A History of the Dog Training Club

The Dog Club held its first meeting in June/July 1979 and is still meeting every week in its 25th Anniversary Year 2004. Two of our current members, Margaret Rudd and Sue Berntsson were members in that first year. In 1979 Colleen Mison was instrumental in the establishment of the Club, and other names, which appear in minutes from 1985, were F Dougherty, R. Reu, E Reu, T Thompson, V Woods, G Moss and Steve Grover, who is still a member today. In the 1980s it seems no one worried about dogs on beaches!

The Club has been involved in many different ventures over the years, from Baby Shows (1982), Blessing of the Fleet Parade (from 1980 -1990), running of Milton Showground Markets with the Milton-Ulladulla Basketball Club at Milton Showground during most of the 1980s, demonstrations at the Crooybar Cup (1981), and more recently during the past 10 years, Milton Settlers Fair, Scarecrow Festival, Lions Australia Day and RSPCA Million Paws Walk. The Club has donated over $5000 to charities in the past 5 years.

A Club run by volunteers obviously cannot carry on without many dedicated people, and this has been the case over the past 25 years, and includes past and present committee members:

Apologies to anyone we may have missed!

Of course many people have done much to help the Club over the years, and may not have been committee members, but have still given much of their time and efforts to help – we appreciate everyone’s assistance very much – thank you.

Our very grateful thanks to Mark and Cathie Sommerville of Budget Produce Ulladulla for their continued support

MY DOG SNIFFS GRASS

My dog sniffs grass, does yours do that too?
Why this is so I have not a clue
But at home there are times when his nose is free
Such as breakfast, dinner and afternoon tea.

But Showground grass has an hypnotic effect
Some special hormone or such like I suspect
Or is it because it’s so much greener
That makes my dog act like a vacuum cleaner?

Diane’s advice to overcome this quirk
Is to say “no sniff” and give the lead a good jerk
But as I scream “no sniff” and yank me mutt
All I get in return is his black’n’tan butt

Anne says we should be the most interesting thing
Even if that means we have to sing
“Come on”, she cries, “you need to up the ante”
To defeat Ralph pretending he’s Snoz Duranti

But I harbour this deep and mistrustful hunch
The instructors are amiss – they’re a tricky bunch
For on Saturday nights they meet at a spot
And stir up a mixture colloquially called ‘pot’

Then down to the Showground with glee they run
To spread the concoction before the rising sun
Now that the grass has this heavenly lace
They’re sure Sunday’s dogs will be off their face

“What motive is there?” I hear you enquire
Now the crux of it is we’re down to the wire
While your dog continues to play the fool
You’ll need to remain at Doggie School

Well that’s the reason for all this sniffin’
None of it due to goblin or griffin
The real life story of this dreaded curse
So now I can finally end this verse.

PRH (alias Ralph)
November 1998
(from the pen of our resident poet – Peter Hudson)

Early 1980s
Training at Milton Public School

Early 1980s
Blessing of the Fleet Parade

1981
Croobyar Cup

1983
Club Christmas Party

2001
Australia Day

2004
Training at Milton Showground