By ERWIN CHLANDA
The New Normal doesn’t faze Tiani Cook (pictured): She’s planning the next annual charity ride in aid of bush kids, and open to equestrians from all over the country.
Her group is called Horses for Courses and the week-long ride will again traverse the magnificent West MacDonnells in October.
“Riders will learn to overcome adversity and develop resilience in a safe space, to experience what outback life is like for bush families,” says Ms Cook.
“Make new friends and recharge your batteries in a land as old as time. Camp under the stars, breath clear air and take stories from the bush home with you.”
The problems for the people living in remote areas are manifold, but far from complaining, the group is tackling them, especially with COVID-19 now thrown into the mix: Isolation affecting mental health; distance education challenges and boarding school blues; insufficient access to healthcare professionals and specialist diagnosis services; no reliable, year-round services including telecommunication and road networks; climatic uncertainties, unrelenting drought, unpredictable floods and devastating fires.
This looks really cool. As long as the pollies stay out of it, it will be a wonderful opportunity for the kids. Good work, Tiani!