Our People

Meet the people involved with the Linda Jones RDA Cambridge Foundation

Cambridge RDA has been providing therapeutic riding to the Cambridge community for 40 years. It was formed in 1983 and began its existence in Leamington moving to its present site in 2000.

Linda Jones

MBE – PATRON, LINDA JONES RDACAMBRIDGE FOUNDATION

Our Patron, Linda Jones MBE, was and is a trailblazer in the history of both horse racing and women’s equality rights both here in New Zealand and overseas.

Linda’s father was a farrier for racehorses and Linda started horse riding as a 4-year-old. At 15, she joined races for women held by the Rotorua Racing Club, but there was no prize money or betting involved.

Later came barrier trials, Linda won one, then women were stopped riding trials as well!

After representing New Zealand in a lady’s race in Brazil, Linda’s husband and horse trainer, Alan, with his own reservations, supported her long, very determined journey toward a jockey licence and a highly successful racing career as New Zealand’s first female jockey.

Linda achieved many firsts for women on the track and in the racing industry.

However, after earlier in her career suffering an accident in the 70’s when she got thrown into a shed, breaking two vertebrae and her neck, Linda says “probably because I pushed the boundaries and making every post a winning post, I unfortunately didn’t ride for long at all. “

After nabbing 65 victories in 18 months, Linda made the difficult decision to retire in 1980.

Today, Linda lives in Australia, but part of her heart is here in Cambridge.

Linda declares she will be an active Patron for Cambridge’s Linda Jones RDA Cambridge Foundation.

Richard Seabrook

CHAIRMAN

Richard has lived in the Cambridge district for the last 50 years and has been involved with farming, real estate and the thoroughbred racing industry. He has also served as Chairman of the Cambridge Information Centre, President of the Cambridge Club, President of Rotary and also the Cambridge Jockey Club.

Richard's involvement in the thoroughbred racing industry includes being a member and chairman of the Judicial Control Authority for 30 years.

Richard has been a Justice of the Peace for 20 years and was Vice President of the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Cancer Society for 5 years.

Richard is married to Jan and they have two sons.

Richard is now a volunteer at RDA and is passionate about the role the organisation plays in the Cambridge and wider community.

Greg Gascoigne

TRUSTEE

Greg lives at Roto-o-rangi, farming with Diane at Norwegian Road, Cambridge since 1973, raising a family of five boys.

Greg, now retired from active farming, has over the years been involved with both farming and community organisations in the Cambridge area.

During his time working toward his farming goal, Greg has been a shearer, agricultural contractor and sharemilker in the Cambridge and surrounding area. Later, while farming, Greg was also Field Officer for the NZ Kiwifruit Marketing Board responsible for the Waikato and the Mt Maunganui Transit stores (export wharf).

Following the farm succession to son Marc in 1996, Greg led a study group to the Midwest USA, on return managed a PTE, Puketaha Trust, near Hamilton. Greg is also a business mentor with NZ Business Mentors.

With Diane, who was President of Cambridge RDA for ten years, Greg was also actively involved at Cambridge RDA and is delighted to support the establishment and growth of the Linda Jones RDAC Foundation as a capital fund for the purpose of supporting the wonderful work of the volunteers of the Cambridge Riding for the Disabled Group.

Jocelyn Cooney

TRUSTEE

I have practiced as a lawyer for 49 years and for the last 36 years I have run my own legal firm. I specialise in Family Law but my firm provides a wide range of legal services.

I am currently the Solicitor for a number of Community Organisations based in Cambridge such as Cambridge Parents Centre, The Cambridge Health and Community Trust, Cambridge Safer Community Charitable Trust, Grey Power Cambridge, Cambridge Rotary Club, Cambridge Autumn Festival Trust, Cambridge Riding for the Disabled, The Linda Jones Riding for the Disabled Foundation and Cambridge Creative Fibre Inc.

I am a Trustee on the board of Salisbury School in Nelson and have recently received a long service award from the School Trustees Association.

I am on the legal roster at the Cambridge Citizens Advice Bureau.

In 2011 I was presented with a Community Services Award by the Waipa District Council for leadership in my profession and in recognition of my services to the Community.

In 2018 I had conferred upon me a Queens Service Medal for service to the Community.

Andrew Bateman

Andrew has lived in Cambridge for over 25 years and has been involved in banking and investment advisory over that time. He has served as President of Cambridge Rotary, Chair of Cambridge High School Board of Trustees and has been Chair of the Cambridge High School Educational Trust for the past 6 years.

Andrew is married to Wendy and they have two sons, both of whom went to school and played sport in Cambridge.

He is still a member of Cambridge Rotary and has a strong interest in serving through community groups.