Latest news with #MusterDogs
The Advertiser
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Shower mishap was proof Lisa Millar's not quite ready for grey nomad life
When Lisa Millar found out she'd been nominated for the Gold Logie, she was in the small Victorian town of Kaniva, near the South Australian border. It was a far cry from the glitz and glamour of Australian TV's night of night's but the veteran broadcaster and TV personality, 56, wouldn't have it any other way. "I literally had 12-week-old kelpies jumping all over me when the phone call came in... and it was just surreal... I thought I am further away at this very moment than you could possibly be to the glamour of the Logies and everything that comes with it," she said. Read more from The Senior "To also be nominated for the top gong, it felt very right to be out there in the bush, because that's what a lot of this nomination is about." The former host of ABC's News Breakfast has been spending a lot of time in rural Australia in recent times. She is the current host of Muster Dogs, a documentary series that follows graziers as they train kelpie puppies to become working muster dogs, and Back Roads, a show that showcases the lives and communities of people who live in Australia's rural and regional towns. Often grey nomads will recognise Lisa as the host of Back Roads and come over for a chat. It is something she never tires of. She loves hearing about their travels and how long they've been on the road. "When I was in Shark Bay in WA, there were people who were there from Nambour in Queensland, and they were doing the whole trip around Australia. They were setting off for months, and it made me think, hey, retirement is not so bad. I'm a few years off it yet, possibly, but who knows? [They] made it look very appealing, I've got to say." Although if Lisa is ever going to consider the grey nomad lifestyle, she admits she still has a lot to learn. She has only been in a motorhome once. She was filming for Muster Dogs in a small town called Sandfire, which is little more than a rest stop, located about 300km south of Broome.. There was nowhere for the crew to sleep, so they had to hire a motorhome, and Lisa volunteered to drive it back. But before returning it, she stopped off for a swim at Cable Beach and decided to have a quick shower. "I actually had the shower inside and thought, where does the water go? And then I realised when I got out of the motorhome, the water comes out on the ground, and you've got all the plugs out. "So, people were probably looking at me, going, oh my God, she's so inexperienced. She doesn't know what she's doing." Lisa, who grew up in Kilkevan, Queensland, a small rural town with a population of about 700, feels she has come full circle by getting to return to rural Australia for Muster Dogs and Back Roads. "I would love to be able to say the word Kilkevan at the Logies and give a shout out to all of them, because they'll probably be watching it in the pub that night. "It would just be such an awesome thing to think that someone who came from such a small town and had a big dream could pull off something like that." Lisa for the Gold Logie win? Vote here: Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. When Lisa Millar found out she'd been nominated for the Gold Logie, she was in the small Victorian town of Kaniva, near the South Australian border. It was a far cry from the glitz and glamour of Australian TV's night of night's but the veteran broadcaster and TV personality, 56, wouldn't have it any other way. "I literally had 12-week-old kelpies jumping all over me when the phone call came in... and it was just surreal... I thought I am further away at this very moment than you could possibly be to the glamour of the Logies and everything that comes with it," she said. Read more from The Senior "To also be nominated for the top gong, it felt very right to be out there in the bush, because that's what a lot of this nomination is about." The former host of ABC's News Breakfast has been spending a lot of time in rural Australia in recent times. She is the current host of Muster Dogs, a documentary series that follows graziers as they train kelpie puppies to become working muster dogs, and Back Roads, a show that showcases the lives and communities of people who live in Australia's rural and regional towns. Often grey nomads will recognise Lisa as the host of Back Roads and come over for a chat. It is something she never tires of. She loves hearing about their travels and how long they've been on the road. "When I was in Shark Bay in WA, there were people who were there from Nambour in Queensland, and they were doing the whole trip around Australia. They were setting off for months, and it made me think, hey, retirement is not so bad. I'm a few years off it yet, possibly, but who knows? [They] made it look very appealing, I've got to say." Although if Lisa is ever going to consider the grey nomad lifestyle, she admits she still has a lot to learn. She has only been in a motorhome once. She was filming for Muster Dogs in a small town called Sandfire, which is little more than a rest stop, located about 300km south of Broome.. There was nowhere for the crew to sleep, so they had to hire a motorhome, and Lisa volunteered to drive it back. But before returning it, she stopped off for a swim at Cable Beach and decided to have a quick shower. "I actually had the shower inside and thought, where does the water go? And then I realised when I got out of the motorhome, the water comes out on the ground, and you've got all the plugs out. "So, people were probably looking at me, going, oh my God, she's so inexperienced. She doesn't know what she's doing." Lisa, who grew up in Kilkevan, Queensland, a small rural town with a population of about 700, feels she has come full circle by getting to return to rural Australia for Muster Dogs and Back Roads. "I would love to be able to say the word Kilkevan at the Logies and give a shout out to all of them, because they'll probably be watching it in the pub that night. "It would just be such an awesome thing to think that someone who came from such a small town and had a big dream could pull off something like that." Lisa for the Gold Logie win? Vote here: Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. When Lisa Millar found out she'd been nominated for the Gold Logie, she was in the small Victorian town of Kaniva, near the South Australian border. It was a far cry from the glitz and glamour of Australian TV's night of night's but the veteran broadcaster and TV personality, 56, wouldn't have it any other way. "I literally had 12-week-old kelpies jumping all over me when the phone call came in... and it was just surreal... I thought I am further away at this very moment than you could possibly be to the glamour of the Logies and everything that comes with it," she said. Read more from The Senior "To also be nominated for the top gong, it felt very right to be out there in the bush, because that's what a lot of this nomination is about." The former host of ABC's News Breakfast has been spending a lot of time in rural Australia in recent times. She is the current host of Muster Dogs, a documentary series that follows graziers as they train kelpie puppies to become working muster dogs, and Back Roads, a show that showcases the lives and communities of people who live in Australia's rural and regional towns. Often grey nomads will recognise Lisa as the host of Back Roads and come over for a chat. It is something she never tires of. She loves hearing about their travels and how long they've been on the road. "When I was in Shark Bay in WA, there were people who were there from Nambour in Queensland, and they were doing the whole trip around Australia. They were setting off for months, and it made me think, hey, retirement is not so bad. I'm a few years off it yet, possibly, but who knows? [They] made it look very appealing, I've got to say." Although if Lisa is ever going to consider the grey nomad lifestyle, she admits she still has a lot to learn. She has only been in a motorhome once. She was filming for Muster Dogs in a small town called Sandfire, which is little more than a rest stop, located about 300km south of Broome.. There was nowhere for the crew to sleep, so they had to hire a motorhome, and Lisa volunteered to drive it back. But before returning it, she stopped off for a swim at Cable Beach and decided to have a quick shower. "I actually had the shower inside and thought, where does the water go? And then I realised when I got out of the motorhome, the water comes out on the ground, and you've got all the plugs out. "So, people were probably looking at me, going, oh my God, she's so inexperienced. She doesn't know what she's doing." Lisa, who grew up in Kilkevan, Queensland, a small rural town with a population of about 700, feels she has come full circle by getting to return to rural Australia for Muster Dogs and Back Roads. "I would love to be able to say the word Kilkevan at the Logies and give a shout out to all of them, because they'll probably be watching it in the pub that night. "It would just be such an awesome thing to think that someone who came from such a small town and had a big dream could pull off something like that." Lisa for the Gold Logie win? Vote here: Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
ABC News
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Muster Dogs icon Frank Finger mourns death of wife Cathy and dog Annie
It was a bond that captured the hearts of Australians. Frank Finger and his champion muster dog Annie proved a gentle hand could be one of the most effective training tools when they were crowned champions of season one of the ABC's Muster Dogs series in 2022. But within the space of two days, Mr Finger has lost both his beloved wife Catherine and his "lovely dog" Annie. He said he had been overwhelmed with the outpouring of support. "I think part of [Annie's] death was brought on by my wife Cathy [who] died last week, and she hasn't been the same since," Mr Finger said. "Since Cathy died, she's just lived in [her crate] with the door open and doesn't come to meet anyone. "She wouldn't understand what had happened, but she could feel that we were unsettled and unhappy … and she was fretting." A true community stalwart of Clermont in Central Queensland, Catherine Finger died on June 25. Sharing the news, Mr Finger said "a life so beautifully lived deserves to be beautifully remembered". Annie died suddenly on June 27 at the age of five from a brain aneurysm. She was laid to rest at a family gathering on Sunday. "She's a classic example of what you can get from a dog if you treat them with kindness," Mr Finger said. "All I can do now is be thankful for the time I had her and if she had to go, it must have meant to be. "I've come to work out that 'Annies' are born and not bred. You can't set out to breed a dog like her, they just turn up, one in the litter now and again and I was just very fortunate." Mr Finger, a third-generation cattle farmer, was given Annie as a puppy for season one of Muster Dogs. The five grazier contestants from across Australia were given an Australian kelpie puppy from the same litter to train into a working muster dog in 12 months. She was given the name of Annie by Mr Finger, in honour of his late mother who he was close with and who was known for always having a beautiful vegetable garden. "I knew if I called her that I would have a bond just the same as I had with my mother," Mr Finger said. "You can be the best trainer in the world but unless you care for that particular animal and have that bond you won't get what we had." Mr Finger said choosing a meaningful name was a bonding secret and it needed to be something that is special to you, creating a special tone in your voice for the dog to pick up. Throughout the show, Annie gained the nickname of "princess" and Mr Finger would often refer to her as a "lovely dog" in filming. After winning the television show, the pair went on to become celebrities, travelling across the nation to compete in muster dog trials and appear as guest stars in agricultural shows and events. When they weren't out on the road, Annie was in the paddocks at the Clermont property, working on mobs of cattle up to 350 head, or demonstrating in working dog schools hosted on the property. Annie and her brother Lucifer, who also starred on the television show, were also popular guests during their regular visits to the aged care facility in Clermont, Montcler Nursing Home. The residents loved having the canine visitors, providing uplifting pet therapy and companionship. Mr and Mrs Finger had been married for 47 years and together have four children, three sons and a daughter, and 12 grandchildren. Not one for the spotlight, Mrs Finger was happy to leave the television fame to her husband but was a quiet unwavering support for him. Mr Finger said his family and the Clermont community had rallied behind him. "I'm overwhelmed by the support," he said. "What will happen now, I will probably wait and get another pup and I'll call it Annie and will go again."
The Advertiser
26-05-2025
- General
- The Advertiser
A ripper race to find Australia's hardest-working dog
Ripper the tan-and-black kelpie is the very model of man's best friend. The two-year-old is "a freak" when it comes to working sheep, an agile and clever pup who gets the herd moving like a dog beyond his years, owner Daniel Pumpa said. "I'd be absolutely stuffed without him," Mr Pumpa told AAP. The bond between the farmer and his four-legged offsider runs much deeper than their work on a property near Yeoval in central western NSW. Ripper is the offspring of Mr Pumpa's beloved working dog Turbo, who died suddenly in 2024. "I did go off dogs for a bit after losing Turbo - (Ripper) was there to pick up the pieces," Mr Pumpa said. "If you don't have a bond with your working dog, you're not going to get the best out of them." Mr Pumpa, also a respected trainer, fondly remembers life with Turbo, including competing in the national Cobber Challenge three times. The three-week competition uses GPS collars to track the distance, speed and hours clocked up by farm dogs as they work livestock. Nominations for the 10th challenge opened on Tuesday. Ripper took the mantle from Turbo for the 2024 competition, covering 322km over 30 hours and coming in fourth place. A dog named Bear from Dirranbandi, in southwest Queensland, won that challenge, notching up 570km while farmer Tom Perkins mustered 4500 ewes. Mr Pumpa said the competition gives farmers valuable data about how hard their dogs work. "You know your dog is doing a big day, but once you see he's done 30 to 40km in half a day it allows you to rest and manage them a bit better." Working dogs have captured Australians' hearts in recent years, with their skills showcased on the ABC TV show Muster Dogs. Driven by their intense herding instincts and energy, working dogs are increasingly an alternative to hiring labourers amid shortages in the agriculture sector. Dogs are also helping people in the cities better understand country life, Mr Pumpa said. When he hosts demonstrations in front of city audiences, many ask whether farmers are forcing their dogs to work. "If a dog doesn't want to work, it's not going to," he said. "These dogs, they love it, and that helps us prove that we're looking after our animals, whether it be dogs or sheep or cattle." Turbo's dad and Ripper's grandad, a 14-year-old red kelpie named Benji, is testament to how much the dogs are loved, even in their twilight years. Benji, long retired from the paddock, spends his days in bed or playing with a little Jack Russell companion. "Old Benji, he's an absolute dude of a dog," Mr Pumpa said. "When they've done the hard work, they deserve to chill out and relax." Ripper the tan-and-black kelpie is the very model of man's best friend. The two-year-old is "a freak" when it comes to working sheep, an agile and clever pup who gets the herd moving like a dog beyond his years, owner Daniel Pumpa said. "I'd be absolutely stuffed without him," Mr Pumpa told AAP. The bond between the farmer and his four-legged offsider runs much deeper than their work on a property near Yeoval in central western NSW. Ripper is the offspring of Mr Pumpa's beloved working dog Turbo, who died suddenly in 2024. "I did go off dogs for a bit after losing Turbo - (Ripper) was there to pick up the pieces," Mr Pumpa said. "If you don't have a bond with your working dog, you're not going to get the best out of them." Mr Pumpa, also a respected trainer, fondly remembers life with Turbo, including competing in the national Cobber Challenge three times. The three-week competition uses GPS collars to track the distance, speed and hours clocked up by farm dogs as they work livestock. Nominations for the 10th challenge opened on Tuesday. Ripper took the mantle from Turbo for the 2024 competition, covering 322km over 30 hours and coming in fourth place. A dog named Bear from Dirranbandi, in southwest Queensland, won that challenge, notching up 570km while farmer Tom Perkins mustered 4500 ewes. Mr Pumpa said the competition gives farmers valuable data about how hard their dogs work. "You know your dog is doing a big day, but once you see he's done 30 to 40km in half a day it allows you to rest and manage them a bit better." Working dogs have captured Australians' hearts in recent years, with their skills showcased on the ABC TV show Muster Dogs. Driven by their intense herding instincts and energy, working dogs are increasingly an alternative to hiring labourers amid shortages in the agriculture sector. Dogs are also helping people in the cities better understand country life, Mr Pumpa said. When he hosts demonstrations in front of city audiences, many ask whether farmers are forcing their dogs to work. "If a dog doesn't want to work, it's not going to," he said. "These dogs, they love it, and that helps us prove that we're looking after our animals, whether it be dogs or sheep or cattle." Turbo's dad and Ripper's grandad, a 14-year-old red kelpie named Benji, is testament to how much the dogs are loved, even in their twilight years. Benji, long retired from the paddock, spends his days in bed or playing with a little Jack Russell companion. "Old Benji, he's an absolute dude of a dog," Mr Pumpa said. "When they've done the hard work, they deserve to chill out and relax." Ripper the tan-and-black kelpie is the very model of man's best friend. The two-year-old is "a freak" when it comes to working sheep, an agile and clever pup who gets the herd moving like a dog beyond his years, owner Daniel Pumpa said. "I'd be absolutely stuffed without him," Mr Pumpa told AAP. The bond between the farmer and his four-legged offsider runs much deeper than their work on a property near Yeoval in central western NSW. Ripper is the offspring of Mr Pumpa's beloved working dog Turbo, who died suddenly in 2024. "I did go off dogs for a bit after losing Turbo - (Ripper) was there to pick up the pieces," Mr Pumpa said. "If you don't have a bond with your working dog, you're not going to get the best out of them." Mr Pumpa, also a respected trainer, fondly remembers life with Turbo, including competing in the national Cobber Challenge three times. The three-week competition uses GPS collars to track the distance, speed and hours clocked up by farm dogs as they work livestock. Nominations for the 10th challenge opened on Tuesday. Ripper took the mantle from Turbo for the 2024 competition, covering 322km over 30 hours and coming in fourth place. A dog named Bear from Dirranbandi, in southwest Queensland, won that challenge, notching up 570km while farmer Tom Perkins mustered 4500 ewes. Mr Pumpa said the competition gives farmers valuable data about how hard their dogs work. "You know your dog is doing a big day, but once you see he's done 30 to 40km in half a day it allows you to rest and manage them a bit better." Working dogs have captured Australians' hearts in recent years, with their skills showcased on the ABC TV show Muster Dogs. Driven by their intense herding instincts and energy, working dogs are increasingly an alternative to hiring labourers amid shortages in the agriculture sector. Dogs are also helping people in the cities better understand country life, Mr Pumpa said. When he hosts demonstrations in front of city audiences, many ask whether farmers are forcing their dogs to work. "If a dog doesn't want to work, it's not going to," he said. "These dogs, they love it, and that helps us prove that we're looking after our animals, whether it be dogs or sheep or cattle." Turbo's dad and Ripper's grandad, a 14-year-old red kelpie named Benji, is testament to how much the dogs are loved, even in their twilight years. Benji, long retired from the paddock, spends his days in bed or playing with a little Jack Russell companion. "Old Benji, he's an absolute dude of a dog," Mr Pumpa said. "When they've done the hard work, they deserve to chill out and relax." Ripper the tan-and-black kelpie is the very model of man's best friend. The two-year-old is "a freak" when it comes to working sheep, an agile and clever pup who gets the herd moving like a dog beyond his years, owner Daniel Pumpa said. "I'd be absolutely stuffed without him," Mr Pumpa told AAP. The bond between the farmer and his four-legged offsider runs much deeper than their work on a property near Yeoval in central western NSW. Ripper is the offspring of Mr Pumpa's beloved working dog Turbo, who died suddenly in 2024. "I did go off dogs for a bit after losing Turbo - (Ripper) was there to pick up the pieces," Mr Pumpa said. "If you don't have a bond with your working dog, you're not going to get the best out of them." Mr Pumpa, also a respected trainer, fondly remembers life with Turbo, including competing in the national Cobber Challenge three times. The three-week competition uses GPS collars to track the distance, speed and hours clocked up by farm dogs as they work livestock. Nominations for the 10th challenge opened on Tuesday. Ripper took the mantle from Turbo for the 2024 competition, covering 322km over 30 hours and coming in fourth place. A dog named Bear from Dirranbandi, in southwest Queensland, won that challenge, notching up 570km while farmer Tom Perkins mustered 4500 ewes. Mr Pumpa said the competition gives farmers valuable data about how hard their dogs work. "You know your dog is doing a big day, but once you see he's done 30 to 40km in half a day it allows you to rest and manage them a bit better." Working dogs have captured Australians' hearts in recent years, with their skills showcased on the ABC TV show Muster Dogs. Driven by their intense herding instincts and energy, working dogs are increasingly an alternative to hiring labourers amid shortages in the agriculture sector. Dogs are also helping people in the cities better understand country life, Mr Pumpa said. When he hosts demonstrations in front of city audiences, many ask whether farmers are forcing their dogs to work. "If a dog doesn't want to work, it's not going to," he said. "These dogs, they love it, and that helps us prove that we're looking after our animals, whether it be dogs or sheep or cattle." Turbo's dad and Ripper's grandad, a 14-year-old red kelpie named Benji, is testament to how much the dogs are loved, even in their twilight years. Benji, long retired from the paddock, spends his days in bed or playing with a little Jack Russell companion. "Old Benji, he's an absolute dude of a dog," Mr Pumpa said. "When they've done the hard work, they deserve to chill out and relax."
Perth Now
26-05-2025
- General
- Perth Now
A ripper race to find Australia's hardest-working dog
Ripper the tan-and-black kelpie is the very model of man's best friend. The two-year-old is "a freak" when it comes to working sheep, an agile and clever pup who gets the herd moving like a dog beyond his years, owner Daniel Pumpa said. "I'd be absolutely stuffed without him," Mr Pumpa told AAP. The bond between the farmer and his four-legged offsider runs much deeper than their work on a property near Yeoval in central western NSW. Ripper is the offspring of Mr Pumpa's beloved working dog Turbo, who died suddenly in 2024. "I did go off dogs for a bit after losing Turbo - (Ripper) was there to pick up the pieces," Mr Pumpa said. "If you don't have a bond with your working dog, you're not going to get the best out of them." Mr Pumpa, also a respected trainer, fondly remembers life with Turbo, including competing in the national Cobber Challenge three times. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cobber (@cobberdogfood) The Cobber Challenge pits farm dogs in a three-week competition that tracks their work output. The three-week competition uses GPS collars to track the distance, speed and hours clocked up by farm dogs as they work livestock. Nominations for the 10th challenge opened on Tuesday. Ripper took the mantle from Turbo for the 2024 competition, covering 322km over 30 hours and coming in fourth place. A dog named Bear from Dirranbandi, in southwest Queensland, won that challenge, notching up 570km while farmer Tom Perkins mustered 4500 ewes. Mr Pumpa said the competition gives farmers valuable data about how hard their dogs work. "You know your dog is doing a big day, but once you see he's done 30 to 40km in half a day it allows you to rest and manage them a bit better." Working dogs have captured Australians' hearts in recent years, with their skills showcased on the ABC TV show Muster Dogs. Driven by their intense herding instincts and energy, working dogs are increasingly an alternative to hiring labourers amid shortages in the agriculture sector. Dogs are also helping people in the cities better understand country life, Mr Pumpa said. When he hosts demonstrations in front of city audiences, many ask whether farmers are forcing their dogs to work. "If a dog doesn't want to work, it's not going to," he said. "These dogs, they love it, and that helps us prove that we're looking after our animals, whether it be dogs or sheep or cattle." Turbo's dad and Ripper's grandad, a 14-year-old red kelpie named Benji, is testament to how much the dogs are loved, even in their twilight years. Benji, long retired from the paddock, spends his days in bed or playing with a little Jack Russell companion. "Old Benji, he's an absolute dude of a dog," Mr Pumpa said. "When they've done the hard work, they deserve to chill out and relax."
West Australian
26-05-2025
- General
- West Australian
A ripper race to find Australia's hardest-working dog
Ripper the tan-and-black kelpie is the very model of man's best friend. The two-year-old is "a freak" when it comes to working sheep, an agile and clever pup who gets the herd moving like a dog beyond his years, owner Daniel Pumpa said. "I'd be absolutely stuffed without him," Mr Pumpa told AAP. The bond between the farmer and his four-legged offsider runs much deeper than their work on a property near Yeoval in central western NSW. Ripper is the offspring of Mr Pumpa's beloved working dog Turbo, who died suddenly in 2024. "I did go off dogs for a bit after losing Turbo - (Ripper) was there to pick up the pieces," Mr Pumpa said. "If you don't have a bond with your working dog, you're not going to get the best out of them." Mr Pumpa, also a respected trainer, fondly remembers life with Turbo, including competing in the national Cobber Challenge three times. The Cobber Challenge pits farm dogs in a three-week competition that tracks their work output. The three-week competition uses GPS collars to track the distance, speed and hours clocked up by farm dogs as they work livestock. Nominations for the 10th challenge opened on Tuesday. Ripper took the mantle from Turbo for the 2024 competition, covering 322km over 30 hours and coming in fourth place. A dog named Bear from Dirranbandi, in southwest Queensland, won that challenge, notching up 570km while farmer Tom Perkins mustered 4500 ewes. Mr Pumpa said the competition gives farmers valuable data about how hard their dogs work. "You know your dog is doing a big day, but once you see he's done 30 to 40km in half a day it allows you to rest and manage them a bit better." Working dogs have captured Australians' hearts in recent years, with their skills showcased on the ABC TV show Muster Dogs. Driven by their intense herding instincts and energy, working dogs are increasingly an alternative to hiring labourers amid shortages in the agriculture sector. Dogs are also helping people in the cities better understand country life, Mr Pumpa said. When he hosts demonstrations in front of city audiences, many ask whether farmers are forcing their dogs to work. "If a dog doesn't want to work, it's not going to," he said. "These dogs, they love it, and that helps us prove that we're looking after our animals, whether it be dogs or sheep or cattle." Turbo's dad and Ripper's grandad, a 14-year-old red kelpie named Benji, is testament to how much the dogs are loved, even in their twilight years. Benji, long retired from the paddock, spends his days in bed or playing with a little Jack Russell companion. "Old Benji, he's an absolute dude of a dog," Mr Pumpa said. "When they've done the hard work, they deserve to chill out and relax."
