AT OUTBACK Pooncarie in far south-west NSW, they breed farm dogs with a bit of special Western Division mustering flair – to handle feral goats.
Dogs are put to the test every two years at the Pooncarie Field Day, just north of Mildura on the Darling River, which last Saturday drew about 1,000 visitors to a wealth of trade show demonstrations and diversions, including the popular goat dog trials.
In a uniquely Pooncarie event well-suited to the western environment, hardy feral goats are lifted from the bush and released on the Pooncarie Gun Club range.
The pursuing dog must round up the flighty ferals, putting the small herd through a two-peg gateway, and then pen them up.
This year’s winner was 16-year-old Mark Wilkinson's four-year-old Kelpie, Rusty.
Mark, the sixth generation of his family on Camborn Station at Pooncarie, entered two dogs, with seven-year-old Scooby placed third.
