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It’s Penning TimeIt’s Penning Time

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN WORKING SHEEPDOG ASSOCIATION JUNE 2016

PRESIDENT’S REPORT I’ve just come back from yet another meeting with the DEWNR, this time regarding the new Breeding and Trading Dogs and Cats stan-dards and guidelines. This is something Don Maddern, our vice-president, and I have been involved with for over 18 months. While it’s fair to say that probably none of us are able to meet the standards at this stage, our contribution has meant, subject to this Bill going through Parliament, it will be very achievable for us and we’ve been able to present our Association as one of the most responsi-ble stakeholders in the state. Working closely with Kay Hocking, who was representing Livestock SA and the SA Yard Dog Association, we have been able to negotiate the standards and guidelines into a very realistic and achievable document for members of our asso-ciations and also the wider livestock producing community. In April some members worked with Adelaide Uni with their drones and infra-red monitoring of dogs and sheep technology to be used monitoring the Australian dingo fence. More info later in the newsletter. The registrations for our first association-run training school are looking promising, and I’m excited by the opportunity some members will have to share their areas of expertise in this format. Once again, it shows our association as a leader in promoting dog handling and management, living up to the aims of the association “To promote amongst the sheep breeders and general public a wide human interest in the working sheepdog and its work,” and “to encourage, develop and maintain a high standard of working sheepdog.” Only two trials have been held so far this year, for a number of reasons. Both were well-attended and the standard was high. The second half of the year will be significantly hectic on a trialling front with Conor McConnell organising an arena and Trans Tasman trial at the Roseworthy Campus on July 30-31, followed by Nepowie, Finniss and Wentworth in August. You can find the dates of all the spring trials on the last page of this newsletter, or at www.sasheepdogtrials.com.au. As always, being a sheepdog trialler and a member of the Association has got me involved in some very unusual, but interesting, life experiences. Go for the pen! Milton Cross.

FROM THE SECRETARY To save on printing and postage costs, the newsletter will now be sent electronically to everyone with an email address, except those who have requested a hard copy. If you do not have access to email, you will continue to receive a printed copy of the newsletter in the mail. A donation to help cover costs each year would be very much appreciated and can be sent to the Secretary, P O Box 338, Meningie, 5264. If you have not given us your email address (or the email address for someone who might receive the newsletter on your behalf), could you please send it to Pat (pat_wake@yahoo.com.au)? Updated Constitution and Rules Following our Annual General Meeting, our Constitution and Rules booklet was updated on 30.3.16. Changes were made to the time line for Council to action any violations of the Code of Conduct and a Hot Weather Policy was added. The Constitution and Rules document is available on our website: http://www.sasheepdogtrials.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Constitution-and-Rules-2016.pdf If you would like a printed copy, please contact the Secretary on 08 85750045 or jflavel@aussiebb.com.au Microchip numbers Microchip numbers can now be added to Registration certificates. Please include the number (or a copy of the form with the number on it) with your application for registration form.

PRESIDENT Milton Cross PO Box 141 Strathalbyn 5255 08 8537 0150

2016 COUNCIL MEMBERS Don Bolt Merv Simmonds Pat Wake Josh Lines

PUBLICITY OFFICERS Pat Wake 0419 860 981 Pat_wake@yahoo.com.au Kylie Cross 08 8537 0150 miltonkylie@bigpond.com

SECRETARY Joanne Flavel PO Box 338 Meningie 5264 08 8575 0045

VICE PRESIDENT Don Maddern PO Box 155 Strathalbyn 5255 0407 393 320

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Microchipping Workshop

With the possible scenario of rules coming in to microchip all dogs and with a great deal of assistance from my colleague Janelle Altmann at TAFESA, members of the South Australian Working Sheepdog Association and the South Australian Yard Dog Association spent a cold, sometimes wet day in Dave and Bev Kellock’s shearing shed at KELVALE Merino Stud, Farrell Flat, learning how to microchip our dogs. Eighty six dogs ranging from 12 weeks to 7 years were microchipped with-out a whimper (well one puppy did). All in all it was a great day, with a BBQ

(meat supplied by Lyn-don Cooper) raising well over $100 for men’s health.

Many members are now trained in microchip implanting so ask around

at the trials to see if anyone can help out next time you have a litter of

pups. Currently in South Australia undertaking the training of micro-

chip implanting allows you to implant chips into other people’s dogs.

If you attended the workshop and you are willing to microchip other

people’s dogs let Pat know so she can point people in the right direc-

tion.

Well what a buzz? On the 20th April after working with the University of Adelaide Unmanned Research Aircraft Facility (URAF- Drones) for the past few months to organise a day when we could all get together with Dogs, Sheep and Drones it finally happened. Dr Ramesh Raja Segaran and Jarrod Hodgson from the University along with Milton Cross, Don Maddern, Pat Wake and a team of dogs worked sheep in a number of different scenarios whilst a Drone was hovering above us at 40, 60 and 80 meters. The URAF team are looking at “Identifying the capacity for drone based thermal cameras to detect wild dogs.” The first exercise was a mob of sheep in the round yard, after missing the shot of the day (32 sheep looking skyward at the drone) it was down to business. Milton working Floss worked around the sheep and through them to see if the drone’s thermal imaging camera could pick up the sheep separate from the dog. It was very interesting to see the images on the computer. The next exercise required a quiet dog, so who better than the speedy Twistie!!! With only 3 sheep to work and keep away from the rest of the mob she did this much to the surprise of some bystanders. Running the drone back and forth over the pad-dock Twistie kept the 3 sheep away for enough time to register some good shots. The last and most challenging was working 5 dogs and 20 sheep with 3 handlers at the same time. It worked and no dogs, sheep or handlers injured in the exercise. We had to give a scenario of wild dogs impacting on a mob of sheep. It worked well with some dogs going in hard and others skirting the perimeter. We would like to thank Ramesh and Jarrod for asking us to participate in this exercise and hope that the data they collected on

the day will be enough to set up some baselines for drones to be able to be used along the dog fence.

Right: The team, Ameroo Kite, Andrina Floss,

Wyreema Twistie, Somerville Josie and Noonbarra Doritos.

Left: One of the drones in action.

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Strathalbyn Saturday 5 – Sunday 6 March, 2016 This year we returned to the Strathalbyn Polo Grounds for an arena trial, followed by a Trans Tasman. The temperature was hot, but the competi-tion was even hotter with only 10 points separating the top 4 scores. The clubhouse saw plenty of action with the AGM on the Friday night, and sev-eral members sharing pizza and rolling maltesers down the tables on the Saturday night!

Encourage ~ Judge: Don Bolt

No scores. Novice ~ Judge: Don Bolt

Phillip Dreckow Gramer Wallander 84 + BS = 84 Michael Deppeler Deppeler’s Rowdy 75 + BS = 74 Milton Cross Andrina Quinn 58 + X = 58 Connor McConnell Marionvale Sam 24 + Ret = 24 Improver ~ Judge: Merv Simmonds

Steve Geraghty El Shamah Wally 90 + 87 = 177 Steve Geraghty Gramer Bonnie 85 + Ret = 85 Stefan Cross Echo Park Boss 67 + 18 = 85 Michael Deppeler Deppeler’s Rowdy 58 + Ret = 58 Open ~ Judge: Merv Simmonds

Steve Geraghty El Shamah Wally 90 + 87 = 177 Stefan Cross Echo Park Tess 78 + 91 = 169 Milton Cross OK Guv 78 + 90 = 168 Milton Cross Somerville Josie 84 + 83 = 167 Steve Geraghty Gramer Bonnie 85 + Ret = 85 Joanne Flavel Old Mill Roy 82 + Ret = 82

Karoonda Short Course Trial Friday 27 – Saturday 28 March, 2015 Open ~ Judge: Don Bolt (run over two rounds)

Michael Deppeler Deppeler’s Bess 82 + 83 = 165 Michael Deppeler Somerville Buddy 72 + 85 = 157 Joanne Flavel Old Mill Roy 62 + 80 = 142 Steve Geraghty Somerville Clyde 58 + 64 = 122 Joanne Flavel Delolea Sooty 37 + 81 = 118 Steve Geraghty Gramer Bonnie 82 + 25 = 107

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Do you want to learn how to train your sheepdog? Register for the SAWSDA Training School!

SAWSDA is holding a training school for members of the public, with or without dogs, who would

like to learn how to understand and train a sheepdog. A number of SAWSDA members will show

their experiences and expertise on various aspects of dog training. Some of the topics we will be

covering are: Picking the best pup or dog for you

Getting the best from your pup

Off-sheep training

Instinct

Introduction to stock

Reading and understanding stock movement

No more than 2 dogs per person, please.

All dogs/pups must be vaccinated. Proof will be required on the day.

Registration forms and $50 deposit due by Friday 10th June, but get in quick as places are limited!

Date: Saturday 18 June 2016

Time: 9am-4:30pm

Location: Strathalbyn—details provided on receipt of registration and deposit

Cost:

A BBQ lunch is included in the cost. All other proceeds to SAWSDA.

We hope to hold another training school in the mid-north later in the year, subject to demand.

To register for the Strathalbyn Training School, or to express interest in the proposed mid-north

training school please click on and return the Registration Form by 10th June.

Bob

Jumpy Bob

Soft, jumpy Bob

Strong, soft, jumpy Bob

Patchy, strong, soft, jumpy Bob

SAWSDA member/associate member $80

Non-member – includes public liability insurance for the day $100

Non-member - includes associate membership and public liability insurance for all

SAWSDA events for the remainder of the calendar year

$115

More Precious Than Gold—a poem by Char-lotte about her dog, Bob.

Hey kids, if you have done a picture, poem or something special you would like to see in the newsletter email it to miltonkylie@bigpond.com

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5.16 Moving between obstacles: (a) When a competitor has to move from one given

point to another, they must do so maintaining a constant speed and in as direct a

line as practicable on the left hand side of the corridor. The competitor must not stop to work the dog during this

time. Infringement of this rule will entail a deduction of points for each offence.

5.18 The pen: (d) If any sheep escape from the pen after the competitor has left the ring or peg and is in the act of

closing the gate, the competitor shall continue to close the gate. If they are able to return the sheep to the pen before

the gate is closed, the points for the pen will be awarded. If by the time the gate is shut the sheep are still out, then the

points value of the pen will be deducted and the trial ended. Failure to shut the gate shall be taken as retiring.

To see the Rules and Constitution in full see the Documents page at www.sasheepdogtrials.com.au

DATE TRIAL CONTACT 30—31 July Roseworthy Campus Conor McConnell 0406 781 989 New trial! Check our website for entry form and details. conormcconnell87@hotmail.com 6—7 August Nepowie Field Trial Joanne Flavel 8575 0045 20—21 August *Finniss Trial Milton Cross 8537 0150 Finniss trial date has changed to work in with the trial at Wentworth 25—27 August Wentworth Trial Max Follett 03 5025 2504 9—10 September Royal Adelaide Show Trial Joanne Flavel 8575 0045 16—17 September State Championships—Port Elliot Joanne Flavel 8575 0045 18 September Champion of Champions—Port Elliot 22—24 September Maitland Trial Max Smart 8832 2171 26—28 September Paskeville Trial Merv Simmonds 8821 2031 30 September *Barmera Trial Bob Clark 8588 2559 - 2 October Date has changed to avoid clashing with the Supremes 8—16 October Supremes—Northam, WA Grant Cooke 08 9622 9609 20—21 October Mt Gambier Show Trial 8725 1873 Please check the website or our Facebook page for the latest details and for entry forms, www.sasheepdogtrials.com.au