TWO BROTHERS

AN OBITUARY TO MACKY 

John and Di Harvey from Willunga lost their much loved male Jack Russell, Macky. He died on my birthday, January 10th 2022, of something internal, after a short illness. It wasn’t BB shot or anything like that. Only ‘dog people’ really understand the grief associated with losing a much loved dog. They still have one of his daughters (Molly). Macky was a bit of a ‘man about town’, or Slate Creek anyway, where he spent almost his entire life.  

Unlike his brother, Billy-can (usually Billy), who was arguably the most travelled Jack Russel in Australia—modes of travel being camels, 4-wheel drives, cars and boats of various descriptions. They didn’t really get on (like many brothers) but after a couple of ‘blues’, sort of tolerated each other.   

Mackys memory will endure forever with the whole Harvey family. Many of John and Di’s kids also own Jack Russells. They are very much into wine, but equally Jack Russell dogs, who, unlike some wines, get better with age. 

BILLY 

These two brothers were born in November 2005 so they were into their 18th year.  I’ve written a lot about Billy (Billycan to be formal) in other books, columns etc, but here are a couple of paras. on his current life. 

Claire and I are presently living as what some people might call “upmarket homeless people,” located at the Osmond’s family property at McLaren Flat in Fred’s Forest (planted by Raelene 40 odd years ago). We are living in the Avan, or in outside double bed, with half our worldly possessions scattered around, including vehicles, trailers, boats etc. This, until we go to one of the two bush blocks which we will be buying. Ideally to one where my late wife Patti and I lived up at The Range, until we moved to the Western Riverland 29 years ago.  

So Billy (as dogs do) simplifies his life and concentrates on the priorities: food, love of owner/s, and comfort.  Plus several other dog related activities that we are not necessarily privy to. So he travels the 50mts between our camp and Fred and Raelene’s home. He uses their 7 yr old Jack Russell bitch, dog bed and if we are late in presenting his meals he peers through the window at them until they relent and give him food.  Mindie, a bitch, rides around with Fred, 83, all day. Of a night Billy sleeps under the table in our little Avan, or slides through his new doggie door, down his new doggie ramp, to another camp under our outside double bed. Or sometimes, travels back to Osmonds and sleeps there on Bindie’s outside bed.  

This is a very pleasant shady camp in the summer we haven’t had yet, where he is mostly found lying around the place during the day, on the rare hot day, in the shade.  

The new dog ramp requires him to engage 4-legged drive which isn’t what it used to be. Nothing wrong with his front diff, but the rear needs work. Sliding down on his bum is no problem.   

‘True Blue Avan owners may well not approve of doggy doors in the side of our Avan, but then we never go to caravan parks, so how would they know.  Sorry! This is supposed to be about Billy—so back to him! 

In his 18th year he does have a heart problem and is on three heart tablets a day which, because I have more than my fair share of great mates, than any one person deserves, costs me nothing. They are very expensive. That is a story not to be told (or not for a while), but this man knows who he is. Billy is also 4/5th deaf, I think. But you know what they say about ‘selective hearing’ – probably no different from humans. He has the gait of a tiger cub and everyone loves him, including the large Osmond family, who frequently walk or drive past our camp. When I wake up in the morning he is waiting for it, looking at me, so ends up on the end of our bed. Sometimes he has a fit, falling over onto his side, which is very alarming to watch. This, when his heart is not emulating a bongo drum, like it used to do. He also has a dry cough, which is part of the same problem. He actually has two tablets each dose, the first larger one is ‘tasty’ but the little round one he tries to reject, making it as hard for the giver to get it into his mouth, as it would be to stick a pomegranate up the bum of a Bull Terrier. 

So how long will we have him? Who knows. Meanwhile he brings love, joy and fun to our lives every day. Hang in there Billy!