Funny Photos Site

26-04-1991 to 29-05-2007



Playing with string in Albany


Rhana was a very hard working, loyal and kind tempered dog but most of all was a great companion who was loved by many. The clip below was shot in Coburg in 2005 and shows Rhana as she always was.


Rhana was a farm dog for the first half of her life, and a city dog the rest. She lived everywhere from farms to country towns to big cities, from inland to on the beach. She travelled on planes and boats and lived in three different states. Her list of homes over her 16 years was the Porongurups (WA), Moora (WA), Mosman Park (Monument & Solomon Sts, WA), Floreat (WA), Albany (WA), Coburg (Vic), Central Castra (Tas), Hampton East (Vic), Devonport (Tas) and finally Scarborough (WA). Wherever she went she was always happy, loved and stayed with the family. In dog years she made it past 112 however sadly, yesterday she succumbed to a degenerative heart condition. She will be sorely missed, but this post is a celebration of her life, and what she meant to so many people!




Rhana, her sister Fleur and myself. May 1991Rhana was born in the garden shed on our property near the Porongurup Ranges on the afternoon of April 26th, 1991. Rhana’s mother Brit who was another beloved dog of similar temperament, was not even a year old when she gave birth. Brit was to sadly pass away three years later in Moora. Rhana was one of a litter of six puppies, three brown and three black. We kept and raised two of the pups, Rhana and her sister Fleur. We gave Fleur to our neighbours who renamed her Bonnie. Bonnie grew into a fluffy black and white dog who passed on a couple of years ago. Rhana’s father (we think) was a fluffy black and white Border Collie who belonged to another neighbour. Brit was a black and tan Kelpie. Unlike Fleur Rhana appeared to be mostly Red Kelpie although her big paws and droopy ears resembled a Border Collie.

Rhana, her mother Brit with Jonny and I on motorbikes in the Porongurups. 1993

In early 1994 we packed up and moved to another farm in Moora where Rhana lived until her retirement at 8 years of age.



Rhana loved attention, even if it meant being held upside down! Moora 1997.

Rhana was not very bright at first and had trouble learning to chase sheep. She got the hang of it eventually and become a competent sheep dog. She was also a skilled hunting dog, and assisted in the capture of many rabbits and foxes. One of my favourite memories on the farm is riding with her on the motorbikes. She was quite fast and could run at 40 km/hr.

Brit and Rhana in their respective positions in the tractor.After her mother died Rhana came out of her shell and really developed her own personality. She was very gentle and affectionate with people. She loved spending time and helping with whatever she could and never got sick of it. Once at Kallaroo Rhana gashed herself open badly when jumping a barbed wire fence. Dad took her to the vet to be stitched up and she had a drain put in to flush excess fluid. The resulting $500 vet bill Dad had to deal with caused him to refer to her from then on as “the most expensive dog in history”. She also had to wear a bucket on her head for a couple weeks to prevent her from licking the wound. I found this very funny as she couldn’t see anything that wasn’t right in front of her.

Rhana and her bucket. Kallaroo. 1994

At the end of 1998 the farm in Moora was sold and we moved to Perth.

Ready for the clearing sale in Moora and leaving the farm.At the time there was talk of leaving Rhana in Moora with another farmer, but Judith and I formed the Save Rhana Action Group (SRAG) to ensure she came with us to the city. It took Rhana a while to become accustomed to life in the big smoke. She jumped the back fence a few times only to discover there was not a farm on the other side. We took her for walks along the beach but she was petrified of the other dogs and snapped at them if they came too close. She got used to the walks before long but continued to hate other dogs coming near her for the rest of her life. Upon moving to the city Rhana was desexed. One reason to have her desexed was so it would be cheaper to register her with the local council. However I think in total she was registered with a council twice in her entire life. She never had any pups but did have a boyfriend once up in Moora. Fortunately the family line does live on as Fleur (Bonnie) did have pups and Brit’s descendents are scattered around the south west of WA. Jonny and I always said one day after Rhana was gone we would return down there to find one of Brit’s descendants to raise. A couple of times while living in cities Rhana escaped from the yard, fortunately as her collar always had contact details on them some kind citizen would always find her and call. One time in Mosman Park Rhana swallowed a snail pellet and had to be rushed to the vet for a stomach pump. Dad loved getting that bill too.

Rhana with Mum in Mosman Park. Her first taste of life in the city.

After her initial stint, living with Mum and Dad in Mosman Park and Floreat, Rhana went to live with Judes and Mike in Mosman Park and then Albany. It was here that for the first time in her life Rhana was allowed INSIDE! Rhana was to live with Judith, Mike, Julianne and David again in Hampton East Victoria for a month or so in late 2005.

Rhana playing with Mike & Judes in Albany. 2002

After the birth of Julianne in September 2002 Rhana came to live with me in Melbourne and Tasmania. During her five years with me she flew in a plane across the country twice, and sailed in a boat across the Bass Straight many times. I very much enjoyed taking her for her daily walk, and she loved coming for trips in the trusty Camira whenever possible. She was a great companion and I always enjoyed how happy she was to see me, and how much she appreciated her pats, walks and dinner. Rhana was always terrified of thunder. Once after a crack of thunder she escaped from the back yard, and got stuck under the house another time. She has also been known to chew through flywire to get inside, and bark continuously when thunder is around.

Rhana in the back yard in Coburg, Victoria. 2004

Rhana lived for so long that she was retired for as long as she was a sheep dog! During her retired years she learned to do a few things that city dogs do like chase balls and sticks. She was actually very good at learning all throughout her life. She could do a couple of tricks like sit, come, stay and speak, but nothing impractical like roll over or play dead.


Dad, James and Rhana on the beach in Scarborough. 2006In April 2006 Rhana moved back to WA and lived in Scarborough with Mum and Dad, and until Jan 2007, me for the rest of her days. It was around this time that Rhana developed a heart murmur which caused fluid build up in her lungs and gave her less energy. The vet gave her medication which kept her happy but the condition was to worsen with time. In Autumn 2007 her heart rapidly degenerated and in consultation with the vet on May 29th it was decided it would be best to put her down.

Last photo of Rhana and I, April 2007.It is sad to see her long journey come to an end but pleasing to know she kept her spirits up right to the end.

Rhana with James and Julianne at the park in Scarborough. Christmas 2006
We will always miss our happy little Rhana dog. I’m glad she lived long enough for the next generation to get to know her. With her gone I feel as though an important link to the farm and my childhood is missing. I will especially cherish the special memories she gave me while I was growing up.


Thanks for everything Rhana!

Everyone with Rhana. Christmas 1999.