Newsletter for the Rotary Club of Greater Geraldton - Issue No.: 781 Issue Date: 22 Apr, 2024

Penny Dodd came with her parents from England as a “10 pound Pom” many years ago. She has her own bookkeeping business, was a successful ballroom dancer, but her passion is with horses, especially equestrian. From a young age she had her first horse “Chappy”, which she took to the Perth Royal Show, followed with another “Retrospect”, which also did well. She also rode trackwork for local trainers.

In 1985, Penny went to Port Hedland with the CBA and while there commenced training race horses but it was officiating in equestrian events that interested her. She started officiating in the early 90’s, went as a spectator to the Sydney Olympics and started accumulating her accreditations in 2002/3. Penny volunteered at the London Olympics in 2012 and had the pleasure of driving HRH Duke of Edinburgh around the eventing course. She volunteered at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the World Equestrian Games in France and has officiated at the Adelaide 3 Day Event, twice. Penny has judged at State Championships and earlier this year was a steward, overseeing horse welfare, at the Asian Games in Djakarta, a very taxing task due to the warm weather.

Penny was awarded “Official Of The Year” at the recent Midwest Sports Awards.

Questions from Ray Haynes: Differences between racehorses and equestrian horses.

Kev Watson: Numbers in the sport.

Paul Pirrottina offered a vote of thanks and presented Penny with an End Polio Certificate.