Mansfield is saddling up as the town brings back a 50-year-old fundraiser — the rideathon — in a bid to realise a therapeutic care farm for children with autism and their families.
In 1971 the founders of what was them known as the Mansfield Autistic Play School, one of the first services to help children with autism in Victoria, raised money to fund their first in-home practitioner through a trail ride through the Mansfield countryside in north-eastern Victoria.
Fifty years later the now Mansfield Autism Statewide Services (MASS) has brought back the rideathon to help it fund a $30-million expansion.
In November, the organisation is aiming to ride "around the world", and has encouraged participants to saddle up and be sponsored to add kilometres to the total.
MASS Director Simone Reeves said they want people all over the world to take part.
"We may not get around the world this year, but this is the first year and we hope for bigger and better things each year as it progresses," she said.
The service needs to raise about $8 million dollars to help fund the expansion, after having secured $17 million is state and federal funding.
Last year, the organisation purchased a 40 ha farm on the outskirts of Mansfield.
The not-for-profit organisation serves 300 families across the state and the vision is to transform the land and accompanying house, barns, tennis court and paddocks into a tranquil escape for children and teenagers with autism.
When finished, the site will include a school, therapeutic service, accommodation, respite and a family camp — with the potential to include crisis support.
Ms Reeves said it was great to see their dream of building a therapeutic care farm come to fruition.
"We have had this as a dream for a really long time, we've known how important early intervention is for children with autism and how important nature is and space is to help reduce their anxiety."
Riders recall first event
MASS launched the rideathon with a honorary ride through the centre of Mansfield to the farm where the new facility will be built.
Many of the riders who took part have been involved with the organisation since it was founded in 1968.
Graeme Stoney is a former president of what was known as the Mansfield Autistic Play School.
He said it was fantastic to see the rideathon back.
"It comes back to a lot of Mansfield support and Mansfield has been supporting the cause of autism since the 1960s and it's still doing it."
James Tehan, deputy mayor of Mansfield Shire Council said while it had been a while since he had been back on a horse, he could not miss the opportunity to join in.
Mr Tehan first took part in the rideathon when he was six years old, and his late mother Marie Tehan helped establish the service with founder Dr Joan Curtis.
He said MASS provided a vital role in the community.
"To come out to this farm, what a setting to for these kids to come to and be in with their families."
