April 26, 2024 | Living Legends

Forward

Vince Pirrottina, Living Legends Accessibility Ambassador, has written the attached heart felt piece. Vince has been a regular visitor to Living Legends with his wife Rosanne since 2006. Rosanne worked out that she and Vince had been to Living Legends 29 times since 2006 missing out a few times because of the Equine Influenza outbreak in Australia that forced Living Legends to close for several months, due to weather and due to Vince’s health at different times.

Vince and Rosanne have been towers of strength in assisting Living Legends with our aim of providing accessibility for all with mobility challenges. Put simply we want everyone to be able to meet and mingle with our horses and to enjoy to the fullest all that is on offer at Woodlands Historic Homestead and Park.

We owe Vince and Rosanne a very special thank you for guiding us on this path.

Dr Andrew Clarke
CEO – Living Legends

Woodlands Park, Homestead & Living Legends

My wife and I, discovered for ourselves the commitment, management and staff have in making Woodlands Park Historic Homestead and Living Legends, accessible to all. From our first visit, in 2006, introducing family, friends and sharing precious memories of Australia’s racing great, retired race horses. Might and Powder, Doriemus and Saintly, to name a few.

Sadly my great friend Bob (aka Might And Power), Doriemus and Saintly, have passed on. But fortunately I can sit by the Memorial Bridge and garden, overlooking the horses in their spacious paddocks. Meditating, while remember the good times, pleasure they have given me, horse loving and racing public.

Living Legends has always looked to the future and how it can best serve the Public. They provide concession rates for Pensioner and Senior card holders while Companion Card Holder are provided free access with those that they assist. Once again on the weekend of September 4th and 5th, 2021, Living Legends are proudly hosting the Accessibility Weekend.

Another innovation has been the introduction, of their golf buggy, generously donated by Godolphin, which enables the elderly and physically challenged, the ability to enjoy the grounds and visit the horses.

The Woodlands Historic Homestead, is a reminder of our pioneering heritage. With its memorabilia and antiques, evoking memories of a by-gone era. Also enjoyed their delicious homemade lunches, Devonshire teas and hot drinks. The flat public parking, has good access to a tree covered picnic area, garden and homestead, with benches, tables and accessible toilet via a sandy path and electric opening gate, approximately 50 meters away. The porch is accessed by a wooden ramp. One step into the house, with removable carbon fibre ramp available. Once inside, the wide doors and corridor, provide no obstacle.

Overlooking Tullamarine Airport the extensive sandy paths are reasonably smooth, while a bit slippery and challenging at times. Though giving my electric wheelchair little trouble. Gradients are from 1 in 6 to 1 in 20. So people in manual wheelchairs may need assistance. You need to cover around 750 meters, while venturing to the horse paddocks, with some seating to rest.

I have found the Historic Homestead, Living Legends and its grounds, offers something to interest most people. Even marveling at aircraft gliding in to land. So if you haven’t had the opportunity, to visit Living Legends. Take the time and relax for a couple of hours, or spend a day enjoying all on offer. As I have done.

Vince Pirrottina
Living Legends Accessibility Ambassador
June 22nd 2021

June has been designated as #LoveTheHorse month – a special month where we are focusing on our legends, their personalities and their community contributions in retirement.

However, it is fair to say that our collective #LoveTheHorse hearts were broken last Friday with the passing of Super Impressive, aka Super. It is hard to say goodbye.

Super was a journeyman racehorse. He had 11 victories from 50 life time starts, including two Standish Handicaps at Flemington.

In life after racing, Super complete a decade long stellar career in the Victorian Police Mounted Branch. During his early days there, his trainer described him as, “without a doubt my heart horse. He arrived at the Mounted Branch and quickly became one of my best friends.”

“Friendly and kind” best describe Super in his life after life after racing at Living Legends. He was a gentle giant, a crowd pleaser, a people’s horse, and a children’s horse.

Super was in many ways the epitome of Living Legends’ role to nurture the deep connection between people and horses. This was especially the case for people who were a little nervous around horses and needed to gain confidence, such as school children on excursions, or senior visitors and wheelchair users. Super’s gentle ways would always win them over.

Super was an inaugural member of our Legends Under saddle Program and our Learning with Legends team. He was a go to horse for less experienced veterinary students on placement when we wanted to hone their horse handling skills.

For Super it was a life lived to its fullest. He brought so much joy to all he met at Living Legends and was pivotal in establishing our community work through Legends Under Saddle, our Young Riders and our Learning with Legends programs.

Vale Super, you will be much missed.