By VICTORIA STONE-MEADOWS
MACCLESFIELD Pony Club has had a run of break-ins on their premises in the last 12 months.
The club has had to pay to replace stolen items, from soft drinks and coffee to a PA system and accompanying aerials, first aid kits and copper pipe from the clubhouse structure.
The burglaries have had a big impact on the club as their limited member base tries to recoup the cost of the stolen items.
Kelly Riedle is District Commissioner for Macclesfield Pony Club and says the break-ins have really affected the running of the club.
“The club is only funded through membership fees and fund-raising,” she said.
The club was forced to hire a PA system to comply with The Pony Club Association of Victoria Rules, which cut into the club’s bottom line.
With only 19 members, the club cannot afford to replace all the equipment that has been taken but they are starting to build back up again.
“It’s hard work,” Ms Riedle said.
“We’re such a small club but we’ve been lucky to have great supporters in the community.”
Ms Riedle said the burglaries had changed the way the club operates.
“We just don’t keep anything valuable in there anymore,” she said.
“We have to take everything home with us, which is a huge pain.”
The club has since updated their security system and the windows now all have more secure locks on them.
