Western Port
THINKING OF SELLING? THINKING OF SELLING? Speak to your agent about listing on Speak to your agent realestateview.com.au. about listing on realestateview.com.au.
Be seen everywhere. Be seen everywhere.
YOUR GUIDE TO WHAT’S ON THIS WEEKEND FOR PENINSULA FAMILIES FACEBOOK:
peninsulakids.com.au mornpenkids
INSTAGRAM:
An independent voice for the community
Your weekly community newspaper covering the entire Western Port region For all advertising and editorial, call 03
FREE
Wednesday 17 June 2020
5974 9000 or email: team@mpnews.com.au www.mpnews.com.au
All in a day’s work: Andrew Cowan, of Search and Rescue Dogs Australia, with Obi who played a role in finding the lost autistic boy last week. Picture: Gary Sissons
No disappointment with Obi on track Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au SEARCHERS scouring dense bush in central Victoria for a missing autistic boy last week were supported by rescue dog Obi. The black Labrador – owned and trained by Andrew and Julie Cowan, of Somerville-based Search and Rescue Dogs Australia – used his exceptional air scenting skills to home-in on the area where Will Callaghan was found.
His owners say Obi’s barking may have alerted human rescuer Ben Gibbs, who was close by, to push through “horrendous” vegetation and up the bank where he says he found the 14-year-old looking “angelic”. Will, who loves dogs, was standing up “trying to look for the sound of the dog barking”, said Ms Cowan, who founded the volunteer not-for-profit service with her husband in 1994. Their dogs find missing people by air scenting, not tracking. Searching off-lead over large distances they scan
an area to pick up the scent of human breath, then narrow in on the source. Ms Cowan said they were deployed by police to Mt Disappointment on Tuesday afternoon 9 June and were in the area Will was found at first light Wednesday. Will’s discarded shoes had been discovered the day before “so we knew he was not far away”, Ms Cowan said. After being given a “good sniff” of the shoes Obi rushed towards the creek and was struggling through tangled undergrowth towards Will when
Mr Gibbs spotted the boy, who was in good condition after two freezing nights out. The sound of Obi’s “big bark” may have done the trick, as the searchers had been told that Will might not respond to human voices and, indeed, might even try to hide if he heard people calling his name. Trained to detect human breath and bacteria, Ms Cowan said search and rescue dogs could distinguish 1000 different scents up to 300 metres away. “Once Obi knows which scent he is
looking for he eliminates all the others one by one until he finds it,” she said. Search and Rescue Dogs Australia dog teams were deployed following the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires and were the first dog teams in Australia to receive the National Emergency Medal, Ms Cowan said. They twice searched for missing people at Mount Buffalo last year and also for a missing man at Marysville. “One search and rescue dog is worth 40 searchers,” Ms Cowan said. “Often they don’t get enough kudos.”
Jewellers Celebrating OVER 40 YEARS in jewellery manufacture FEAR
Dear valued customer,
OUR SUNDAY SERVICES ARE CURRENTLY ONLINE
during the restrictions of COVID 19 Jewel Of The Nile jewellers are open Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10am to 4pm.
services can be viewed at our Youtube Channel
Search "Dromana Mornington Presbyterian Church"
The main gate may be locked, if so please call us on 5977 3711 or 0408 531 687 and we will open the gate for you.
All welcome to worship online with us Please contact our Minister for more details:
Rev Matthew Cole Ph: 0400 999 343 Jesus said, "Come to me, all who labour & heavy laden, ...I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, ...for I am gentle and lowly in heart, ...you will find rest for your souls. My yoke is easy, and my burden is light." - Matthew 11:28-30
Your Authorised Husqvarna Servicing Dealer
Thank you.
TYABB CRAFT VILLAGE 14 Mornington-Tyabb Road, Tyabb Phone 5977 3711
t&c’s apply: Pre order via phone and pay via credit card only. Alternatively order in drive through. Can substitute stubbie for can of soft drink or 600ml water. Approx 15-20min order time. Available from 11am-9pm everyday.