WDA-AUS BOARD
TERESA RUSSO
WDA-AUS CHAIRPERSON
COMMUNICATIONS & NEWSLETTER OFFICER
STATE – QUEENSLAND
Teresa is a local resident of the Innisfail area. She is an accomplished horsewoman and breeder of Quarter Horses & Stud Brahman Cattle. She spends a lot of time on the road travelling from the Far North of Queensland to regional Queensland centres, New South Wales and Victoria for showing, training and breeding purposes. Teresa also spends a lot of time giving back to her local community, she coordinates local shows and training clinics for western performance, including Western Dressage. Teresa is the President of the North Queensland Quarter Horse Association and was a driving force in bringing Western Dressage to Far North Queensland.
LYNETTE ROBERTON
WDA-AUS VICE CHAIRPERSON
STATE - QUEENSLAND
Lyn has been riding most of her life, she gained her instructors certificate for PCAQ in 1976 and was chief instructor for west Moreton for 10 years where she ran many instructors schools. Lyn was chief ring steward for Toogoolawah show for 27 years which was she found was very rewarding. She & her husband have 4 children who all rode and two still ride today in the campdrafting arena. Some grandchildren draft as well, now the next generation are out there. Lyn was very involved for some years as president of the Lockyer Equestrian group or LEGS as it is known. For the past 47 years Lyn has been a nurse and managed the aged care facility at Toogoolawah for 15 years and she still does some part time work. Her love of horses has never wained especially for the ASH breed. Lyn and her husband have had the pleasure of breeding some special horses which now carry some of their great grandchildren around. She found a love of western dressage about 5 years ago after having a really bad fall. She loves the sport, the friendships that are formed and especially the soft feel and overall look of how the western dressage horse travels. Lyn is limited as to how much she can ride now and so she has moved across to judging, which gives her much enjoyment. She joined the Board in 2020 with an aim to make a beneficial contribution to the sport. Lyn renominated in 2022 at the end of her term of office, she renominated and accepted a further term of 2 years. Lyn was voted into the Vice President position by the Management Committee.
PAULA BYRNE
WDA-AUS SECRETARY
STATE - QUEENSLAND
Paula has been working in the public service industry for 34 years, mainly in tropical Far North Queensland. She and her partner live on a small property in the Cairns Hinterlands, where they have bred Quarter Horses in the past and now run a few cattle. With a background in Western Performance, Paula is keen for Western Dressage to reach the regional areas of Australia with the aim of encouraging local Associations and Clubs to participate. She actively promotes Western Dressage and would like to see the discipline grow and develop as much as possible. Paula is also interested in developing opportunities for interested persons in becoming judges so as to actively support Australia’s regional equestrian communities. Paula has been a member of the Management Committee since February 2016.
JULIE SAIN
WDA-AUS TREASURER; EVENTS CO-ORDINATOR
STATE - QUEENSLAND
Julie has worked for Queensland Health for over 30 years from Accounts Payable and Finance and now clinical administration. Julie started her equestrian journey at a local riding school at the age of 15 learning Dressage and competing in Eventing and Hack classes, and then moved into the Pony club scene. Becoming an Instructor and then on to Chief Instructor and Judge for a number of years. With the purchase of her first QH/ASH Mare the journey in the Western and Stock horse events started and then continued with breeding her own horses. The last filly bred competed in Western Performance and Halter classes but at age 13 really excelled in Western Dressage with the local QH club. Julie has now been working on a younger gelding and has travelled as far as Caboolture and Maryborough for the National and State Show in 2022. Julie is the Treasurer for the local QH club and when the Treasurer position of WDA-AUS became vacant, she accepted the role willingly. Julie lives with her family on a small acreage property west of Innisfail.
BETH NOBLE
COMMITTEE MEMBER
STATE - WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Beth lives on a small property in the hills of Perth with her husband, 2 children, horses and a variety of pets.
She is a mine surveyor by trade (which comes in handy when setting up dressage arena’s these days) and also has experience in HR & Recruitment. She has been running her own equestrian business for 12 years as well as being involved on several equestrian club committees.
Beth competed in english riding competitions on her Anglo Arabian gelding for many years before being introduced to Western Dressage. What started as some amusement about how much more suited both she and her horse were to western rather than english dressage, soon transformed to a full conversion and a great love and appreciation for the sport began. Beth now owns two quarter horses and is looking forward to enjoying western dressage with them.
Beth is the president of the Western Dressage Association of Western Australia. When a position on the WDA-AUS Board opened up in 2020 she accepted the role. Beth renominated for a position on the Board in 2022 when her term expired and gladly accepted another 2 year term on the Management Committee.