Estelle’s pic of the week
Anthony and Allan ‘Border Collie’
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I first met Anthony when our puppies were attending dog obedience at Echuca Dog Club.
At that point, my dog was older and better behaved and achieved “most improved", whereas Allan (the dog), was mischievous, and would run off at any opportunity, and Anthony would run the oval yelling “Allan come back”.
Life and work stopped my attendance to obedience classes, but Anthony persisted.
Anthony and Allan are now multi-state champions, winning Melbourne Royal Show, Royal Sydney Show, Royal Brisbane Show and the list goes on and on, year after year. They have been an unbeatable team for years.
This dog is so accomplished that he has his own trophy room. And it’s full.
There are trophies in every nook and cranny and the ribbons are all over the walls and hanging from the ceiling. He often wins bags and bags of top shelf dog food, that Anthony donates to the pound in Echuca.
These two are still my great mates, and when you meet them, you wouldn’t think they are multi-state champions, just a man who loves his dog dearly.
He’s still a goofy dog, but when Anthony says “heal”, the dog jumps right into position and ready for any command or challenge.
They have even started competing in doggy dancing competitions — and winning.
This photo was a taken at the Echuca dog park, as part of a photo shoot I wanted to do, to enter in the Echuca Moama Photography Club’s competition, winning a first for black and white.
It also achieved a first place in the Kyabram Show.
People often ask, how do I remember which one is Anthony and which one is Allan? In my head I say Allan Border — that’s the dog, and he’s pretty mean at catching a leg spinner too.
New leader at Kagome
Australia’s largest tomato processor, Echuca-based Kagome Australia, has a new manager.
Brad Free is the new chief executive, replacing Jason Fritsch, who held the position for the past eight years.
Mr Fritsch will stay on with Kagome as chief executive of its California operation.
Mr Free has worked his way up the ranks at Kagome and hails from a dairy farming background on nearby Gunbower Island.
More livestock sales
The Echuca and District Livestock Exchange has gone weekly and not fortnightly with its sales in 2025.
Campaspe Shire has claimed the move as a ‘‘significant development’’ for local agriculture, increasing the frequency of transactions and providing more opportunity for sales.
Ready to cast a line
Anglers should keep in mind the Edward Kolety Fishing Challenge is fast approaching.
(Kolety is the Indigenous name for the Edward River where the competition is held).
It’s a catch-and-release competition for Murray cod and yellow belly and has raised $30,000 over the past two years.
The competition from February 7 to 9 is limited to 300 entrants.
For more information, go to www.edwardfishingchallenge.com.au
Dead pigs found on road
A motorist getting fined for an unsecure load is not uncommon, but this particular case was.
Deniliquin police last week were alerted to a number of dead pigs and piglets along a couple of roads in the district.
They were dead before being transported and fell out a rear gate on the truck carrying them.
The 60-year-old truck driver copped a fine for transporting an unsecured load.
Deni show changes days
Deniliquin’s annual show will become a one-day event this year.
The show committee has decided to drop Friday nights from its usual format this year and it will become a one-day event from Saturday, March 1.
But horse events will continue on the Sunday.
Tocumwal new homes proposal
Tocumwal could be in for a population explosion.
A proposal which would create 300 new homes in the Murray River town is yet to be presented to the Berrigan Shire Council for development application approval.
The application would include an over-55s lifestyle village component.
The proposal has been released to the public by Club Tocumwal on social media.
Facelift for showgrounds
One of the most historical buildings in Benalla is to get a $142,000 facelift.
The quaint grandstand at the Benalla Showgrounds became eligible for a government grant after suffering flood damage in 2022.
Square dinkum
G’day
A hypothetical question.
You have $400?
Your daughter calls and needs $250.
Later on, your son calls and needs $100.
What do you have left?
Some people would think the answer would be $50.
But many more would say the answer is “$400, with two missed calls’’.
Hooroo!!!
Sports reporter