THEIR STORIES
These are but a few who survived and had happy lives
OUR GREAT RESCUE
Galahad’s Sanctuary, rock band and poet rescue animals!
Read all about our great rescue animals and fundraiser
here.
We rescued 2 ponies, 2 donkeys, 1 baby camel and 3
sheep that were a "roadside attraction"
at a petrol station.
MILKSHAKE & CATAPULT & HARLEY QUINN
Ban the Camel Culls
Camels are powerful spiritual symbols of adaptability, endurance and patience in many cultures. Their wisdom, ingenuity, intelligence and loyalty have been documented by all who live with them throughout history. They have adapted to survive desert-like environments and exhibit a high level of wisdom often overlooked by people who fail to see beyond their unusual physical characteristics and erroneous but widespread stereotypes of aggression. In reality, they are wise beings, constantly observing their surroundings and learning various travel routes.
The following is an excerpt from a book by Australian woman Robyn Davidson who travelled 2,700 kilometres from Alice Springs to Hamelin Pool in Western Australia in 1977. Traveling with her dog and four camels, Davidson had plenty of time to get to know her four unique and personable camel companions. Davidson’s book Tracks (1980) documents this amazing journey and includes the following description of her camel travelling companions:
“They are the most intelligent creatures I know except dogs and I would give them an IQ rating roughly equivalent to eight-year-old children. They are affectionate, cheeky, playful, witty, yes witty, well-possessed, patient, hard-working, and endlessly interesting and charming. They are also very difficult to train, being of an essentially undomestic turn of mind as well as extremely bright and perceptive. This is why they have such a bad reputation. If handled badly, they can be quite dangerous and recalcitrant” (p. 29).
As an animal lover and advocate, I am distressed to learn about the plight of camels in Australia. The thought of these beautiful animals being slaughtered makes my heart ache. When I heard about an auction for two young camels, Milkshake and Catapult, I wanted to make sure they were safe from the “doggers”. The doggers are notorious for buying horses and camels at auctions and selling them on to a knackery. They are then slaughtered and processed, often for pet food. I could not let that happen to Milkshake and Catapult. They were only two years old and had their whole lives ahead of them. I was determined to win the bid and give them a better future. At the auction I learnt that they had originally been captured in the Northern Territory (Australia) and taken to a slaughterhouse. A Victorian property owner had them transported to his home to ride. Shortly after he fell ill and the property was sold at auction, including Milkshake and Catapult.
When I arrived at the auction, I saw Milkshake and Catapult in their pen. Milkshake was outgoing and greeted everyone who approached her with camel kisses touching her nose to theirs. Catapult, on the other hand, was much more reserved and quite anxious. I later learnt that he suffered from trauma due to being mishandled in his capture, making him very timid and fearful. But what struck me the most was how inseparable the two camels were. They were affectionate and seemed to draw strength and comfort from each other's presence. I knew then that I could not separate them - they had to stay together.
Winning the bid and getting them home was the easy part. I soon realised that Milkshake dealt with her fear of past abuse in a different way to gentle Catapult. Milkshake is a warrior queen and began asserting herself as herd leader, as many young camels would in a new and scary situation. They are large animals and not without risks, so I approached a camel trainer for advice. As divine timing would have it, I found out they were about to hold a three-day camel training session. In this session I helped train a wild camel from the desert named Honey at a Camel Sanctuary and learnt so much about camels. Later the same camel trainer came back to Galahad’s Sanctuary and helped me train Milkshake and Catapult to halter, lead and to hoosh.
Catapult had been so traumatised from his capture that he would stay far away. If you went near him, he could try and kick you in absolute fear. We spent a long time trying to stroke his face and desensitise him to touch so that he could learn to trust humans again. He was so stressed he would literally have diarrhoea, wail and vomit from us just stroking his face gently. Several years on you can touch him and he loves kisses too. Milkshake has also had her own journey to feel more loved, secure and trusting.
Harley Quinn is a survivor from the Australian camel dairy industry. She came from a camel dairy farm that was shutting down. The manager's did their best to find her a home and contacted us to take her as she is small and does not produce much milk and would likely have been slaughtered. The rest of her 240 herd were sent to auction. When Harley Quinn first arrived, she paced constantly for the first six months, easing off after a year, likely grieving deeply for her family and herd, she may also have been recovering from the stress of confinement, milking, and human handling. Harley Quinn showed physical signs of past abuse with a scarred lump on her neck, likely from previous repeated injections and a sparse coat, far different from the healthy coat she now has. During Harley Quinn’s first few years at the sanctuary, she regularly developed large cysts around her body and in her udders, which I had to treat and manage. Harley’s recovery at the sanctuary was supported with minerals, vitamins, selenium and probiotics, and regular monthly faecal testing for parasites, all of which helped improve her overall health. Compared to the other camels residing here (Milkshake and Catapult), who had been captured from the wild, Harley-Quinn’s health challenges as a survivor of the camel dairy industry were noticeably different. Conversations with other camel sanctuary owners revealed that their dairy camels also had gut and parasite-related issues. Harley-Quinn, for example, still suffers occasional diarrhoea despite having no worm burden, which I manage with fibrous foods, probiotics, and charcoal treatments. Despite everything she has endured, Harley Quinn is incredibly gentle, affectionate, and loves the company of people. She was six years old when she arrived. At first, Milkshake and Catapult dominated her, but within six months, Harley Quinn had become the leader of the herd. Harley Quinn is a strong, determined spirit. She is a survivor and an advocate for her species.
All camels deserve the respect, love and sanctuary, that Harley Quinn, Catapult and Milshake now have. The story of Australia was written with the help of camels and brumbies. Their enduring legacy deserves not only recognition, but also respect, protection, and thoughtful guardianship.
Dromedary camels are interesting and deeply misunderstood creatures. Camels are particularly sensitive animals and deserve kindness and compassion. They are naturally found roaming through Africa and Asia. In the 1840s camels were introduced into Australia, and have since established a prominent wild herd. With the cruelty associated with elephant rides coming to light in recent years, camel rides are interestingly not receiving the same attention - yet, the intelligence of camels is similar to that of elephants.
Australia has the largest population of camels and the only herd of dromedary (one-humped) camels exhibiting wild behaviour in the world. The estimated number of camels in Australia today ranges drastically from 300,000 to over 1 million. While few efforts have been taken to establish a more accurate count, the latter figure has driven the push for mass culls. Others saw this as an opportunity to exploit the camels, trapping and sending them to slaughter, using them in dairies for camel milk, or for rides and even racing. As the only disease-free dromedary camel population in the world, Australian camels are enduring ongoing physical and psychological suffering because of human exploitation and greed. For wild camel culls they use helicopters, motorbikes, horse riding, and ‘coacher camels’, so that wild camels are driven to a set of yards where they are trapped and unable to escape. Following capture, camels are commonly sold off to abattoirs to be killed for meat. In some instances they are shot in the yards, watching on as their friends are killed before them. The stress and terror of mustering and contact with humans can leads to many devastating outcomes for camels, least of all trauma, abortion and injury. Sometimes, a smaller number of camels are sold for live export overseas. They are rounded up and captured, before being subjected to an arduous journey at sea for weeks at a time, and fully-conscious slaughter in countries that have no animal welfare laws.
Interestingly, camels are classified as a ‘pest’ due to the so-called damage they do to the environment. The impact of the estimated 1 million grazing camels, however, would be significantly less than that of the 25 million cattle and 63.7 million sheep in Australia. All feral camels show resilience, intelligence, self-organization, and a capacity to evade human captivity—all of the things that contradict a belief that livestock exist only to serve us, obey us. Going feral, they remind us that animals are neither machines, nor docile objects, but thinking, escaping, beings, and as such they help us to define the injustice of farming a little better. Perhaps this is why they are so hated; they are an uncomfortable reminder that animals are not “happy meat.”
Despite their frightening appearance, camels are very emotional and, in general, are more inquisitive, affectionate and attention-seeking than a horse. Treat a camel well, and its loyalty will rival that of a dog. But mistreat it, and its fury will never fade.
SUNDANCE AND WOKKA
Protect our Iconic Brumbies
Wokka, a beautiful silver brumby, was found alone in Northern Victoria with an injury to his back foot. Although the injury does not make him lame, it means he should never be ridden, as doing so could cause problems later in life.
Brumbies are extraordinarily intelligent, curious and affectionate, and Wokka approaches life a little differently from horses who have been raised around people. Yet he quickly learned to float, wear a halter and lead. What has been even more remarkable, though, is the relationship he formed with Sundance.
Sundance, a Quarter Horse × Paint, had always been at the bottom of the pecking order with other horses. She was often chased and bitten and had never really found a horse who treated her as an equal.
Then Wokka arrived.
Almost immediately, they were eating from the same bucket. Wokka didn't compete with Sundance for food, and the two began spending hours together - gently nibbling one another, playing and running around the property.
Sundance had endured her own difficult past. When I first found her, she was thin and standing knee-deep in a flooded paddock with a fungal infection on her legs. It was apparent that she had experienced a heavy hand. She panicked easily and was an incredible overthinker, needing enormous patience and reassurance.
These days, neither Wokka nor Sundance is expected to do anything for people. Instead, they spend their time galloping around the sanctuary, playing, grazing and simply enjoying being together.
And Sundance, who once seemed to worry about everything, finally has absolutely nothing to worry or overthink about.
Two different journeys. One very special friendship.
Brumbies are descendants of the horses that settlers brought with them that enabled them to explore, settle, farm and exist in this incredible country.
Todays Brumbies have been running wild in our Alpine regions of Australia for more than 180 years. They have evolved to be hardy, sociable and calm creatures who have the ability to thrive in the Alpine landscape.
From Banjo Patterson's Man From Snowy River to Eleyne Mitchell's Silver Brumby series, to the ten dollar note, Brumbies have become entwined in our mythology and our sense of nationhood.
Brumbies have shown the ability to co-exist and even bring benefits to their environment through their preferential grazing of weed species. Of course, their ability to thrive will mean that non lethal management could be required to keep them at levels which are healthy to both the Brumbies and the environment.
Save our brumbies!
"Australia was made on the back of a horse."
The story of Australia was written with the help of camels and brumbies. Their enduring legacy deserves not only recognition, but also respect, protection, and thoughtful guardianship.
TINKERBELL, TWINKLES, MULBERRY, OPHELIA AND DAISY
Animals are Not Products
Twinkles is part of a very special family at Galahad’s - three generations of cows who were fortunate enough to remain together. Her mother, Tinkerbell, was a Jersey, Twinkles is Jersey × Friesian, and Twinkles’ daughter, Mulberry, is Jersey × Friesian × Angus. Grandmother, mother and daughter shared an incredibly close bond.
It is sometimes said that cows do not form lasting relationships, but watching these three together told a very different story. Tinkerbell, Twinkles and Mulberry looked after one another, sought each other out and spent their days together as a close little family.
Their bond became particularly clear one day when I accidentally left Tinkerbell locked in the roundyard. As the weather began to turn and Tinkerbell still hadn’t returned, Twinkles came running up to the house, mooing and shaking her head at me. She was clearly distressed and determined to let me know that her mum was missing. Tinkerbell was quickly reunited with her family, although it took me a few days to regain their trust! Needless to say, I never made that mistake again.
These girls came to Galahad’s from a farmer who had kept them as dairy cows but needed to downsize her herd. She cared deeply about them and could not bear the thought of them ever being sent to slaughter, so she entrusted five of her beloved cows to me, knowing they would have a permanent home where they would always be safe.
Among them was the magnificent Ophelia, a huge Angus girl with the gentlest nature. Despite her size, she was incredibly sweet and would happily let people come up to her for a pat. There was also beautiful Daisy, another wonderfully gentle Angus girl. Sadly, we lost Daisy not long after she arrived. She was laid to rest in a beautiful spot here at the sanctuary and is still very much missed.
In 2025, we suddenly lost Tinkerbell in her twenties. I found her one morning with Thor and her family gathered around her, standing over her. It was a heartbreaking sight, but also one that showed just how deeply connected this family was. Tinkerbell is buried here at the sanctuary and is deeply missed, particularly by her daughter, Twinkles. Since losing her mum, Twinkles rarely leaves the side of her own daughter, Mulberry.
Then, in early 2026, we lost Ophelia, also in her twenties. Losing my beautiful gentle giant was absolutely devastating. She had such a calm, trusting nature and an enormous presence, and the sanctuary simply hasn’t felt quite the same without her.
Today, Twinkles and Mulberry remain together with Thor. After everything they have experienced, their closeness feels even more precious. They are a beautiful reminder that the relationships animals form matter - between mothers and daughters, between friends and family, and with the humans they learn to trust.
Like other mammals, to produce milk a dairy cow must keep giving birth, usually to a calf each year. If nature was allowed to take its course - calves would suckle from their mother for several months, even up to a year. Mother cows, like most mammals, have a strong maternal bond. One study found that this bond was formed in as little as five minutes. When calves are removed mother cows will frantically bellow for the offspring that they will never see again. Separated calves appear frightened and bewildered. Regardless of how this situation is handled this separation causes enormous stress for both the cow and calf. New mothers are returned to the milking herd to maximise profits. Her milk is then collected for human consumption.
Dairy industry figures indicate that hundreds of thousands of unwanted dairy calves are slaughtered each year in Australia as 'waste-products' of the dairy industry - usually at only days old. Dairy calves are not valued as they don't grow at the same rate as beef calves and their meat quality is considered sub-standard by the beef industry.
As soon as calves reach their fifth day of life (after separation from their mothers they are fed a milk substitute) Australian livestock transport standards allow the calves to be transported to abattoirs and saleyards. Bewildered calves are subjected to the stresses of unfamiliar sights and sounds and multiple and often rough handling as they are transported to calf sale yards and slaughterhouses.
THOR
He was searching for his Mother
Thor quite literally jumped over the sanctuary fence and into his new life in 2019.
He had only recently been weaned when he somehow found his way to my property. I believe he may have escaped from a slaughter truck or become separated from his mother. However he got here, Thor must have seen the girls in the paddock and decided this was where he wanted to be - because he leapt straight over the fence.
The next morning, I looked out the window and rubbed my eyes, convinced I was seeing things. I suddenly had a sixth cow. A frightened young Thor was running after the girls, desperately trying to suckle. I contacted the local council to make sure no one had reported a missing steer. While I waited, I began feeding him by hand every day. He was extremely wary of people, but little by little he learnt that he was safe and that he could trust me.
After a suitable amount of time passed with no one coming forward to claim him, the council confirmed that Thor could officially stay.
I was the lucky one.
Thor is a Dexter, so he is smaller in stature than many of the other cattle, but his magnificent long horns command plenty of respect from the other animals. Despite his impressive appearance, Thor is a gentle boy when he is treated with kindness.
He arrived unexpectedly, chose his own sanctuary and, all these years later, he is exactly where he belongs.
Before arriving at the slaughterhouse, cows are subjected to being cramped onto trucks and transported vast distances without food or water. 48 hours without water is considered acceptable according the DAFFs (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) ‘Animal Welfare, Standards and Guidelines for Land Transport of Livestock’. Not that these are monitored in any meaningful way. In Australia, after coming off the truck and being left in often cramped holding pens, they are then further traumatised by being forced into the slaughter area (e.g. via electric prodders, or sometimes punched and kicked) where, on the kill-floor, they have a bolt shot into their skull by a captive bolt gun. This will render the cow unconscious as well as cause brain damage to the animal. Alternative non-skull-penetrating guns are also used in some slaughterhouses, which instead will cause concussion before unconsciousness. Then, the cow will have their throat slit before being hung upside-down, the blood draining from their body. For those exported overseas, they are often killed in far slower, more agonising ways.
It should be noted that there have been documented cases where the cow remains conscious as their throat is slit. Further, more than a dozen slaughterhouses in Australia have Government approval to slit the throats of fully-conscious cows to satisfy the religious practices of ‘halal’ and ‘kosher’ slaughter.
LITTLE BOY BLUE, LITTLE GIRL PINK, ANNE OF GREEN GABLE, DAVID COPPERFIELD AND TROTTWOOD COPPERFIELD
Adopted from Edgar's Mission
Pam and Edgar's Mission have been a big inspiration. Their Quote “If we could live happy and healthy lives without harming others… why wouldn’t we?” has always resonated deeply with me.
Little Boy Blue
You won't believe the story of Little Boy Blue and his start in life! One night, a tiny lamb suddenly appeared in the headlights of a late-night traveller. He was nearly killed by the car, but luckily the driver saw him in time. When the driver stopped, they discovered that Little Boy Blue had a terrible head wound. It appeared that a predator had carried him away and then dropped him from the sky, leaving him injured and far from where he belonged. He was taken to safety, and from that frightening beginning his luck finally began to change. Today, Little Boy Blue believes that he single-handedly runs Galahad's Sanctuary. I call him the manager of the property because he is second in command and absolutely everywhere. He is obsessed with cars, tries to get into them, has been known to head-butt them as they move, chases my quad and makes sure he is there to greet every visitor.
And if the pats or treats aren't arriving quickly enough, he has been known to deliver a reminder with his head!
Little Girl Pink
Little Girl Pink came into care after the RSPCA in Castlemaine called for help with a winter orphan lamb. She had a warm bottle, a pretty pink jacket and a new little friend in Little Boy Blue - but none of it could replace the one thing she desperately wanted: her mother.
Her frantic bleats and pacing were heartbreaking. She cried and cried for the mother she would never see again, a powerful reminder of just how strong the bond between a ewe and her lamb can be.
Both Little Boy Blue and Little Girl Pink later came to Galahad's from Edgar's Mission. Today they are safe, deeply loved and very much part of the sanctuary family - each with a personality that is impossible to miss.
David Copperfield and Trottswood Copperfield
Trottswood Copperfield was tiny, but from the beginning his story was one of courage. He was discovered in the middle of nowhere, desperately trying to suckle from his mother, who was very sick and unable to stand. The person who found them could easily have driven on, but instead stopped and refused to leave until help could be found. Eventually the farmer agreed to surrender Trottswood while promising to seek help for his mother. Separating them was heartbreaking, but it gave this tiny lamb the chance to survive.
David Copperfield's beginning was equally heartbreaking. He was found beside his mother, still desperately trying to nurse from her even though she had already died. Alone and vulnerable, David was rescued and taken to sanctuary, where he finally received the care, safety and love he needed.
When David and Trottswood met, their resemblance was remarkable. They looked so alike they could easily have been brothers, although there was no blood relationship between them.
Both boys were cared for at Edgar's Mission before coming to Galahad's Sanctuary as babies, just weaned.
Those tiny lambs certainly didn't stay tiny. Today, David and Trottswood are the biggest sheep at Galahad's, with David the tallest of all. Even my shearers regularly comment that they are among the biggest sheep they have ever sheared.
Anne of Green Gable
Dear little Anne of Green Gables, with her sweet face and ever-present smile, reminds us every day just how vulnerable these gentle animals can be - and how a single act of kindness can change a life. Anne was just hours old when she was found abandoned in the countryside. Night was falling, and with foxes nearby, this tiny newborn lamb was in grave danger. Thankfully, a kind-hearted woman heard her faint cries and came to her rescue.
Anne was cared for at Edgar’s Mission, where she received the warmth, nourishment and attention every newborn lamb deserves. Safe at last, this spirited little girl was given the chance to grow and thrive. I welcomed Anne to Galahad’s Animal Sanctuary when she was still a little lamb. From those early days, her gentle nature, cheeky personality and beautiful smile captured my heart.
Anne has grown into a beautiful sheep with a personality all her own. Her cheerful little face is a constant reminder of the life she might never have had, and of the kindness that gave her a chance.
BONNIE AND CLYDE
Twins
These two babies ended up at our sanctuary after their mother had died giving birth to them. Bonnie and Clyde were twins who came to Galahad’s after their mother died giving birth to them. The farmer who had lovingly bottle-fed and raised them wanted them to have a safe, caring home. hey were welcomed almost immediately by Little Boy Blue, who recognised kindred spirits in his fellow Dorpers. As leader of the flock, he took them under his wing, sparing them many of the headbutts and jostling that newcomers often face while finding their place.
Sadly, Clyde was bitten by a snake a year after he arrived and after a valiant battle we lost him. Bonnie stayed close by and we made sure she got the chance to say goodbye to him before he was cremated. We were worried about how Bonnie would cope without her beloved Clyde, but Little Boy Blue to the rescue again, she stayed close by his protection. Many years later in 2025 Bonnie passed away despite all my efforts and the vets. This darling girl is so missed everyday. Bonnie had the cheekiest personality. She adored attention, especially being brushed by visitors and volunteers.
Bonnie and Clyde remind us that every sheep is an individual, with a personality, relationships and a life that matters.
Despite their reputation as being simple “followers”, sheep are intelligent animals with incredible memories. In nature, sheep travel long distances in complex, close-knit families. Each herd will cooperate and stay together for survival and protection, similar to many other animal species who travel together in packs.
Just like dogs, a sheep can learn their own name. Far beyond this, they also have highly developed facial recognition skills. A team of British scientists has shown that sheep are able to recognize the faces of at least 50 individuals and continue to remember them after years of separation. "If sheep have such sophisticated facial recognition skills, they must have much greater social requirements than we thought," said Keith Kendrick, of the Babraham Institute in Cambridge, England. Sheep also form close friendships with one another. Researchers believe that just like humans, sheep will often think of each other when they’re not around, and show signs of distress or depression when their preferred companions are missing. As we continue to discover more and more about these intelligent and emotional animals, it appears the common belief about sheep being “mindless and simple” has been shaped by our own lack of understanding.
BRYCE
Born on the way to a slaughter house
Bryce's life began in the most unlikely of circumstances. He was born on the way to a slaughterhouse, but fortunately his story took a very different turn.
An animal activist rescued him and raised him at home, where he was bottle-fed, wore nappies and quickly became very accustomed to being loved by people. When Bryce eventually came to Galahad's, one thing was immediately obvious - this boy absolutely adored affection. Cuddles, kisses and attention were all very welcome.
But although Bryce loved his new home and his human family, he was lonely. The other five sheep already living at the sanctuary were a very close-knit group, and Bryce struggled to find his place amongst them. That is until Abbie (below) arrived. Their story continues...
Meat
Each year, around 33 million sheep are killed for their flesh in Australia: approximately 13 million adults and 20 million lambs. “Lamb” is the term used for a sheep that is less than one year old. Flesh from sheep older than one year is called “mutton”.
Wool
In Australia, the most common breed of sheep farmed for their wool are ‘merinos’. Merinos are specifically bred to have wrinkled skin resulting in more wool per animal. Much like our hair thins as we get older, after a few years, a sheep’s wool production will also begin to decline. When this happens, it is no longer deemed profitable for the industry to “care” for them, and so older sheep originally farmed for their wool are sent to slaughter and sold as cheap meat.
ABBIE
Born in an abattoir
Abbie had an extraordinary beginning of her own. She was born in an abattoir. She too was rescued and bottle-fed, and from the beginning it was obvious that she craved companionship and affection. Her rescuer knew that this little lamb needed more than simply to survive - she needed somewhere she could belong.
When she came to Galahad's, she and Bryce found exactly what they had both been missing.
The connection was almost immediate. Bryce finally had a friend, and Abbie had someone who wanted her company just as much as she wanted his. Today, these two are inseparable.
Two little lambs whose lives began frighteningly close to slaughter somehow found their way to sanctuary - and, eventually, to each other.
SAMMY
Sweetest Soul
Sammy had known neglect for much of his life before being rescued by a wonderful woman who was devoted to giving him the love and care he deserved. She arranged for him to live at Galahad's Animal Sanctuary, where he was agisted on our property, and visited him every single day. Her love for him was beautiful to see.
Sammy was such a sweet, gentle soul that you couldn't help but fall in love with him. Having spent much of his life isolated from other sheep, he was initially frightened of the flock, so we gave him his own space where he could feel safe and settle in at his own pace.
To our surprise, Sammy eventually found friendship not with the sheep, but with our alpacas! He seemed much more comfortable in their company, and we suspected he may have lived alongside alpacas at some point in his past. It was heartwarming to see him find companionship and a sense of belonging.
Heartbreakingly, just a few months after arriving, Sammy developed a rapidly growing tumour. Despite every effort, there was nothing more that could be done to save him. When the time came to say goodbye, Sammy was surrounded by the people who loved him as he was gently put to sleep. Although his time with us was far too short, we take comfort in knowing that his final months were filled with kindness, companionship and the unconditional love he had always deserved. Taken from us too soon.
ARAMIS, D'ARTAGNAN, PORTHOS AND ATHOS
The Four Musketeers
When the property they lived on was sold, Athos, Porthos, D’Artagnan and Aramis were left in the care of new, absentee tenants. The four boys continued doing what alpacas do best: eating, relaxing and growing their fleece.
A kind-hearted neighbour became concerned that their fleece was growing dangerously long. Without shearing, their welfare could be seriously compromised, and help was sought.
The four gentle boys were loaded into a float and brought into sanctuary. They received much-needed shearing, hoof care, drenching, vaccinations and vitamin injections. Their transformation was more than a makeover - it may well have saved their lives.
The boys came to Galahad’s Sanctuary from Edgar’s Mission. Their story reminds us that caring for animals is a lifelong responsibility, not a fleeting novelty.
Four gentle souls. One second chance.
A lifetime of care and kindness.
Porthos passed to the other side from cancer in my arms on 6 December 2021. D'artagnon passed on 3 December 2023 in my arms due to a genetic weakness in his back legs and bad arthritis. Until we meet again beautiful boys, always in my heart. Knowing you both was a privilege and made my life rich.
ARCHIE, DIEGO AND KOSKO
The Three Amigos
Archie and Kosko, two white alpacas, were raised by an elderly couple who gave them a loving home. When the couple discovered that Diego was being neglected on a nearby property, they rescued him too.
As the years passed, the couple could no longer care for their three companions and reached out to Matty’s Sanctuary for help. There, Archie, Diego and Kosko were kept safe together.
When Matty’s Sanctuary later appealed for help with the many animals in their care, we welcomed the three boys to Galahad’s Animal Sanctuary.
Their arrival was met with great curiosity and a warm welcome from our Four Musketeers and the sheep. Before long, the three amigos had settled into sanctuary life, enjoying the company of their new friends.
Through every change, Archie, Diego and Kosko have had one another. Today, the three remain wonderfully close - and are rarely far apart.
Beloved elderly Kosko died in 2025 as he could no longer stand, despite every effort from myself and the vets to get him walking. He was very loved and in my arms when he died.
GHOST
Looking for family
When I rescued Ghost in December 2023, he was desperately lonely. His alpaca family had passed away, leaving this beautiful, very tall boy entirely on his own.
Ghost was nine years old, deaf, with striking blue eyes. When he arrived at Galahad’s, he was so excited to see all my alpacas. After being alone for so long, the sight of a herd again meant everything.
Joining the others took patience. Because Ghost relies on sight rather than hearing, his reactions could seem different or unpredictable. With time and understanding, he found his place among them. His name was inspired by the white direwolf in Game of Thrones. He was 9 years old.
MAJOR TOM AND HIS EX BATTERY/CAGED FARM GIRLS, PLUS ROOSTERS ZIGGY STARDUST AND LUNA, AND ROOSTER SILKIES JOHNNIE ROTTEN, SID VICIOUS, IGGY POP AND CLUCK NORRIS
The process of making and passing an egg requires so much energy and labor that in nature, wild hens lay only 10 to 15 eggs per year.
Major Tom was saved from the pot when a breeder decided he was too old and wanted to use his son instead. We were the lucky ones. He was so gentle with his girls, watching over them with such kindness. In 2025, Major Tom died suddenly overnight of old age, surrounded by the girls he loved.
Over the years we have welcomed many ex-battery and caged hens, as well as rescued Silkie hens: Lady Clucka, Sheryl Crow, Amy Winehouse, Fergie, Layla, Stevie Chicks, Annie Lennox, Janis Joplin, Joan Jett, Nina Hagen, and so many more. Many arrive almost featherless. They must learn the simplest joys of being chickens: perching on branches, dust-bathing in the soil, scratching for food and chasing insects. Watching them blossom into confident, happy individuals is one of the most rewarding parts of rescue.
It is also heartbreaking. Wild hens naturally lay only around 10–15 eggs a year, but modern laying hens have been bred to produce eggs at an exhausting rate. The toll on their bodies can be devastating: osteoporosis, broken bones, egg binding, reproductive infections, peritonitis, prolapse and other serious conditions.
These girls deserve so much more than lives shortened by relentless egg production. At Galahad’s, they are loved for who they are, not for what they produce. Major Tom helped show them what a life of safety and kindness could be.
In 2025, Luna a rooster was found abandoned in the bush. His rescuer helped us build him a new coop, and we welcomed more rescued caged hens for him to look after. Luna is fiercely protective of his flock. He can be rather harsh with visitors, and some people misunderstand him. But I admire his spunk, attitude and devotion. He is a wonderful protector who takes caring for his girls very seriously.
Ziggy Stardust another rooster was also rescued in 2025 after being dumped at a Kmart loading dock. He formed a special bond with Patti Smith and now has his own flock of girls rescued from a caged farm that closed. Ziggy is Luna’s complete opposite: a wonderfully affectionate, smoochy boy who loves everyone. He greets visitors with his charming rooster dance and makes everyone feel welcome.
Patti Smith came from a caged farm with Mycoplasma infection. She has been close to death several times. Pathology testing helped guide her treatment, and she now receives three antibiotics and regular veterinary care. Her condition is lifelong, so keeping stress to a minimum is especially important. Patti is doing well and loves her pal Ziggy and her best friend Pearl, the Silkie hen. Patti and Pearl spend their days together indoors, then head outside each afternoon to scratch about in the sunshine.
Johnnie Rotten, Iggy Pop, Sid Vicious and Cluck Norris came to Galahad’s from a school breeding program. A teacher and some of the children visited the sanctuary to ask whether we would give their roosters a home. They were heartbroken that they could not keep them and frightened that the boys might be slaughtered. I promised them that I would care for all four roosters, on one condition: that the school stopped its breeding program. It was a promise made for the boys, and for the lives of the roosters who might otherwise follow them.
Roosters are pretty much rock stars. They are wonderful providers, calling their flock when they find food and often waiting for the hens to eat first. They are devoted protectors too, keeping watch for danger, sounding the alarm when predators approach and sometimes risking their own lives to defend their families. And some roosters have magnificent, wild hairstyles worthy of punk rock stars! That is exactly how Johnnie Rotten, Iggy Pop, Sid Vicious and Cluck Norris got their names.
The unnaturally high rates of labor intensive, energy depleting egg production that modern hens are forced to sustain means that even on small farms and backyard chicken operations, hens are virtual prisoners inside their own bodies. Overproduction of eggs is responsible for numerous disorders in hens, including often fatal diseases of the reproductive tract; osteoporosis and accompanying bone fractures; and, in some cases, total skeletal paralysis, sometimes referred to as “caged layer fatigue.” Reproductive disorders in egg laying hens include tumors of the oviduct; peritonitis; egg binding (large eggs getting stuck and being slow and painful to pass); and uterine prolapse, a condition in which the lower portion of the oviduct fails to retract back into the body after oviposition, or the depositing of an egg. Like egg binding, prolapse is commonly a result of small birds being genetically manipulated to lay an unnaturally high rate of unnaturally large eggs.
Wild chickens can live for 10 years depending on the breed. Most of my ex battery girls have never reached that age. Autopsies I had performed showed that many of them died from reproductive cancer or egg peritonitis sometimes after just 2 to 3 years of laying.
GALAHAD, MAAB, UTHER, MORGANA (RESCUE), FREKI, JOAN (RESCUE), ATREYU, BONNIE (RESCUE), NAVARRE
Rescued Irish Wolfhounds and their Pack
GENTLE GIANTS, FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS
I have always had a deep love for Irish Wolfhounds. With a history stretching back more than a thousand years, these magnificent, heritage-listed hounds are among the gentlest and noblest of giants. Whenever possible, I rescue Irish Wolfhounds in need and help find loving forever homes for those who can no longer remain with their families.
GALAHAD - THE HOUND WHO STARTED IT ALL
Galahad was not a rescue, but he was an extraordinary soul who changed countless lives, including mine. He was a therapy dog who visited the Royal Children's Hospital, bringing comfort, smiles and joy to children and their families. He was joined on these visits by his lifelong companions, beautiful Maab, our Scottish Terrier, and Uther, our cheeky Parson Jack Russell.
Galahad was also an animal actor, appearing in films, advertisements and videos. He had an almost magical presence. Simply walking into a room, he could lift people's spirits and make the world feel a little brighter.
He rescued so many people throughout his lifetime, and I count myself among them. He was so much more than a dog. He was my inspiration, my companion and a truly remarkable soul.
MORGANA - A LOVE THAT WAS FAR TOO BRIEF
Morgana was my first rescued Irish Wolfhound. She was six years old when she arrived, having been relinquished by owners who wanted to keep only her daughter. The thought of her being separated from her little family was heartbreaking.
Sadly, Morgana arrived with cancer. Galahad adored her, and we did everything we could to give her the happiest, most spoilt life imaginable. We fought her illness together, surrounding her with love, comfort and kindness.
We had just ten precious months with Morgana, but she was cherished every single day. Losing her was devastating, yet I will always be grateful that she knew how deeply she was loved.
FREKI - MY BEAUTIFUL, GENTLE GIRL
After losing Morgana, I welcomed Freki, another Irish Wolfhound, into Galahad's life. Freki was not a rescue, but she was an absolute sweetheart who stole our hearts. She was wonderful with all the sanctuary animals and especially loved running alongside the chickens and lambs. There was something so beautiful about watching this enormous, gentle hound enjoying life among creatures so much smaller than herself.
Heartbreakingly, Freki was born with kidney disease, and I lost her when she was just two years old. It is difficult to describe the devastation of losing someone so young, with so much life still ahead of them. Her time with us was far too short, but the love she brought into our lives was immeasurable.
JOAN - THE GIRL WHO FOUND HER FOREVER HOME
Joan's story could so easily have ended before it had truly begun. When she was less than a year old, her owner took her to a veterinarian to be euthanised. The reasons? She had grown too big and, as a puppy, had chased a horse. Rather than giving Joan the training, patience and understanding that every young dog deserves, her owner had decided she was no longer wanted. Thankfully, the veterinarian intervened and contacted a breeder who cared for Joan until she could find a new home.
Joan eventually arrived at Galahad's as a foster when she was two years old. By then, Galahad was growing older, and the two formed an immediate and beautiful bond. Needless to say, Joan never left. I am so blessed to have her join my family.
Joan's story is a reminder of how easily companion animals are relinquished when they become inconvenient or fail to meet someone's expectations. Dogs, cats, horses and all other animals deserve patience, understanding and lifelong commitment. Like us, they need love, security and somewhere to belong.
ATREYU - MAJESTIC BOY
Joan was later joined by Atreyu, a magnificent Irish Wolfhound who arrived as a puppy and brought an enormous amount of joy into our lives. Atreyu was not a rescue, but he was a beautiful, majestic boy with a wonderful presence. He and Joan became deeply attached, sharing their days and growing into an inseparable pair.
Tragically, Atreyu passed away in 2024 following complications from pneumonia. He was not quite six years old. His loss shattered my heart, but it was Joan's grief that was especially difficult to witness. She missed him terribly and pined for months. Watching her mourn was another powerful reminder of just how deeply animals love and how profoundly they feel the loss of their companions.
BONNIE - WEE SCOTTISH TREASURE
In July 2024, we rescued Bonnie, a seven-year-old Scottish Terrier who had been relinquished to the pound. Bonnie is an absolute angel, a delightful little soul who has brought so much happiness into our home. Despite the upheaval of losing her previous family, she has settled into sanctuary life and become a much-loved member of our household. She is living proof that older dogs have so much love left to give and deserve every opportunity to find a family who will cherish them.
NAVARRE - A NEW CHAPTER OF JOY
In early 2025, I welcomed Navarre, a cheeky Irish Wolfhound puppy who has brought laughter, mischief and boundless energy back into my life. After so much heartbreak, his arrival was a wonderful reminder that love has an extraordinary ability to help us heal.
There is a saying that the best psychiatrist in the world is a puppy. After welcoming Navarre, I couldn't agree more!
A LIFETIME OF LOVE
Every one of these beautiful souls has left an imprint on my heart. Some came to us through rescue, others joined us as cherished companions, but all became family. They have taught me about loyalty, courage, grief, resilience and unconditional love. They have also shown me that animals are not possessions to be discarded when life becomes difficult. They are individuals with feelings, memories, friendships and bonds every bit as meaningful to them as ours are to us. I will always treasure those who are no longer beside me, just as I cherish every moment with those who remain.
MAPLE AND MAX
Mother and Son
During the winter lambing season of 2019, Maple was found collapsed in a paddock, with her newborn son Max sheltering nearby beneath a pile of sticks. Suffering from severe black mastitis, Maple continued to feed her baby despite the pain.
With help, Maple made an extraordinary recovery. Quiet and reserved, she loved hand-fed carrots and could never resist a Weet-Bix - or five!
Born on 15 August 2019, Max grew into a cheeky, chonky boy who seemed convinced he was a dog. He adored Weet-Bix, bottom rubs and using people as scratching posts.
Maple and Max died within a week of each other in 2025 despite best efforts to save them. They are buried together next to Karina.
Karina
Our Oldest Sheep
Karina was found during the winter lambing season of 2019 (along with Maple and Max above), barely able to walk. She had contracted tendons, badly overgrown hooves and a serious infection. With treatment, time in a supportive sling and careful leg wrapping, she made a remarkable recovery. Although she was our oldest sheep, Karina embraced her peaceful life with companionship, kindness and love.
Maple, Max and Karina were rescued from another sanctuary that was closing down and had put out a call for help. They found a safe and loving home together at Galahad's Animal Sanctuary, where they could enjoy the care, companionship and kindness they deserved.
Karina passed in 2024 and is buried at the sanctuary. We all miss her!
Raphael
Alpaca Reunited
Raphael once lived with his alpaca companion Gabriel at another sanctuary. When Gabriel sadly passed away, Raphael was left without an alpaca friend. He found comfort with the rescued sheep and would happily skip after them in the paddock.
When that sanctuary closed, Raphael and his sheep friends needed somewhere safe to go. They came to Galahad’s together, where Raphael was delighted to be surrounded by alpacas once more.
He has since formed a particularly close bond with Athos. After so much loss and loneliness, Raphael has rediscovered the companionship he was missing.
Raphael passed away in August 2026 with cancer. He is buried with the pals he came to Galahad's with, Karina, Maple and Max. This gentle and sweet boy is forever in my heart.
Sven and Elsa
So Damn Cute!
Sven and Elsa were both born during the winter lambing season of 2020. Both were orphaned and, instead of growing up beside their mothers, were bottle-fed and raised inside the warmth and comfort of a house.
As tiny lambs they quickly made themselves at home. They even discovered the luxury of a queen-size bed - sometimes falling asleep directly on the faces of the people trying to sleep in it.
Elsa, with her pink nose, grew into a wonderfully independent sheep. She is happy doing her own thing and has always had a strong sense of exactly where she wants to be.
Sven, with his black nose, is quite the opposite. Rescued on the day he was born and raised closely with people, he seems convinced that he is at least partly human. He adores company and will happily stand beside you for as long as the pats and affection continue.
He also appears to believe he may be part alpaca, because he loves spending time with them as well.
Their personalities may be very different, but both were given something every orphaned lamb deserves - warmth, safety, companionship and the chance to grow old.
Chevy and Montgomery (Monte)
Unbelievably Cute!
Chevy - the boy with the foghorn baa
Chevy (above left) is an outgoing, larger-than-life character with one of the most distinctive voices at Galahad’s - a very loud baa that sounds remarkably like a foghorn.
Before finding safety at his previous sanctuary, Chevy had broken his left hind leg. Unfortunately, the leg did not heal correctly and now sits at an angle, which can make it look as though he walks with a limp. But Chevy certainly doesn’t let it slow him down. He runs around happily and still plays just as boisterously with the rest of the flock.
Chevy was orphaned as a lamb and raised on the bottle alongside his best mate, Montgomery.
Monty - professional attention seeker
Monty (above right), short for Montgomery, is an absolute sweetheart. He loves kisses on his nose and face and has very definite ideas about how much attention he should receive. If the pats and scratches stop before he thinks they should, he will tap you on the leg with his hoof to remind you that your job is not yet finished.
Like Chevy, Monty was orphaned and bottle-raised, spending his early life inside and surrounded by people.
Chevy and Monty eventually needed another home when the animal sanctuary caring for them closed and put out a call for help. They came to Galahad’s together, bringing their lifelong friendship - and two very big personalities - with them.
Penelope Pitstop
Penelope is a beautiful Dorper sheep, a breed raised primarily for meat. Her future was once heartbreakingly uncertain, as she was destined for a livestock market where buyers select lambs for slaughter.
Thankfully, a compassionate rescuer intervened and secured Penelope's freedom before she ever reached the market, changing the course of her life forever.
Today, Penelope lives safely and happily at Galahad's Animal Sanctuary, where she will never have to face the fear of a saleyard or the fate of a slaughterhouse. Instead, she can spend her days enjoying the sunshine, the companionship of her flock and the simple pleasures that every sheep deserves.
Penelope's story is a reminder that behind every animal destined for slaughter is an individual who wants to live, feel safe and be free from harm.
Wilbur (age 13) and Bella (age 8) came to Galahad’s in April 2025 after their owner had to leave her property and suddenly found herself with nowhere for them to go. With no other option at the time, the two pigs were staying in her horse float during the hot summer weather.
We offered Wilbur and Bella sanctuary while their owner looked for a new home, with the hope that they would eventually be reunited. Sadly, circumstances meant she was unable to take them back, and Galahad’s became their permanent home.
Wilbur is quite the character. He knows how to sit and absolutely loves a belly rub - happily rolling over whenever one is on offer. And when he gets excited, he has a rather unusual way of showing it: Wilbur barks!
Bella loves her food almost as much as she loves sleeping beside Wilbur. In fact, we can often hear her snoring from the paddock! She has the cheekiest little face, helped along by the fact that her tongue always seems to be sticking out. She is also incredibly affectionate.
After an uncertain start, Wilbur and Bella are safe, loved and, most importantly, still together.
When we think of pigs, what generally comes to mind for most people are cute happy chubby pink pigs frolicking happily in fields full of daisies. People love pigs, they are fascinated by them and they are usually the farmed animal that most people connect with first when realising all of these animals are equally deserving of a wonderful life. You always hear people exclaim, “I LOVE PIGS!”, and yet, this pre-conceived idea of how pigs live does not reflect the reality for pigs whose only reason for existing is to be ‘farmed’ and then killed for human consumption.
In Australia, around 5.5 million pigs are bred to be slaughtered, with approximately 300,000 sows used as breeding machines to produce this unbelievable number of pigs. From the beginning to the end of the pig farming system, pigs suffer horrendously, whether they are used as female and male breeding machines, or the pigs who end up on peoples’ plates when they are still so young, just 5 to 6 months old.
Wilbur and Bella
Danny-Boy and Rocky
Danny-Boy and Rocky, two elderly Shetland ponies, arrived at our sanctuary in early 2026 in need of a safe and caring home. Their owners, both 92 years old, could no longer provide the care the ponies required. Despite their best efforts, they were unable to find suitable homes for them, and the prospect of these much-loved companions being sent to slaughter was heartbreaking for both the owners and the ponies.
Thankfully, they chose a different path. They brought Danny-Boy and Rocky to us and generously contributed towards their dental treatment to help ensure a comfortable transition into retirement.
Danny-Boy is approximately 32 years old, while Rocky is around 29 years old.
When they arrived, neither pony had ever received dental care. Danny-Boy was very thin because the condition of his teeth made it difficult for him to eat enough. I began feeding him separately from Rocky so he could take his time and get all the food he needed.
Since coming to Galahad's, both boys have had veterinary dental treatment twice, their feet professionally trimmed, and all the routine care they needed to be comfortable and healthy to enjoy their golden years. Danny-Boy has now gained around 50 kg.
I believe that every animal deserves dignity, comfort, and compassion in their later years. The elderly matter, and Danny-Boy and Rocky are cherished members of my sanctuary family.
A promise to keep them safe