Rotary Club learns all about vaulting
Posted by Harry Bracegirdle on Nov 15, 2016
At its Dinner Meeting on 14th November, members and guests of the Rotary Club of Port Fairy learned about the sport of Vaulting when its nominee for the Rotary Youth Exchange program in 2107, Lisa van Someren, gave a presentation on her chosen sport which is likened to gymnastics on horseback.
Lisa has been involved in the sport for over 6 years and is the head coach at the Vaulting Club that bears the family name and operates from the family farm at Warrong near Kirkstall. The vaulting club is one of only four vaulting clubs operating in Victoria which means that Lisa has to travel interstate often in order to compete.
As part of her development for her forthcoming exchange program - starting in January 2107, where Lisa will spend 12 months in Ontario Canada - Lisa took the opportunity to present to the assembled audience about her sporting passion. She will return to the Rotary Club in a few weeks to address members again, this time about her exchange program where she will be hosted by several Rotary-based families in Canada.
Lisa compiled a very compact and informative Powerpoint presentation that explained the elements of the sport of vaulting and included a number of videos showcasing Lisa competing at a recent competition in South Australia.
Judging by the engagement of the Rotarians present, and the questions that were subsequently asked, Lisa did a fine job of explaining the sport and how much it is part of her life. Being a relatively low profile sport it was a fascinating insight into vaulting and particularly the skill required to perform a wide range of acrobatic manoeuvres whilst astride a circling horse, both in a solo performance and as part of a duet.The Club looks forward to her follow-up presentation to the Club which will be her last before leaving Australia in January.
The Rotary Club will be hosting film sessions at the Reardon Theatre on 2nd December to raise funds to assist Lisa defray some of the costs of being involved in the Exchange program and a life away from the family over 12 months.
