OPEN
Tues - Fri 9am - 12pm SAT 9am - 1pm |
"NEWS"
Updated 20-02-2010 |
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| Kawana Waters State School These
students from Kawana Waters State School were a great bunch to take on
a tour of the Refuge showing a lot of enthusiasm for he work the Refuge
does.
They are in the process of fund raising and are even making a film to highlight the workings of the refuge. Thanks guys.  |
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 Thanks Pacific Lutheran College These young people from Pacific Lutheran College had a wonderful time on their tour of the refuge. They are pictured with the huge basket of goodies they donated. Two had even donated their pocket money. Thanks Kids, we think you are all pretty special. |
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Tricia (the Refuge education officer) with a few |
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Thanks to the Nambour IGA Community Chest for a donation of $1290. Gratefully accepted by Trish Ellis.
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The Golf Day held on Sunday, 13th September was a great success with over $2,350 being raised for the animals at the Refuge. The day was made possible by generous donations of goods and time from the following: Alex Somlay,Ted Hungerford, Christian Dixon, Andrew Moore(punters club), Mel Skilton Chiropractic, M'dore RSL, Cullens Motors, Kevin Byrns Jewellers, Terry White Kawana, Living Choice Twin Waters, Ivadale Quality Meats, Minyama Meats, Golf Professionals Di Pavich;Grant Field;Mal Robinson and SeanSeymore |
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Fund Raising Golf Day kindly organised by David Hastie
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29 - 03 - 2009 On Sunday 29th of March, the Annual General Meeting was held for the year, President - Rosy Symons Geoff More Congratulations to all who made it onto the committee. |
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18 - 03 - 09 VETERINARY FACILITY UPDATE Work on our new facility has jumped ahead in leaps and bounds.
The following people and companies have kindly donated their services in the
pre-construction stage:-
The following companies have offered goods and services during the construction stage:-
The following people and companies will be involved in the construction phase:-
The new building will be
used to house incoming animals with an up to date treatment room. We will also
have room to prepare the cats and dogs daily feeds. |
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02 - 02 - 09 The
refuge recently ran out of water, due considerably to the extreme hot
weather we have had this summer. The decision was made to tap
into another underground bore to ensure that the refuge maintains its
much needed water levels. This work was carried out last week. |
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19 - 01 - 09 On the 17th of January, the refuge celebrated it's 30th Birthday. The day was enjoyed by everyone Here is a snapshot of how far the refuge has come in the last 30 years. |
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We
have recently received some wonderful letters and artwork from schools
and children who have taken part in
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27 - 10 - 2008 In late October a Special Community Meeting was held at the Caloundra Community Centre. Attending the Meeting was (Scars) Mark Farrelly, (L-R) Fiona Malcom, Coordinator of Community Development, Robin Steinhouse (Scars - Project initiator) and Carolyn Nolan (Caloundra Community Centre)
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The first morning she woke up at my house she crawled across the floor on her tummy to greet me with such gratitude and affection in her eyes, that I was smitten. Leila had something that I believe is common to all the dogs the Refuge saves from "death row" - great love and loyalty to the one who gives them a home and love. Leila loved people, cats and babies. She was very gentle with small children and elderly people. I had her for three wonderful years until she died quietly and peacefully only three weeks after being diagnosed as having a very aggressive stomach cancer. The sadness that her death brought was eased a hundredfold by the great love, devotion, happiness and memories she gave to me and my family. There is no better place to get your dog than a Refuge. P.S. Since Leila's death I have adopted another Refuge dog, "Angel". Thank you Sunshine Coast Animal Refuge for the good work you do. |
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10 - 08 - 08 Once again another one of our dogs will go on to have a career in the Army. Tusker impressed the Army on first sight and she will work along side of them as a sniffer dog. |
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| SHANNA Not all of our dogs go to
family situations. Recently the Army came to us and put a few of the dogs through their paces in the hope of training them in explosives detection. In the end, a red Kelpie called Shanna stunned them with her enthusiasm. They took Shanna to the training facility to really test her ability and in Dave's (her handler) words " We set her up to fail and she passed every test and looked at us as if to say "is that all you've got". She has been in training now for 5 months and is one month away from graduating 3 months early. Shanna is considered to be the 2nd top explosives detection dog in Australia and is worth her weight in gold. Shanna can expect to work at venues such as the Olympic and Commonwealth Games, and other high security functions. A lot of people think that it's a hard life for dogs in the Army, but Shanna gets the best food, medical, dental and housing that money could buy. They get regular days off from training and the handlers head down the beach with the dogs for some well deserved fun. Shanna will work for 8 years in official duty, then she will become a role model for new dogs in training for 2 years, after that she retires with her handler. We all wish her the best of luck in her new job.  We are pleased to report that SHANNA has graduated, and is now awaiting assignment. She has even had the pleasure of meeting our ex PM John Howard. Again we wish her well in her new adventure. |
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  Shanna and Dave, who is one of her trainers. Shanna showing us her Army doggie buddies. |
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You
may of heard in the news recently of two bomb detection dogs which were
killed while serving with the  Australian Troops in
Afghanistan. One of those dogs name was Merlin, a blue
heeler. Merlin was recruited from the refuge by the Army about
2 years ago. He was accidently run over by a Light Armoured Vehicle
while resting in the vehicles shade. Merlin had sniffed
for explosives at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and in East Timor.
His handler Sapper Peter Lawlis was distraught at
his death, as were the other taskforce members, he is the first army
explosives detection dog to die on operations.
Because of Merlin and Razz's passing a memorial at the School of Military Engineering in Sydney, where the dogs were trained, will be expanded to pay tribute to the dogs. They have also named the housing facility for the dogs in Afghanistan "Merlin's Run" in his honor. |
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"Sapper Merlin" checking the local markets for explosive materials. |
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