The Story Dogs Honour Roll

Leah and Janine – Co-founders

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, Alex Green, Cherie Vendramini, Vicki Meyer and Emily Ramaswamy

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

2009 Leah Sheldon and ‘Simba’ Murwillumbah NSW;

2012 Serena Poncia and ‘Zola’ Coolangatta QLD;

2014 Stephanie Scott and ‘Dot’ Ulverstone TAS;

2013 Suzanne McCourt and ‘Jonty’ Brighton VIC;

2015 Sam Williams and ‘Keely’ with Lisa Gallin Waroona WA;

2016 Des and Chris Schwarz and ‘Ben’ Mount Gambier SA;

2017 Robyn Bromley and ‘Dashi’ Canberra ACT; and

2024 Chris Tayler and 'Bunji' (Darwin NT).

Founding Dog Sponsors

Sponsors who came on board the first year we introduced Dog Sponsorship in 2010 – Greenway Drive Veterinary Clinic, NSW and Kingscliff Veterinary Clinic NSW.