FEAST OR FAMINE

The Civic Merry-Go-Round in the centre of Canberra celebrates 100 years on 13 March 2014, with the last 40 years in its present site. Herbert Thomson of Armadale, Victoria, famous for designing and building the first Australian steam car in 1896, constructed the carousel in 1914 for German showman Anton Weniger to replace his pony-powered carousel – at a cost of 7,000 pounds. He imported the organ and the 52 hand-carved wooden horses and two elephants from Germany, and the golden twisted brass upright poles from Scotland. Each of the horses has a ram's head (or German folklore animal head) at the back of the saddle, facing backwards. Under the canopy is a series of paintings by Melbourne artist William P. Plowman (including bisons and American Indians, a ski scene, and a horse-and-hound hunt). It is 12 metres wide, 5.25 metres high, and weighs more than 15 tonnes. Known as Weniger’s Riding Gallery, it was installed in 1914 on the esplanade at St. Kilda, Mel...

First published in 2011 (my edition is 2013), Saving Private Sarbi is the life story of Sarbi, Australia’s famous explosive detection dog. But this is more than a feel-good animal story. And it is more than an historical account of the Australian Defence Force’s Explosive Detection Dog (EDD) Section of the Royal Australian Engineers (RAE) Corps. Born on 11 September 2002, a year after the 9/11 attacks, specifically as a show dog, Sarbi didn’t pass the strict show dog standards. Sarbi’s Labrador mother had a doggy dalliance with a Newfoundland wanderer – which meant that the whole litter of six pups couldn’t make professional status. Initially a citizen, Sarbi was accepted into RAE’s School of Military Engineering (SME) in the elite EDD Section with a handler, and 19 weeks later graduated in 2005 as a soldier. Training continued throughout her work life; it was constant, meticulous, intense, physical, and demanding – gold standard. But to the black Labrador-N...

“Of animals in war” at The Australian War Memorial, a one-day family event, commemorated the role of animals in support of the nation’s military and peacebuilding efforts. It also commemorated the loss of Sapper Darrren Smith, 2 nd Combat Engineer Regiment, and his Explosive Detection Dog Herbie, with a Last Post ceremony. The day commenced with official speeches, an overview of the role of animals in Australia’s military history, tales from the School of Military Engineering about the Explosive Detection Dogs (EDD) in Afghanistan, a reading, a chaplain’s blessing, a performance by musician Tania Kernaghan, and a wreathlaying ceremony at the site of the statue of Simpson and his donkey (1915). The day continued with indoor and outdoor activities and demonstrations from the Australian Light Horse Association and the Canberra Racing Pigeon Combine. It also included a visit from Sarbi, the famous EDD dog, now retired. The Australian Defence Force has a long history ...