Probus proudly going to the dogs

To celebrate the Bridgetown Probus Club’s 10th birthday a couple of very special events were planned.

The first was an outstanding success at the Community and Recreation Centre on Warren Road in Nannup where members and guests heard from guest speakers from Guide Dogs WA: two supervisors and a volunteer brought along three trainee dogs.

The second special event was held on the 21st May and took place at Shimmy Downs Kelpies, WA’s premier training facility for livestock working dogs based near Busselton.

Shimmy Downs Kelpies is a Kelpie breeding and working dog training family business which is run and managed by husband-and-wife team, James and Michelle Carr.

James and Michelle have developed their property into a specialised training facility with a number of yards for different purposes with an arena area for visitors to watch the proceedings.

Probus President Stephen Blackman explains the day, “On arrival at the farm a ‘tail gate’ morning tea was provided, near to where two ten-week-old kelpies where tethered, these beautiful, beautiful puppies instantly winning over the forty-six Probus members and guests, when the two puppies greeted everyone in turn.

“The first session of the day was when James placed for the first time these two ten-week-old pups into a training rink of sheep, letting them off the lead to demonstrate their natural talent with herding.

“One of the puppy’s natural instincts took over straight away as it started rounding up the sheep, with the other puppy standing by in the shade watching. Then its instincts ‘clicked’ and both the untrained puppies worked together to herd the sheep, not being told what to do, just doing it.

“It was a special moment seeing their natural ability switching on for the first time.

“Then there were demonstrations from four-month-old dogs all the way through to the puppies’ grandmother, Pearl, the seven-year-old matriarch, who worked so smoothly and effectively it was a wonder to watch.

“We were shown the various skills the dogs have to learn. A standout was the kelpies loading sheep onto a truck, the dogs bustling the sheep up the ramp, then running along the sheep’s backs down the ramp, to get behind the next lot on the ramp and guiding those up the ramp.

“The many benefits of having working dogs was explained and demonstrated to us over the afternoon, showing to us how efficiently and calmly the dogs work, being eager to work and to please always, and showing us how their talents are being used again on the farm.

“To witness the dog training procedures in real life was an experience on another level. It was an entertaining, educational and inspirational afternoon.”

The next Probus meeting will he held on the 12th June in the Bridgetown Gardens Function Centre when the Guest speaker will be Christine Harris, giving a talk on ‘People of WA’s Ghost Towns Project’.

Hundreds of towns have either disappeared or dwindled to the point they are unrecognisable as the towns they used to be.

One thing these communities had in common was the men, women and children who lived in these towns. A few timber towns around the south west will fall into this category.

The Project’s task is to bring these peoples’ stories back to life so their descendants can know their stories, know their sorrows, successes and failures.

Probus activities are for retired people, new members and guests are very welcome to attend these events and are asked to book by contacting Stephen Blackman on 0400 403 778 or by email to bbvprobus@gmail.com