go to www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/3barwon.cfm

 

A very busy week planned.
Tuesday we take our eco-tourer caravan down to Melbourne, stay overnight with our youngest daughter and the family :-).  Then the caravan goes in for service at Caravan Court in Springvale on Wednesday, wee leave it there and return back to northern Victoria, where I have an optometrists appointment on Thursday. Our 'troopy gets four new tyres fitted and a wheel alignment on Friday. A weekend packing for our tour and cleaning the house ready to leave.
The FREE art supplies competition ends on Monday so i will be packing and posting the last of the prize winners gift, so get your addresses to me as soon as I notify the winners please. :-).   Have a great week everyone.

 216mm x 279mm Landscape Prints,
from the Art of,
Acclaimed Artist,
Kathy Shell
available on the landscape print page of this website.

216mm x 279mm Flower Prints,
from the Art of,
Acclaimed Artist,
Kathy Shell
ready for purchase through the flower print page of this website.
Or purchase direct from artist from the caravan awning studio.

I have begun my Figurative and Wildlife print pages of this website and blog, this morning.  Just a couple to begin with, I hope you enjoy them. The copyright notice is not written on the print we supply our customers.  We travel with our prints. so these can be purchased 'direct from the artist' at our 'caravan awning studio'  We also have these available laminated for our 'personal sales' customers but not for our web sales.