Jenny Dowell goes to Just Grounds, Lismore ... and then there's the mural

On Twitter, one of the people I follow is Jenny Dowell who is the Mayor of Lismore in northern New South Wales which is a very beautiful part of the world.  This morning Jenny has been out and about purchasing fruit at the local market and drinking Fair Trade coffee.

 I have saved the picture of the mural separately and enlarged it -

because I think it's wonderful.

Please note the kangaroo in the foreground.

Can a sustainable food culture allow the non-stunning slaughter of animals?

Should non-stunning slaughter of animals be part of a sustainable food culture in Australia - or, for that matter, the world.  Please give serious consideration to Lyn White's message below.

~~~~~~~~

 

As you know, a big decision will be made this week when primary industries ministers from around the country meet in Melbourne to decide whether to close the loophole on non-stunned slaughter in Australia.

I'm writing to invite you to an important rallyorganised by Animals Australia on Thursday evening at the MCG, where the ministers are due to discuss their decision on this issue. Already 14,000 Animals Australia supporters have written to these ministers imploring them to show mercy and remove the exemptions that are allowing some abattoirs in Victoria and South Australia to cut the throats of fully conscious sheep. We need your help to send one last and all-important reminder as the ministers arrive for their dinner meeting, that caring Australians are depending on them to make the right decision.

• Where: Gate 2, Melbourne Cricket Ground
• When: 5:45pm, Thursday, 27th October (finishing 7pm)
• What to bring: Just yourself, we will have plenty of posters for people to hold
• More information: Call the Animals Australia office on 1800 888 584

Miss, of all the cruelty I have seen inside abattoirs, non-stunned slaughter of animals represents the single greatest cause of distress, pain and suffering I have born witness to.

Fortunately we understand that several ministers are already of the opinion that non-stunned slaughter is unacceptable, which means there is real hope to end this brutal practice in Australia. This rally may be the tipping point that gets the others over the line.

Please join our experienced campaigners for a peaceful gathering on Thursday evening and help us ensure that all animals in this country are extended this most basic legal protection.

I hope you can join us, Lyn White Campaign Director

P.S. You may be aware that the official meeting of the primary industries ministers will be held on Friday morning. We are rallying at their Thursday evening dinner meeting as it is expected that their position will be determined at this time. I hope you can attend, but even if you can't, you can have your say on our website right now.

Every year, Voiceless holds law lectures across Australia's capital cities on Animal Law.  Voicless brings to Australia significant legal practitioners from overseas who have impacted greatly on the practice and development of animal law.  Animal law in Australia has a long way to go to provide adequate protection for all animals - in particular, industrial animals. 

Voiceless - with its marvellous commitment of resources to this cause - gives invaluable service in this regard. 

The information in the graphic above is for one event in Melbourne.  To find out about all events across Australia please go here.

Edgar's Mission needs help and voluteers. Please help.

Mahatma Gandhi got it right when he stated "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." And if you’ve ever visited Edgar’s Mission Farm Sanctuary, you’ll know exactly what I’m referring to. As many of you will know, Edgar’s Mission is run solely by Pam Ahern.  Surviving on the smell of an oily rag, Pam and all the animals at the Sanctuary, rely heavily on the support and much appreciated assistance from their volunteer network in order to continue to spread the message of compassion and kindness. We’re calling on you to lend us a much needed hand. In a little under 6 weeks, on Sunday October 3, 2010, Edgar’s Mission Farm Sanctuary will celebrateWorld Animal Day.  Recognised all over the world, World Animal Day is the day when the world celebrates humankind’s relationship with the animal kingdom.  And at Edgar’s Mission, we love to do it in style! World Animal Day is our biggest open day of the year.  But to get the Sanctuary looking spick and spam in readiness for the big day, we need your help!  Aside from our regular monthly volunteer days - thesecond Sunday and third Saturday of every month – we’re putting on a few extra volunteer days if you can possibly spare the time to assist us. And really, what better way is there to get up close and personal with such wonderful creatures like Hamish – the handshaking porcine, Ryan - the cheeky comical goat, Timmy - the friendliest sheep in the world and of course, Tippi – the most gentle cow you will ever meet! As someone, who two years ago was touched by the compassion and spirit that transcends that of Edgar’s Mission, I can assure you that Volunteer days give you such wondrous opportunities to really get to know these animals. But they also give so much more. They give you an opportunity to learn new skills, meet like minded people and give back to the community. As such, we are looking for volunteers to assist on: Saturday 28th August (extra) Sunday 12th September Saturday 18th September Saturday 26th September (extra) Friday 1st October (extra) Saturday 2nd October (extra) And of course, if you can spare any time on any second Sunday or third Saturday of any month of the year, we certainly won’t turn you away! (Check out our website www.edgarsmission.org.au for more details). If you can assist on any of the above listed dates, or on any other volunteer day throughout the year, please contact me via e-mail - tash@edgarsmission.org.au or phone 0419 729 902. And of course, if you are free on Sunday October 3rd, we’d love to see you at the Sanctuary.  Come support our day! And, thanks for all you do for the animals. Cheers, Tash Natasha Reus Volunteer Coordinator If we could live happy and health lives without harming others ...why wouldn't we? www.edgarsmission.org.au

MISS EAGLE CUDDLES A DINGO AT ELTHAM

Miss Eagle 

snuggling with Barrowless Boy

- one beautiful domesticated dingo

~~~~

Miss Eagle was over at Eltham on Saturday -
as Trad Padders will note from the wattle below.

Enjoying relaxed refreshment in Eltham Square

was Julie Fechner of Dingo Care Network

with Barrowless and Shiralee.

I had heard about these people and their dingoes over at Eltham and the controversies surrounding Australia's own native dog so I got into conversation with Julie.  I asked if I could take Julie's photograph and she agreed.  She then insisted that she take one of me.  I was most reluctant since the dog didn't know me.  I was a stranger.  But that was no problem as you can see.  Beautiful, beautiful animals.  And as you can see, Julie and friends do a lot of work to restore confidence in the the beauty and value of the dingo.  

Related Reading:

Montsalvat Guide: A Guide to the Place and Its Founder 

My story: tales from a pioneer of Montsalvat. 

(Montsalvat is a significant Eltham landmark)

Dingo: Australian Natural History series

 

Meet Bert the Bloke - one beautiful puss.

An introduction is warranted!

This is Bert the Bloke - one beautiful cat.

Peppered through this blog are photos of

Rose the Spartacat

and

FootFoot the Miniature Fox Terrier.

In recent times our two beloved friends

left this world - just six weeks apart.

Rose went first, aged 6 years, due to kidney tumours.

FootFoot died of old age, aged 16 years.

Increasingly, in the months prior to his death,

I cuddled him to his end and so did Herself.

Finally, one night while sleeping with Herself,

he breathed his last and was gone from us.

Our decision was not to rush 

to replace either of these beloveds.

However, after a couple of months, 

Herself decided we would get a cat.

No ordinary kitten, mind you.

She was determined to go to the RSPCA

and get an older cat whom no one wanted.

There was such a cat - Bert.

He is about 5 years old 

and needed to go to a home

where he would be the only one.

He came to the RSPCA because

in his original home other cats picked on him.

We don't know why.

He had been ill and in the RSPCA clinic because of cat flu.

Otherwise he lived in a cage with three others.

He has settled in well here.

He is reserved but interested

in the household's peeps and doings.

He is so pretty and poses beautifully.

His fur is the silkiest I have ever touched.

He is well at home

and we love this man about our house.

Daydreaming cat

Photo Friday: Dream

Rose the SpartaCat: Daydreaming

Blogging company

I am sitting in the office/work room at the computer. But Miss Eagle has company.

Rose has esconced himself on some wadding on the worktable.

FootFoot is on my lap in front of the computer. Currently he is spread out on my lab with his chin snuggled in the crook of my left elbow. He is alseep and snoring.

Feeling the frosty mornings

FootFoot, our 13 year old miniature fox terrier, is feeling the cold.

Signs of Easter - 3

Some favourite things are in this spot. Miss Eagle's dear departed Dearly Beloved owned the chess table. The crocheted rug in the basket is a UFO from Miss Eagle's late mother, Phyl. Phyl had been doing this for her grandson, Sam, when she died. Miss Eagle's sister and Sam's mother, The Director, does not crochet so Miss E volunteered. After fifteen years and Sam nearly 30, Miss E is nearly finished. We shall see if winter brings a conclusion!
The ducks are favourites of Miss E which belonged to long-since-departed great-uncles.

The pencil and quill belong to Herself and come from Il Papero.

Eggs in a basket of moss. Easter is on the way.

The phone book and a feather

The Lady has left...

On Thursday 8 February 2007, the light and life of Trixie went out -

after a twenty-four hour illness.

Princess Trixie Wigglebottom of that long line of Wigglebottoms mentioned in Debrett's.
Trixie on her cushion with Rose the SpartaCat
Trixie in her Christmas jewels.
Trixie lying in her basket.
Trixie playing one of her games - Beyond the Fringe
Herself with FootFoot on the left and Trixie on the right.

Trixie was an indulgent woman. Think the Queen Mother without the G&T. She was a not-quite-fourteen-year-old Miniature Fox Terrier. She loved the good things of life: sitting on the couch beside Herself and drinking tea from her cup; checking out everyone's food. And Trixie and bones: never such demolition since the world began.

Miss Eagle and Trixie had their own special game, Trixie Tipping, in which Herself would frequently join as well. This meant tipping the rotund Trixie over on her back, head resting on a cushion, and tickling her tummy, under her arms, under her chin. She loved it and would beg for more. Our last game was the night before she became ill.

Trixie, with FootFoot, have been part of Herself's life for nearly fourteen years and part of Miss Eagle's for the last two and a half years. FootFoot has lost a lot of his bounce since Trixie has left this world and Herself and Miss Eagle are finding out the changes in life that no Trixie brings.

To remember Trixie and remind everyone who and what a canine friend can be, the piece below seems fitting.

Tribute To The Dog
George Graham Vest (1830-1904) served as U.S. Senator from Missouri from 1879 to 1903 and became one of the leading orators and debaters of his time. This delightful speech is from an earlier period in his life when he practiced law in a small Missouri town. It was given in court while representing a man who sued another for the killing of his dog. During the trial, Vest ignored the testimony, but when his turn came to present a summation to the jury, he made the following speech and won the case.

Gentlemen of the Jury:

The best friend a man has in the world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter that he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name may become traitors to their faith. The money that a man has, he may lose. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it most. A man's reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us, may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads. The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog. A man's dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer. He will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounters with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wings, and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens. If fortune drives the master forth, an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him, to guard him against danger, to fight against his enemies. And when the last scene of all comes, and death takes his master in its embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by the graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad, but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even in death.

George Graham Vest - c. 1855

Dandenog Show - Horses and Carts

The horse is one of humankind's favourite companions. One of the joys of the Dandenong Show was the wonderful and diverse collection of horses. Miss Eagle shares this joy below.

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Dandenong Show - Animal Nursery

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On Saturday 11 November, Miss Eagle spent the afternoon at the Dandenong Show. The suburb of Dandenong is in south-east Melbourne, Australia. Dandenong is an industrial area trying to avoid becoming a rust belt. But at the Dandenong Show you would never have thought you were anywhere else but the Australian countryside. It was a traditional country show. This was nowhere more evident than in the animal nursery: with alpacas, goats, sheep, ducks, geese, roosters, an itinerant turkey, horses, and donkeys.

FootFoot: a dog among dogs

Miss Eagle thinks that this photo of FootFoot demands a wider audience.

How gorgeous is he!

The indulged and indulgent

A chilly Melbourne Sunday morning.

Time for cozying up on the couch.

This is Herself with FootFoot on the left of picture

and Trixie on the right.

Sheer indulgence, Miss Eagle says!

Rose in a basket

Look what Miss Eagle found.

Rose curled up on a stash of fabric in my basket.

All cuddly and warm on a cold, cold day.

Furry frendz

Miss Eagle hasn't posted on her furry friends for a while

- and they won't have her forget them -

so here we have

Rose the Spartacat and Princess Trixie Wigglebottom.

A swimming roo

I didn't know kangaroos go swimming. But, at least in WA they do. Hamo from backyard missionaries has some beautiful shots of a kangaroo swimming at a Western Australian beach. Simply beautiful. Just one query? Am I right to assume it was a male roo? Thought that, if there was a joey in a mum's pouch, the poor thing might drown.

Can cockies count?

Can cockatoos count?
Monday there was one.
Tuesday there were two.
To-day, Wednesday, there were three.
How many to-morrow?
Cockatoos Upper Ferntree Gully

A regular visitor at our place

This person is a regular visitor at The Trad Pad lately.
He comes and crack the seeds of the stone fruit that drops on the ground.
He is on his own. Usually I see cockatoos in flocks around here.
So why is he on his own? A natural loner?

Cockatoos Upper Ferntree Gully