GAPQ News

	GAPQ NEWS
HONORARY GAP DOGS WIN AT THE EKKA !!!


Omo Oppeal Fundraiser
	A huge thanks to everyone that bought and sold tickets for the 'Omo Oppeal'. It was by far one of the most successful raffles we have held and it raised over $1600. Omo is now on the mend and sends big kissylicks to all that helped him in his time of need! First Prize - Red Ipod Nano - was won by Natalie Spiller Second Prize - $100 Coles Myer Gift Voucher was won by Lisa Foreman Third Prize - $50 BP Fuel Card - was won by Mandy Brown For more updates on how Omo is settling into life with Katy and Mark go to www.ihatetoast.typepad.com

GAP GREYHOUNDS MUZZLE FREE IN PINE RIVERS SHIRE
Retired racing greyhounds re-homed as pets by the Greyhound Adoption Program of Queensland (GAP) are no longer required to wear muzzles in the Pine Rivers Shire Council area. In a first for Queensland, the Pine Rivers Shire Council has recognised the true gentle nature of the greyhound, and has removed the legislative requirements for GAP pet greyhounds to be muzzled while in public. Coordinator of GAP, Kirsty O'Brien says the previous requirement of muzzling a greyhound often lead to misconceptions about the nature of the greyhound. With pet greyhounds adopted from GAP no longer needing to be muzzled the public will see the warm and friendly nature of the breed without any misunderstanding. Greyhounds re-homed as pets by the Greyhound Adoption Program are recognised by a special identifying collar. These collars are also used in Victoria and South Australia, where pet greyhounds have been exempt from muzzle legislation for the last few years. The adoption program will be approaching other councils throughout Queensland with proposals to exempt GAP greyhounds from the muzzling laws in those areas. Pine Rivers Council Animal Management representatives meet with Greyhound Racing Authority General Manager Darren Beavis, and GAP Coordinator Kirsty O'Brien.
COURIER MAIL ARTICLE 19.07.2006

Greyhound Adoption Program Trailer
The Greyhound Adoption Program is now benefiting from a new 4 berth dog trailer.
The trailer will be used to transport dogs in the GAP program. While in the program all dogs need to be transported to and from vets for desexing, to foster carers homes, to various locations for temperament testing and to our many promotions. Raising funds through a recent raffle, the trailer was purchased from Lockwood Trailers and generously sign written with the GAP logos by Cooltone. The raffle prizes of services to greyhound stud dogs were donated by Moonlight Farms Stud. GAP would like to acknowlege the generosity of the above mentioned organisations and also thank the volunteers who gave their time to help sell raffle tickets around the various dog tracks.

LINDA KRUGER - GAP FOSTER CARER - BRAVERY AWARD.

You never know where and when you may be called on to do something above and beyond the normal. And some, if confronted with devastating circumstances, would not be able to perform as Lin and Glen did. We applaud her bravery ...... The quiet, caring foster carer tells her story..... In November 2004 as my girlfriend Glen Hazell and I were driving along the Mapleton Nambour Road we were the first on the scene of a two car accident and pulled up just as one car exploded and caught fire. After reversing our car further down the road to avoid the fuel and fluid running toward us I hurried up to see if anything could be done to help. Unfortunately one young man was already dead in his car but two women were trapped and screaming for help in the other vehicle. One car was burning and the other was within a meter, smoking and hissing. The two women, one of who was seriously injured were in real danger of being incinerated. I assisted both women out and called for my girlfriend to help the first lady to safety while I went back for the second. Alcohol and speed, not a good combination and this young bloke paid dearly for his mistakes. I was nominated for a bravery award through the Sunday Mail newspaper in their inaugural Pride of Australia Awards. From the hundreds of nominations I made the short list of 10, then of three and finally I was invited to Brisbane for the award ceremony. There were ten categories, with three finalists in each. Pictures in the paper and reporters ringing up set the scene for a trip down to Brisbane and a dinner at Custom House. I was in good company. Rupert McCall the Australian poet penned and read his poem for us while pictures of all 30 finalists flashed up on large plasma screens around the dining room. This was getting a bit surreal. Not the average day for average people. I met Toni Hoffman, and Mathew Smith, and chatted with the rest of the finalists. People working for the environment, or our native wildlife, people who have beaten the odds in one way or the other, good, nice, real down to earth Australians. I met the crocodile lady Alicia Sorohan who won the medal in the bravery category for her heroic adventure atop a croc and I also met the Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. A personal favorite. So many people were involved in making the day special and unforgettable for all of us. Newspaper people, TV reporters, Sallyanne Atkinson, Most Rev Dr Phillip Aspinall, Dimity Dornan to name just a few. We were dined on lamb medallions and wined on anything you liked. We walked through an applauding crowd to stand on a stage something I'm sure everyone would like to do at least once, (and preferably not make an idiot of your self,) we were presented with medals and pins and photo frames, memorabilia and many many warm gooey memories, the type to pull out time after time perhaps around that bar-b-que with a willing audience. It was a humbling experience to meet some people who have worked for many years and finally were being awarded with well-deserved recognition. I was in awe for most of the day. It just wasn't my normal week was it? I'll look forward to reading about the awards next year but being in the first group will always be that bit special. We drove back to Montville with our bags, menus, flowers, champagne etc and fell into bed exhausted. But that warm gooey feeling hasn't left yet and I hope it doesn't. Even the greyhounds are impressed.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 8 September 2005 A NEW NEIGHBOUR IN RAMSAY STREET Greyhounds have proven to be extremely popular in most family environments with their true temperament being displayed to toddlers, the elderly, couples and families. Many people within the greyhound industry will testify to the docile and placid nature of greyhounds, as evidenced most recently in Australia's favourite TV soapie Neighbours. The latest in a long list of `animal stars' is an unraced greyhound named `Joe', who has become a permanent fixture in Ramsay Street alongside some of Australia's most renowned actors. Joe has been given the character name `Bouncer 5', and entered the show after being obtained at the local greyhound track by Joe Mangle. Even though he was given away by his former trainer, Joe is convinced that with the right treatment, Bouncer 5 will run like the wind and earn some handsome prizemoney. Whilst Joe Mangle has high hopes for Bouncer 5, unfortunately his lack of speed off screen meant that two-year-old `Joe' never made it to the racetrack and was adopted out to a young family through the Greyhound Adoption Program. Bouncer 5 first appeared on Australian screens on September 2nd 2005, and will remain a permanent fixture in the series for the next few months. Bouncer 5 was sourced from Greyhound Racing Victoria's Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP) and is currently living at the Animal Actors farm whilst he undertakes some basic training. When his time in the television limelight is up, Bouncer 5 will return to the quiet life with his adopted family in Sunbury. Courtesy Greyhound Racing Victoria

	Retirement for Rocky Queensland Greyhound Journal September 2005 Beds may be hard to find in nursing homes, but former Albion Park winner Great Attitude (Bobniak-Smart Attitude) has had no difficulty finding one. He has become the latest resident to move in to the Guardian Aged Care facility at Burpengary, north of Brisbane.The four-year-old red fawn dog known as Rocky (pictured left) has become popular with residents at the aged care facility.
Lifestyle co-ordinator for the Guardian Aged Care facility, Brigitte Lennox, says a greyhound was chosen for the facility after studying the suitability of various dog breeds. The Aged Care facility is looking to create a “human habitat for our residents to live, where meaningful relationships are encouraged to develop and grow, and to provide a caring environment where residents can give love and care to animals”. Rocky, who moved in on August 5, spends his day having free run in the Grevillea wing of the facility, which is home to 12 residents. He has a bed in the lounge room, sunroom and courtyard. The garden area is also home to several chickens and birds. Lounging with residents in the Grevillea wing, he is also taken to other areas of the facility on lead to visit residents, some bed ridden, who wish to have a dog visit them. Rocky was selected as the preferred dog to go into the aged care facility, due to his gentle, laid-back nature.