Sunshine Coast - Coolum Beach Dog Teams
Story Dogs acknowledges the traditional country of the Kabi Kabi peoples and the Jinibara peoples*
Melissa Jones
Sunshine Coast - Coolum Beach
Melissa is the coordinator for the Sunshine Coast - Coolum Beach area.
Email Melissa on melj@storydogs.org.au
Melissa and 'Rhett'
Melissa and 'Rhett' help children at Coolum State School.
About: Melissa enjoys travel, reading, food, friends and family
Sponsor: Dan Purdie MP
Dog breed: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
How we met: Owned from puppy
Great loves: Walks, beach and cuddles
Favourite foods: Chicken
Doesn’t like: Swimming pools, getting into trouble
Quirks: Loves to have his belly rubbed, loves to chase bubbles
Tracy 'Rex' and 'Lily'
Tracy 'Rex' and 'Lily' help children at Pacific Paradise State School
About: I'm a dog lover who has previously volunteered with children and schools
Sponsor: Coolum Art Collective
Dog breed: 'Rex' Pugalier & 'Lily' Labrador
How we met: Old Man 'Rex' has been with me since a puppy. 'Fun Loving 'Lily' is my dad's dog.
Great loves: 'Rex' loves ear rubs and beach walks. 'Lily' loves balls and squeaky toys.
Favourite foods: Both love all food
Doesn’t like: 'Rex' does not like bush turkeys or baths. 'Lily' does not like super-hot weather.
Quirks: 'Rex' likes to be close to you at all times. 'Lily' has a super strong tail.
Gail and 'Polley'
Gail and 'Polley' help children at Coolum State School.
About: Gail is retired, her background was teaching and real estate. She enjoys photography and dog training.
Sponsor: Greenhalgh Pickard Solicitors & Accountants
Dog breed: Toy Poodle
How we met: Purchased as a puppy from breeder at 8 weeks old
Great loves: Walking, running on the beach, dog training, cuddles and toys
Favourite foods: Chicken wings
Doesn’t like: Vacuum cleaner
Quirks: Loves to cuddle up, wakes me up with her paws tapping, likes to talk when in car seat.
Kerryn, Cassie and 'Jaffa'
Kerryn, Cassie and 'Jaffa' help children at Coolum State School
About: Kerryn enjoys walking 'Jaffa', gardening, dressmaking, knitting and Crochet. Cassie will help Kerryn if she unavailable, she enjoys daily beach walks, yoga, meditation and reading
Sponsor: BFX Furniture
Dog breed: Cavoodle
How we met: A friends dog had puppies. We visited and went home with a puppy ! He was so cute
Great loves: Being with me and the family
Favourite foods: Duck tenders
Doesn’t like: His paws being touched
Quirks: He likes to stick to a routine and tells me if I'm not
Fiona and 'Andy'
Fiona and 'Andy' help children at Bli Bli State School.
About: Fiona's background is in Publishing. She enjoys rowing and gardening.
Sponsor: Dan Purdie MP
Dog breed: Cocker spaniel
How we met: Inherited from Father
Great loves: People, swimming and food
Favourite foods: Meat on a bone
Cecile and 'Rosie'
Cecile and 'Rosie' help children at Peregian Beach College
About: Cecile is an artist and educator; she loves to surround herself with dogs.
Sponsor: The Golden Retriever Club of Queensland
Dog breed: Golden Retriever
How we met: I was given 'Rosie' earlier this year by a retired teacher who was having troubles meeting the physical demands of being a large dog owner.
Great loves: The beach, people. She visits the nursing home each week and gently let's all the residents pat and touch her.
Favourite foods: Anything
Doesn’t like: Being left at home, she likes to be out being social
Quirks: She loves to bark when she is excited or when she wants something. She's a bit of a Diva.
Robyn and 'Gracie'
Robyn and 'Gracie' help children at Maroochydore State School
About: Mother of 3 adults, grandmother of 7. Early Childhood Teacher, Family Day Care Educator, currently private nanny.
Sponsor: Team Golden Oldies
Dog breed: Moodle
How we met: My other dog was becoming elderly as was I, so I welcomed 'Gracie' into the family hoping to age together.
Great loves: Walks, going to the park and beach
Favourite foods: Cheese and dog treats
Doesn’t like: Baths and getting wet
Quirks: Follows me everywhere
Jane and 'Rolo'
Jane and 'Rolo' help children at Maroochydore State School
About: Jane was a Medical Secretary
Sponsor: Lions Club of Maroochy North Shore
Dog breed: Chocolate Labrador
How we met: From a puppy
Great loves: Swimming, being with people and the beach
Favourite foods: Anything
Doesn’t like: Nothing
Hayden, Rhonda and 'Saffy'
Hayden, Rhonda and 'Saffy' help children at Pacific Paradise State School
About: Hayden works as a bartender, loves surfing, video games, family and friends. Rhonda is a Registered Nurse.
Sponsor: Auxilium Consulting
Dog breed: Golden Retriever
How we met: Since a puppy
Great loves: Her dog teddy, the beach and chasing her ball
Favourite foods: Cheese
Doesn’t like: Vacuum cleaner and leaf blower
Quirks: None
Lyn and 'Caddie'
Lyn and 'Caddie' help children at Coolum State School
About: Lyn's working background is in education, literacy, journalism and public relations. She is also a keen gardener.
Sponsor: Coolum Beach Surf Lifesaving Club
Dog breed: Airedale terrier
How we met: 'Caddie' is our third Airedale Terrier. We love the breed. Lasy year, I walked by the River Aire in Yorkshire.
Great loves: Most things! Attention, pats not cuddles, going places, his friends.
Favourite foods: Carrots, watermelon and cheese, almost everything
Doesn’t like: Bad storms, noisy fireworks
Quirks: He loves licking out coffee cups. He will throw himself down in the middle of the road without warning. I think he likes playing the clown.
Poss and 'Zayda'
Poss and 'Zayda' help children at Pacific Paradise State School
About: Poss is an animal lover, shift worker and dedicated Dog Mum
Sponsor: Maroochy North Shore Realty
Dog breed: Great Dane
How we met: 'Zayda' is my second Dane. I got her when she was 8 months old.
Great loves: Loves to play with her squeaky toy and be chased. She loves playing with her other big Great Dane friends.
Favourite foods: Treats and marrow bones
Doesn’t like: The vacuum, skateboards or little dogs barking at her
Quirks: Sleeps upside down
Maree and 'Monty'
Maree and 'Monty' help children at Coolum State School
About: Maree is retired; she was a primary teacher. She loves reading and being a part of a book club. She loves going to the gym and enjoys travel.
Sponsor: Generously funded through a gift from the Benett Family
Dog breed: Cavoodle
How we met: When my youngest moved out of home, he took his much-loved dog with him. The home felt empty, and we missed having the unconditional love of a dog.
Great loves: Chasing and retrieving balls and Kongs, going for walks and hanging out with his pawrents
Favourite foods: Fresh meat and fish
Doesn’t like: Being left out of the action
Quirks: If he sees any type of animal on TV he starts barking - he seems to think he doing his job of protecting us
Tess and 'Naia'
Tess and 'Naia' help children at Peregian Beach College
About: Tess is a Psychologist and EMDR practitioner, loves travelling, reading and teaching 'Naia' to "talk" using her communication buttons
Sponsor: Bendigo Community Bank Marcoola
Dog breed: Australian Shepherd
How we met: We fell in love with the breed, found an ethical breeder, and happily flew 'Naia' up from Victoria to join our family
Great loves: The beach, playing with her dog and human friends, and practising her favourite hobby: real sheep herding
Favourite foods: Chicken and chicken treats
Doesn’t like: Intruders (the mailman counts) and people running up to her, she prefers polite greetings
Quirks: Nor so much quirky as clever, she speaks using her button board and knows over 75 words!
