Bluemax On Top

From the German Shepherd Dog Club of Vic website

The Following are the essential facts of Lady's heroic action as provided by Miss Barney Jenkins of Kyneton, Mrs Marjorie Barnham of Mt. Macedon and Mrs, Anne Cozier.

BACKGROUND

Lady was purchased from Bluemax Kennels in Queensland, and her pedigree name is Bluemax On Top. She is a Charterhouse of Hendrawen daughter, out of a New Zealand bitch, Daxcha of Karlahein.

Lady was acquired by Mrs. Ann Cozier, daughter of Mrs. M. Barnham, and has lived on and off with Mrs. Barnham over the years, culminating in living with Mrs. Barnham for approximately the last 5 - 6 months prior to the bushfires at Mt. Macedon. Lady is approximately five years old.

Mrs Barnham also had two Yorkshire Terriers (imported from the UK, the progeny of Crufts winners) named "The Beast" (or Beastie) and "Buttons" (or Madam) which were great little pals. In addition to Lady, Mrs Barnham was also caring for a fifteen month old Shepherd bitch on behalf of the Animal Aid.

THE TRAGIC BUSHFIRES AT MOUNT MACEDON

On Ash Wednesday, the night of the second round of bushfires in the Macedon area, Mrs Barnham (aged 72 years) retired to bed unaware of the bushfires around her.

At approximately 10.30pm she was awakened by a telephone call from friends, advising her to evacuate her house immediately. Towards the end of the telephone call, the lounge room windows exploded from the intense heat.

At this point the two Yorkshire terriers took fright and hid beneath Mrs Barnham's bed, and efforts to retrieve them were unsuccessful and they subsequently perished in the fire.

Mrs Barnham quickly donned a heavy overcoat and attempted to leave the house by the front door. However Lady refused to let her open the door and instead tugged her towards the back door. Upon opening it they were confronted with an absolutely dense wall of smoke and fire, to the extent that in was impossible to see the concrete path from the verandah. Lady led Mrs Barnham by the coat through the smoke and fire to the front gate.

Outside the front gate Mrs Barnham was struck down by a falling branch which was still alight. This pinned her to the ground and severely burnt her across the back, lady revived Mrs Barnham by licking her face and barking. When Mrs Barnham had been revived Lady began pushing the branch off Mrs Barnham by using her nose. foreface and front feet. Eventually Mrs Barnham was able to regain her feet.

Lady once again led Mrs Barnham away from the immediate danger area to a spot further down the road. At this point Lady dissappeared for several minutes. Upon returning she once again led Mrs Barnham off in a different direction which eventually led to a parked Mercedes Benz car. Mrs Barnham , upon opening the car door, was confronted with a poodle.

There, the three of them , the poodle, Lady and Mrs Barnham shelted for approximately 5 to 6 hours, during which time Mrs Barnham lost consciousness. During the 5 to 6 hours the CFA had in fact, watered down the car several times in an effort to save it not realising it was occupied. Fortunately the fire by passed the car and when the immediate danger had passed the CFA inspected the car and found the three occupants in a sad and sorry state.

Both Mrs Barnham and Lady were quite badly burnt, Mrs Barnham on her back and legs and feet, and Lady on her nose, foreface, legs and feet. In fact the paws of Lady were described by the CFA people as looking like pieces of raw meat.

Both Mrs Barnham and Lady required hospitalisation, in the case of Mrs Barnham for nearly five weeks, Lady was taken to the vet on a stretcher by the St John Ambulance. Both have now almost physically recovered from their ordeal although at times, quite naturally enough , Mrs Barnham feels a little down. Mrs Barnham lost everything in the devistating fire and will not be returning to live at Mt Macedon.

In honour of Lady's heroic action, the German Shepherd Dog Club of Victoria has seen fit to award her with a special valour award , which was presented at the special Kennel Control Council Bushfire Relief Show conducted on Saturday 16th April 1983 by the Classic Dog Club. After the presentation of the medel Lady completed a lap of honour and displayed a very sound ground covering gait. Further to this presentation the GSDCV presented the valour award at its General Meeting on 19th April, 1983 to Lady and Mrs Barnham.

Contact: Angela Brinkworth,
755 Mt Cotton Rd, Sheldon, Qld.
AUSTRALIA.
Ph: 07 3206 4236