Honour Roll

The Story Dogs Honour Roll

Leah and Janine – Co-founders

leah and janine
The founders and the driving forces behind the Story Dogs program are Leah and Janine.

Leah – My experience from working in a correctional centre reinforced my belief that to succeed in our culture, a person must have literacy skills.

Janine – I love seeing the joy that reading brings to our children and being part of the wonderful limitless world of ideas found in books. Also being able to share the love our dog gives to everyone he meets.

Board Members

2010 - Gavin Sigley, Leah Sheldon, Janine Sigley, Jeff Fallon, Neroli Sheldon, Serena Poncia 

2013 - Gavin Sigley (Chair), Toni Hood (Minutes), George Parrott, Trish Parrott, Serena Poncia, Karin Schiller, Leah Sheldon, Neroli  Sheldon and Janine Sigley. 

2014 - Gavin Sigley (Chair), Toni Hood (Minutes), Agnes Nesci, Janine Sigley, Serena Poncia 

2015 - Gavin Sigley (Chair), Janine Sigley, Agnes Nesci, Serena Poncia, Brian Meldrum 

2018 - Gavin Sigley (Chair), Janine Sigley, Brian Meldrum, Penelope Hodge

2020 - Gavin Sigley (Chair), Janine Sigley, Brian Meldrum, Penelope Hodge, Lisa Laing , Shane Cummings, and Petra Westphal

2021 - Penelope Hodge (Chair), Brian Meldrum, Shane Cummings, Janine Sigley, and Petra Westphal

2022 - Penelope Hodge (Chair), Brian Meldrum, Shane Cummings, Janine Sigley, Petra Westphal and Amanda Milroy

Current - Shane Cummings (Chair), Janine Sigley, Petra Westphal, Amanda Milroy and Alex Green

Volunteers – Current – over 5 years with Story Dogs

Amanda Milroy

Ann Milland

Anne Bruce

Anne Durack

Bernadette Barrett

Bill Beckett

Cara Hodgson

Cheryl Gillman

Christina Line

Christina Macaulay

Christine Anderson

Christine Hofman

David Thompson

Faye Rowles

Fiona Rogers

Francesca Cant

Grainne McCabe

Greg Waterhouse

Helen Barnett

Jacqueline Gillovic

Jan Everett

Janine Feil

Jenni Smith

Jo Ellis

Jo Harding

Joe Gold

John Clare

Julie Hadlum

Kathryn Ottaway

Kerrie Lemon

Kim Clarke

Leonie Kingsbury

Lisa Kelly

Lynn Brown

Lynne Williams

Margaret Burnell

Marie Davis

Maureen Boaler

Meg Houghton

Megan Morgan

Mercedes Harford

Michelle Wilks

Natalie Bubner

Natalie Lambert

Pam Triplett

Pat Metharom

Petra Westphal

Prue Schwarz

Samantha Ladd

Sandy Sutherland

Stephen Klimeck

Stephen Paull

Susie Alexander

Tanya Maxwell

Tina Costanzo

Wendy Hayton

Volunteers – Current – over 10 years with Story Dogs

Bev Jurd

Gail Dixon

Gavin Sigley

Gaye Wightman

Hilary Paull

Janine Sigley

Jim Sellwood

Lenna Kelson

Pam Sellwood

Roz Keen

Valerie Avent


Life Members

Neroli Sheldon

Leah Sheldon

Suzanne McCourt

Serena Poncia 

Brian Meldrum

Gavin Sigley

Bev Jurd

Penelope Hodge

1st Dog Team in each State

Leah and ‘Simba’ (NSW), Serena and ‘Zola’ (QLD), Stephanie and ‘Dot’ (TAS), Suzanne and ‘Jonty’ (VIC), Des, Chris and ‘Ben’ (SA), Sam and ‘Keely’ and Lisa Gallin (WA), Robyn and ‘Dashi’ (ACT).

Founding Dog Sponsors 

Sponsors who came on board the first year we introduced Dog Sponsorship (2010) – Greenway Drive Veterinary Clinic, Kingscliff Veterinary Clinic

High Five Dog Sponsors 

Organisations or individuals who have sponsored five or more Dogs, for five or more years consecutively. - 


Key Produce  - www.keyproduce.com.au

High Ten Dog Sponsors 

Organisations or individuals who have sponsored five or more Dogs, for ten or more years consecutively. - 

Donations of $15,000 and over

Sensis 2016-2017

Emorgo Foundation:  2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023

Pressroom Philanthropy:  2021. 2022 and 2023

1st Platinum Sponsor

Just For Pets 2021

1st School in each State

NSW - Murwillumbah East Primary School

QLD - Coolangatta State School

VIC - Sandringham East Primary School

WA - St Joseph's Primary School Waroona

TAS - West Ulverstone Primary School

ACT - Amaroo Primary School

SA -  St Martins Lutheran College

Schools running Story Dogs program for over 10 years

NSW 

Murwillumbah East Primary School

Uki Primary School

Kingscliff Public School

Bogangar Public School

Pottsville Beach Public School

Ocean Shores Public School

QLD 

 Coolangatta State School

Arundel State School

All Saints Anglican College

Mt Samson State School

VIC

Sandringham East Primary School

Founding Dog Assessor

Ann Whyte 

1st Dog Assessor in each State 

Alan Sheppard (VIC), Barbara Suckling (TAS), Evelyn Williams (QLD), Ann Whyte (NSW), Gwen Dasborough (WA), Ian Mallard and Lea Clark (SA) 

Murwillumbah Banana Queens who have supported Story Dogs 

Tammy Dundon 2013, Hannah Mudge 2014, Lisa Teitzel 2015 , Catherine Brooks 2016

One-on-one reading sessions are a very special time for all involved

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