Welcome to the Marla Oodnadatta page.
The Marla Oodnadatta branch (originally named the Everard Branch) was formed in Coober Pedy on November 26th 1988, the eighth branch of ICPA in South Australia. Krystal Williams was elected the inaugural President, Kathy Joseland as Secretary, Pam Nunn and Bernadette Giles as Vice Presidents and Shane and Marilyn O’Connell as Treasurers.
At present, the Marla Oodnadatta Branch has members from pastoral properties in South Australia’s far north including; Wintinna, Lambina, Mabel Creek, Mount Sarah, The Peake, Macumba, Nilpinna and Anna Creek.
In an effort to fundraise over the years, the branch has created a cook book, catered for a number of Bashes and rallies, hosted clinics and workshops for our members and raised money for charities through novelty games at local events.
Our small community is currently thriving with many small and school aged children on local properties. We have been in go mode and have been fortunate to offer our members several horse clinics with noted trainers (Tom Curtain, Shannon Bell and Esther Cruckshank) which they have benefited greatly from. We hope to offer our ICPA member children more learning opportunities in the future.
Back in 2005, the branch decided to give a bursary to member’s children who were completing their primary education through distance ed and were continuing study away from home, many going to boarding school. This money, now a $1500 bursary per child has been an enormous help to families assisting with the many costs incurred when children leave for secondary school.
In 2006, Life membership was presented to Bernadette and Digby Giles formally of Wintinna Station. Bernadette and Digby were founding members of the branch and held countless positions on the branch executive group, always giving their time and efforts to help.
In 2012, Helen Williams was also presented Life Membership of the Marla Oodnadatta branch. Helen joined the branch when she moved to Nilpinna in 2003 and remains a very active and involved member. Helen, having been elected treasurer all the way back in 2005 remains in this role. She is also on state council and gratefully fills in any role or job that comes her way.
Due to the large distances our branch covers, a face-to-face meeting has been difficult to organise in recent years however, many members enjoy the same social activities in our area making ‘social’ catch ups for some fairly frequent. Currently, we keep members updated via email and a messenger group and hold an AGM annually in December via Zoom. We still welcome any catering opportunities in the area when they are arise and are excited by the number of young families in the area currently.
The Marla Oodnadatta branch currently have 4 members who are on the SA ICPA State Council. We hugely value ICPA and the contribution and role it plays at all levels be it Branch, State or Federal, in educating our geographically isolated children.
