Senior Coach.
Heather Baker
I have been a volunteer coach at the Wagga Centre since 1981. I have been a horse rider since the age of about 2 and learnt to ride on a little grey Shetland pony. Silver was the love of my life and I rode her everywhere, including farm work and to school.
I am an RDA NSW Senior Coach and Assessor and hold a Cert IV accreditation in Training and Assessing. I am the Chairperson of the RDA NSW Mounted Games Committee.
Owing to now being a senior, I do not do as much coaching in the arena as I used to and concentrate more on training and assessing trainees.
In my role of assessor I travel to other Centres in NSW and always enjoy meeting new people and helping them whenever I can.
I am an RDA NSW Senior Coach and Assessor and hold a Cert IV accreditation in Training and Assessing. I am the Chairperson of the RDA NSW Mounted Games Committee.
Owing to now being a senior, I do not do as much coaching in the arena as I used to and concentrate more on training and assessing trainees.
In my role of assessor I travel to other Centres in NSW and always enjoy meeting new people and helping them whenever I can.
Full Coaches.
Darren Judd - Coach and Whip
Darren has been with us since 2012. Darren's family have bred Clydesdales locally for many years while being involved with RDA in different forms. He is an amazing coach and the clients just love him. Darren is also our Caretaker, Horse Manager and one of our Driving Whips.
Darren has been with us since 2012. Darren's family have bred Clydesdales locally for many years while being involved with RDA in different forms. He is an amazing coach and the clients just love him. Darren is also our Caretaker, Horse Manager and one of our Driving Whips.
Anne Norman - Coach
Anne grew up round racehorses and Thoroughbreds, and was bitten by the jumping bug at a young age, especially working with retired racehorses and turning them into showjumpers.
After a break from horses whilst having children and at university, she became involved with the Wagga RDA as a way of getting a "horsey fix", and became interested in the Centre and how equine therapy could benefit clients. This led from volunteering at the Centre, to trainee Coach, to Assistant Coach, to Full Coach and after hours caretaker.
As well as RDA involvement, Anne is also an Equestrian Australia Showjumping Judge and undertaking her Course Design qualifications; the current Secretary of the REA Showjumping Club and Wagga Adult Riding Club, and a former PC instructor. Her passion is showjumping, and with children competing in the local Agricultural Show Circuit, show season is a very busy time. She also has her own horse in work, a retired racehorse Super Diva, who she has hopes for as a jumper.
Anne grew up round racehorses and Thoroughbreds, and was bitten by the jumping bug at a young age, especially working with retired racehorses and turning them into showjumpers.
After a break from horses whilst having children and at university, she became involved with the Wagga RDA as a way of getting a "horsey fix", and became interested in the Centre and how equine therapy could benefit clients. This led from volunteering at the Centre, to trainee Coach, to Assistant Coach, to Full Coach and after hours caretaker.
As well as RDA involvement, Anne is also an Equestrian Australia Showjumping Judge and undertaking her Course Design qualifications; the current Secretary of the REA Showjumping Club and Wagga Adult Riding Club, and a former PC instructor. Her passion is showjumping, and with children competing in the local Agricultural Show Circuit, show season is a very busy time. She also has her own horse in work, a retired racehorse Super Diva, who she has hopes for as a jumper.
Lizzie Macquarie - Coach
I started at RDA when I was 12 years old as a Youth Grouper volunteering on Saturdays. I made some great friends through Youth Group. Off and on I came back as an adult to help out but it was after my daughter was diagnosed with Autism and two forms of Epilepsy that we became clients of RDA. I soon started volunteering once a week but quickly found myself there as much as I could. In 2018 I became an Assistant Coach and became a Full Coach in 2023.
I enjoy working along side the other coaches, volunteers and the horses are an added bonus. The clients are simply amazing and seeing their reaction as they reach new goals is a joy. I am also now training to become an Assistant Whip
I started at RDA when I was 12 years old as a Youth Grouper volunteering on Saturdays. I made some great friends through Youth Group. Off and on I came back as an adult to help out but it was after my daughter was diagnosed with Autism and two forms of Epilepsy that we became clients of RDA. I soon started volunteering once a week but quickly found myself there as much as I could. In 2018 I became an Assistant Coach and became a Full Coach in 2023.
I enjoy working along side the other coaches, volunteers and the horses are an added bonus. The clients are simply amazing and seeing their reaction as they reach new goals is a joy. I am also now training to become an Assistant Whip
Tash Lubke - Coach
I came to RDA for youth group 10 years ago because I loved horses. Quickly I fell in love with all of the aspects of RDA life. Volunteering always brightened my day with the clients smiles and seeing them continue to reach new goals. I became a Full Coach in June 2023.
I came to RDA for youth group 10 years ago because I loved horses. Quickly I fell in love with all of the aspects of RDA life. Volunteering always brightened my day with the clients smiles and seeing them continue to reach new goals. I became a Full Coach in June 2023.