FALLEN trees and busted helmets will be a thing of the past for Raymond Terrace and Lower Hunter Riding for the Disabled Centre after receiving a $6000 donation.
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RDA’s volunteer committee has bought a chainsaw for its tool shed and will soon spend $2000 of the money donated by Salamander Recycling Centre to upgrade helmets used by its riders.
Jan Sharp, a long-time volunteer with the not-for-profit RDA organisation, said the donation was “wonderful”.
“It’s really a wonderful thing to have the support of the recycle centre,” Ms Sharp said.
“They’ve helped us out before; they’re actually one of our major donors. It’s great to receive support from the community. We have to raise $100,000 a year to operate.
“We don’t get government funding for out operational expenses.”
With the centre set on a bush property just off the Pacific Highway, and a tree already haven fallen through the arena roof two years ago, the chainsaw was a much-needed addition Ms Sharp said
“The chainsaw means we can keep the trees cut back,” she said.
“We had a tree fall through the roof at the back of the arena two years ago, and we have a few around the property needing to be cut up.”
Salamander Recycling Centre chairman Alan Cloke said it was at the heart of the not-for-profit organisation to give back to the community.
“We’re part of the community and like to look after the local community as much as we can,” Mr Cloke said.
“We have supported the RDA in the past. They came to us and asked for help. We asked them to list their reasons and the board approved.”
Mr Cloke said the recycle centre had donated close to $30,000 to community groups this year.
The money is raised through the second-hand goods and materials it sells at the Salamander Bay site.
The RDA centre sees 100 riders attend classes each week.
It has 150 volunteers who help the riders.
