My Life with Collies
How it all began.......
My first collie was a wedding present from my husband John. He had asked me what I wanted for a wedding present, and I answered "a Lassie dog". On the way home from our honeymoon we stopped via Separation and bought a sable puppy. My life with collies had begun, and what a journey it has been!
In looking for a mate for my "Lady" I met my mentor and friend Pam Rouse from the famous "Rousglen Kennels". Lady was not your regular "show specimen", but Pam being the person she is, helped me for many years. Her advice, understanding and patience is the reason I have such lovely classic collies today. Pam even had some input into the importation of our 'Streadlyns/wyns.'
We bred our "Lady" to a "Rouseglen" dog. I then line-bred with my early stock to a dog from the "Dalwood Kennels". Mick & Mary were also very helpful, and I bred a few show specimens. During the first few years I bred some winners, three of my Collies winning CC 's at Melbourne Royal Show, one carrying my original "Cesmar" prefix and two under the "Dalwood" prefix.
With my large family and work with Kids in Care, my Collies had to take a back seat. It was the "Dalwood" Kennels that kept my flag flying. The dogs had to once again take a back seat when our daughter became very ill. During the five year battle we had with Jodie, our beloved dogs died of old age. Our daughter won her battle but we lost our collies. I looked out into the yard one day and there were no collies ... for the first time in twenty years I did not have a collie.
We lived for about 4 months without a collie............
My search...
I looked around Victoria, and approached some kennels with out any luck. Bearing in mind I only wanted the kennels' best! I was after a tri-color girl of a certain type. After several months of searching throughout Australia to no avail, I decided to look across the waters. I looked in Americia for collies...not my type. At least they were happy to sell me something, which was a start, but I wasn't willing to buy ! ...it was back to an empty yard.... In searching through Europe I discovered the "Steadlyn" Collies.... Wow !!!....... Like most Collie fanciers, I fell in love.... loved the type, but most of all I loved their grace and elegance.....Zongs of Sweden.....Ravishing Sager.....Show Stopper..... the list just went on and on....
On contacting Mia and Bernardo through lots of letters and the occasional phone calls.....it was regretfully decided that eight months in quarantine was way to much for both the collie and purse to handle....
About four years later after an accidental meeting with a collie friend, I discovered that there had been a Steadlyn boy imported from England into Queensland ... I was beside myself ! After contacting Mary Rand of "Brongai" Kennels, and a plane flight, I had my very first Steadlyn collie. A nine-week old blue boy "Brongai Blue".. "Marble" to his family.... I had made a start.......As "Marble" matured I knew that I wanted to continue along this line......
Mia was happy to send me stock. I purchased a tri bitch "Steadlyn Hearts Desire" and a tri male "Steadlyn Radical Black". "Steadlyn Hearts Desire" arrived first. "Shine" to her family, she gave us two litters, one to "Marble" and later one to "Rad".
"Steadlyn Radical Black" finally arrived in Australia two years after we bought him. It was a very frustrating two years with Mia working extremely hard at her end to have the Italian authorities "get things right" with his papers, but it was not meant to be. Micheline Druyts "Miceri's Collies" in Belgium was prepared to help, so "Rad" spent several months in Belgium with Micheline before arriving in Australia.
I have acquired three lovely bitches, all with Steadlyn breeding: "Enfelde Portrait in Blue"(Portia), who has given us two lovely litters sired by 'Rad', most recently in November 2003, as well as the youngsters, tricolour "Sno-wyn Summer Snow' (Shine)) and blue merle "Brentland Blue Haze"(Mist)
We looked for another Steadlyn to further enhance our kennel, but with Mia not breeding at the time, it was decided to get a tri boy from "Steadwyn" Kennels, based on Steadlyn lines. Steadwyn Fashionable World ('Wilson') arrived in Australia on 16th September 2002.
Thank You.....
I would like to take this opportunity to thank some very special friends:
To my husband and children for allowing me to "Dare to Dream"..... Pam Rouse for all your help over many years.....To Jen Maloney for your support through the "Rad" nightmare.....To Mia for allowing me to have such wonderful stock, especially "Rad" ..I know he is special to you too.....Micheline for your part in getting "Rad" home... and last but not least, to Anjia for our super tri baby, 'Wilson'