Unveiling of new Red Dog sculpture ignites ‘healthy rivalry’ between Pilbara towns
By Eddie Williams and Andrew Collins ABC Pilbara
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♦ A statue of much-loved Red Dog now has pride of place in Pardburdoo, where he was born. ♦ As a year 6 student, Holly Dutch lobbied the local shire to commission the statue. ♦ A longstanding Red Dog statue already sits in the town of Dampier. |
A CAMPAIGN by local primary school students has inspired a new sculpture of Red Dog at his birthplace in Western Australia's Pilbara region, sparking an inter-town rivalry
The iconic dog was born in 1971 in mining town Paraburdoo, more than 1,500km north of Perth.
He and his original owner later moved across the Pilbara to Dampier, where the first Red Dog sculpture was erected in 1979, honouring the kelpie’s famous travels and friendships across thousands of kilometres in the north-west.
Also known as the Pilbara Traveller, his story has been immortalised in book, film and, as of Tuesday evening, a second statue.
Ashburton Shire President Kerry White is “absolutely” expecting an influx of visitors to see the new sculpture at Paraburdoo, which she insists is far nicer than the “pretty plain” monument in Dampier.
But Paraburdoo Primary School deputy principal Caragh Livingstone played down talk of sculpture conflict.
“Healthy rivalry is fine, but I think more so it’s about us being highlighted as part of the story,” she said.
“It is such a legend that people associate with the Pilbara, and now we get to celebrate that we were part of the origin of the Red Dog story.”
Red Dog’s vet, Rick Fenny, was in Paraburdoo for the sculpture’s unveiling and says the sculptures complement each other.
“These two statues bookend the [Manuwarra Red Dog] Highway,” he said.
“There's the opportunity for a lot of interpretative [signage].
“It is, in my opinion, going to be one of the greatest tourist attractions in this country."
Inspired by children’s voices
When then Paraburdoo Primary School captain Holly Dutch went on Year 6 camp to Dampier, she saw the famous Red Dog statue there.
“I wondered why he wasn't recognised in the place he was born,” Holly said.
After receiving her school’s support, she addressed councillors in 2018, who backed her idea for a statue.
Despite leaving town a year later, Holly’s family stayed in touch.
The shire invited Holly, now aged 16, to unveil the sculpture.
Coincidentally, the family was already preparing to relocate back to Paraburdoo.
“It was fantastic and the greatest moment when he was unveiled,” Holly’s mother Kim said.
“The kids were patting [and] hugging him and it was great to see the joy on their faces.”
Deputy principal Caragh Livingstone has lived in town for the past decade and says children's voices are “pretty powerful”.
“[It’s] a really wonderful reflection of our town and school that the idea was shared and then also supported and now brought to fruition,” she said.
“Red Dog's a bit of a local icon and part of our town’s folklore.”
FURTHER INFORMATION
The original ABC News story can be found at:
www.abc.net.au/news/red-dog-sculpture-paraburdoo/102186754
Original publication date April 6, 2023.
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