Tumbarumba Wirlinga Pony Club had its first winner of the
Young Outstanding Citizen award since 2005 at the Tumbarumba camp last month.
Award winner, BIANCA LORENZO, describes her final camp.
On the 8th of January
2012, my last Tumbarumba Camp began. Day one consisted of placing our horses in
specific yards that were allocated to us. These formed groups for those of all
ages to be mentored by team leaders. My group consisted of Sharna, Miranda,
Hollee, Jaymie and Chelsea. The day then continued with a gear check and
signing-in to the dormitories. Little did we know that the best dorm mum out
would have no trouble at all with all us girls!
We then found out the
excitement of what troop we were all in. After lunch all troops ended the day
with a flat riding/troop drill lesson and this determined if all riders were
placed in the appropriate troop for the week (some minor changes were made).
When all riding had finished for the day dinner was served and, for the first
time in years, there was not one bit of food thrown across the table. Even
though this was our very first day of Tumba Camp, we were all that little bit
tired and went off to sleep without a fuss.
Throughout the rest
of the week our days consisted of:
• 6am-“Good morning Tumbarumber”
• 6:15am-clean yards/feed horses/un-rug
horses/check horses’ water (team leaders to check groups yards)
• 7am-breakfast
• 8am-saddle horses for the first
activity/check horses’ water
• 12:30pm-feed horses/sponge
horses/check horses’ water/lunch
• 1.30pm-saddle horses for second
activity/check horses’ water
• 4pm-feed horses/sponge horses/check
horses’ water/free time
• 6.30pm-dinner
• 7.30pm-feed horses/rug horses/check
horses’ water (team leaders to check group’s yards)
Throughout the camp
each troop would have at least a lesson of each activity. These included
dressage/flat work, cross country, show jumping, team penning, tent pegging,
polocrosse, mounted games surprise, horsemanship and troop drill. All
activities were educational for both horse and rider even though some were more
enjoyable than others.
The activities I
personally enjoyed the most were showjumping and cross country. This was mainly
because I love jumping and I am a one-day event rider.
As my horse is inexperienced, I feel it was
extremely beneficial for him. Each activity gave him the new challenge he is
always looking for.
Tumba Camp is what
this is all about – giving you a chance to experience new activities that you
may not get the opportunity to participate in often.
On the last day of
camp every rider rode their horse in a parade that was led by a Scottish
marching band down the main street of Tumbarumba. This is a tradition that the
camp holds every year to conclude the week. After the parade, a thank-you to
all those who helped put this camp together was given and awards for state
riders are presented. There is also an award donated by Rita and Keith Ferry.
This award is for a young outstanding citizen and is nominated by the zone 20
Tumbarumba Camp instructors. I was honoured to accept this award as it has not
been won by a Wirlinga member since 2005, which was my first year.
I have had a
wonderful childhood growing up around horses and participating in the zone 20
Tumbarumba Camp. It is a hard and tiring week but I would encourage every young
rider at Wirlinga pony club to ride in it every year. I will try my hardest to
return to the camp as an instructor so I can see our young riders grow and
learn.
Thank-you to all
those people that have made this possible for me for so many years, especially
my mum Kayleen and my aunty Debbie!!!
