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The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
Tributes for pilot killed in crash who was two months from retirement
A pilot who died when his plane crashed in the NSW Snowy Mountains last week was always "generous with his time and knowledge" and just two months away from retirement, friends say. Police found David Stephens' body in wreckage in the Snowy Mountains on Friday, July 18, after a multi-day search for a missing plane. The 74-year-old resident of Brogo, north of Bega on the NSW South Coast, went missing while flying from Wangaratta in northeast of Victoria to Moruya on the south coast. Mr Stephens worked for decades as a chartered tax accountant and was only two months away from retirement, and his family said they had been hoping to spend more time with him. On Tuesday, July 15, at 4.35pm, emergency services were notified of a possible plane crash near Dargals Trail in the Snowy Valleys. The wreckage, and Mr Stephens' body, were found a few days later. In a recent press conference, Riverina Police District Commander, Superintendent Andrew Spliet said the force of the impact of the aircraft was significant. "You wouldn't recognise it as an aeroplane," he said. "There was obviously a fair bit of speed into the mountain range, which has completely destroyed that aircraft, and it wouldn't be a survivable collision." Tony Rettke is a fellow aviator and president of Bega's rural flying club, the Frogs Hollow Flyers. He recounted getting the call from Mr Stephens' wife. "I got a message, and it was from David's wife. She said something like, 'Hi, this is Lynda Leigh. Could you call me back, please?' She sounded upset," Mr Rettke told ACM's Bega District News. "Lynda said, 'I'm just calling to let you know, as the president of the Frogs Hollow Flyers and a friend of David's, he's crashed his plane'." "I had been talking to David a day or two before. He needed to get a couple of emails out for me, and said he would do it at Wangaratta [the airport he left prior to the disappearance]." Mr Rettke sat in his car as thoughts crossed his mind of what may have happened to his friend. "It actually knocked me," he said. "I've been thinking a lot about it. About how David would have felt and what might have happened, and there could be 100 things. [It] could be the aircraft, could be a mistake he's made, could be ... many things." Mr Rettke said it was sobering to think about, as he, too, had flown on numerous occasions across the past month in varied weather conditions. Mr Stephens earned his pilot's licence before he began driving in the 1960s, and was immensely proud of his 1966 Beechcraft Debonair, which he christened "Deb". It was understood that Mr Stephens was a non-instrument-rated pilot, which meant he could only fly when he could see the ground and maintain visual contact with landmarks. "I do that [kind of flight] all the time. It's called 'tiger country' where you can't land without tearing the wings off. Some people go around it. It's the risk you take," Mr Rettke said. "I don't know if his plane was completely destroyed. I think it would have looked like newspaper shredded through the trees, because they are built light. "It's more dangerous to ride a motorbike from here to Canberra, without a doubt. People worry that I swim with sharks, but they're always there." About 4pm, Thursday, July 17, a rescue helicopter found the crashed plane near its last known GPS location. Just before 3pm the next day, NSW police found the body of a man in the wreckage. Mr Rettke remembered his friend as an honest man who served as secretary on the Frogs Hollow Flyers committee, where he was an active member. "I pulled him onto the committee because he was a member, and I could tell he had a lot to contribute to being a wise person and a flyer for many years," Mr Rettke said. "He did his job well and had only been doing it for about six months, and had a major role in a recent fly-in with 25 aircraft coming to camp." Besides being the immensely proud pilot of "Deb", his 1966 Debonair, Mr Stephens had a long history of racing on dirt trails. As well as a Frogs Hollow Flyer, Mr Stephens was a well-known and respected rally sport competitor and a dedicated committee member for various motorsport clubs across the Far South Coast. If he wasn't competing, he volunteered as an official in all capacities for the ACT and NSW rally series, and, in turn, the Australian Rally Championships. Mr Stephens was a very active member of the club and had previously been treasurer and secretary. In 2017, his wife Ms Leigh told Bega District News that Mr Stephens competed on the famous Upper Cobargo and Buckajo Roads since the '70s and often hoped she would get a chance to drive the Bega Rally herself. "David takes his rallying seriously and I was honoured to be asked to be his co-driver - in my first year in the 'silly seat', we won the 2015 NSW Pace note series, which wasn't a bad start," she had said. Current Bega Valley Rally director Ian Slater said he would remember his friend as being kind and generous with his time and knowledge. "He would do anything for you that you asked him," Mr Slater told ACM's Bega District News. "Sometimes he probably didn't agree with you, but we'd nut it out and we'd move on," he said with a chuckle. "He was good for the younger people coming into the sport. "He could mentor them in navigating, although he was a very good driver as well." Mr Slater was watching television when Mr Stephens' wife tried to call him, but unfortunately, he didn't hear his phone ring. "She then rang my wife and said, 'David's gone missing in his plane'. I rang her back and she told me the same thing," Mr Slater recalled. "It was a bit of a shock. I didn't really believe it, and since then we have stayed in contact to find out what's going on. "Having done a bit of flying myself, it's normally not a risky sport. Car rallying is probably more dangerous. "We're doing all right. We ring up Lynda all the time to keep in contact with her. It's pretty tough." A pilot who died when his plane crashed in the NSW Snowy Mountains last week was always "generous with his time and knowledge" and just two months away from retirement, friends say. Police found David Stephens' body in wreckage in the Snowy Mountains on Friday, July 18, after a multi-day search for a missing plane. The 74-year-old resident of Brogo, north of Bega on the NSW South Coast, went missing while flying from Wangaratta in northeast of Victoria to Moruya on the south coast. Mr Stephens worked for decades as a chartered tax accountant and was only two months away from retirement, and his family said they had been hoping to spend more time with him. On Tuesday, July 15, at 4.35pm, emergency services were notified of a possible plane crash near Dargals Trail in the Snowy Valleys. The wreckage, and Mr Stephens' body, were found a few days later. In a recent press conference, Riverina Police District Commander, Superintendent Andrew Spliet said the force of the impact of the aircraft was significant. "You wouldn't recognise it as an aeroplane," he said. "There was obviously a fair bit of speed into the mountain range, which has completely destroyed that aircraft, and it wouldn't be a survivable collision." Tony Rettke is a fellow aviator and president of Bega's rural flying club, the Frogs Hollow Flyers. He recounted getting the call from Mr Stephens' wife. "I got a message, and it was from David's wife. She said something like, 'Hi, this is Lynda Leigh. Could you call me back, please?' She sounded upset," Mr Rettke told ACM's Bega District News. "Lynda said, 'I'm just calling to let you know, as the president of the Frogs Hollow Flyers and a friend of David's, he's crashed his plane'." "I had been talking to David a day or two before. He needed to get a couple of emails out for me, and said he would do it at Wangaratta [the airport he left prior to the disappearance]." Mr Rettke sat in his car as thoughts crossed his mind of what may have happened to his friend. "It actually knocked me," he said. "I've been thinking a lot about it. About how David would have felt and what might have happened, and there could be 100 things. [It] could be the aircraft, could be a mistake he's made, could be ... many things." Mr Rettke said it was sobering to think about, as he, too, had flown on numerous occasions across the past month in varied weather conditions. Mr Stephens earned his pilot's licence before he began driving in the 1960s, and was immensely proud of his 1966 Beechcraft Debonair, which he christened "Deb". It was understood that Mr Stephens was a non-instrument-rated pilot, which meant he could only fly when he could see the ground and maintain visual contact with landmarks. "I do that [kind of flight] all the time. It's called 'tiger country' where you can't land without tearing the wings off. Some people go around it. It's the risk you take," Mr Rettke said. "I don't know if his plane was completely destroyed. I think it would have looked like newspaper shredded through the trees, because they are built light. "It's more dangerous to ride a motorbike from here to Canberra, without a doubt. People worry that I swim with sharks, but they're always there." About 4pm, Thursday, July 17, a rescue helicopter found the crashed plane near its last known GPS location. Just before 3pm the next day, NSW police found the body of a man in the wreckage. Mr Rettke remembered his friend as an honest man who served as secretary on the Frogs Hollow Flyers committee, where he was an active member. "I pulled him onto the committee because he was a member, and I could tell he had a lot to contribute to being a wise person and a flyer for many years," Mr Rettke said. "He did his job well and had only been doing it for about six months, and had a major role in a recent fly-in with 25 aircraft coming to camp." Besides being the immensely proud pilot of "Deb", his 1966 Debonair, Mr Stephens had a long history of racing on dirt trails. As well as a Frogs Hollow Flyer, Mr Stephens was a well-known and respected rally sport competitor and a dedicated committee member for various motorsport clubs across the Far South Coast. If he wasn't competing, he volunteered as an official in all capacities for the ACT and NSW rally series, and, in turn, the Australian Rally Championships. Mr Stephens was a very active member of the club and had previously been treasurer and secretary. In 2017, his wife Ms Leigh told Bega District News that Mr Stephens competed on the famous Upper Cobargo and Buckajo Roads since the '70s and often hoped she would get a chance to drive the Bega Rally herself. "David takes his rallying seriously and I was honoured to be asked to be his co-driver - in my first year in the 'silly seat', we won the 2015 NSW Pace note series, which wasn't a bad start," she had said. Current Bega Valley Rally director Ian Slater said he would remember his friend as being kind and generous with his time and knowledge. "He would do anything for you that you asked him," Mr Slater told ACM's Bega District News. "Sometimes he probably didn't agree with you, but we'd nut it out and we'd move on," he said with a chuckle. "He was good for the younger people coming into the sport. "He could mentor them in navigating, although he was a very good driver as well." Mr Slater was watching television when Mr Stephens' wife tried to call him, but unfortunately, he didn't hear his phone ring. "She then rang my wife and said, 'David's gone missing in his plane'. I rang her back and she told me the same thing," Mr Slater recalled. "It was a bit of a shock. I didn't really believe it, and since then we have stayed in contact to find out what's going on. "Having done a bit of flying myself, it's normally not a risky sport. Car rallying is probably more dangerous. "We're doing all right. We ring up Lynda all the time to keep in contact with her. It's pretty tough." A pilot who died when his plane crashed in the NSW Snowy Mountains last week was always "generous with his time and knowledge" and just two months away from retirement, friends say. Police found David Stephens' body in wreckage in the Snowy Mountains on Friday, July 18, after a multi-day search for a missing plane. The 74-year-old resident of Brogo, north of Bega on the NSW South Coast, went missing while flying from Wangaratta in northeast of Victoria to Moruya on the south coast. Mr Stephens worked for decades as a chartered tax accountant and was only two months away from retirement, and his family said they had been hoping to spend more time with him. On Tuesday, July 15, at 4.35pm, emergency services were notified of a possible plane crash near Dargals Trail in the Snowy Valleys. The wreckage, and Mr Stephens' body, were found a few days later. In a recent press conference, Riverina Police District Commander, Superintendent Andrew Spliet said the force of the impact of the aircraft was significant. "You wouldn't recognise it as an aeroplane," he said. "There was obviously a fair bit of speed into the mountain range, which has completely destroyed that aircraft, and it wouldn't be a survivable collision." Tony Rettke is a fellow aviator and president of Bega's rural flying club, the Frogs Hollow Flyers. He recounted getting the call from Mr Stephens' wife. "I got a message, and it was from David's wife. She said something like, 'Hi, this is Lynda Leigh. Could you call me back, please?' She sounded upset," Mr Rettke told ACM's Bega District News. "Lynda said, 'I'm just calling to let you know, as the president of the Frogs Hollow Flyers and a friend of David's, he's crashed his plane'." "I had been talking to David a day or two before. He needed to get a couple of emails out for me, and said he would do it at Wangaratta [the airport he left prior to the disappearance]." Mr Rettke sat in his car as thoughts crossed his mind of what may have happened to his friend. "It actually knocked me," he said. "I've been thinking a lot about it. About how David would have felt and what might have happened, and there could be 100 things. [It] could be the aircraft, could be a mistake he's made, could be ... many things." Mr Rettke said it was sobering to think about, as he, too, had flown on numerous occasions across the past month in varied weather conditions. Mr Stephens earned his pilot's licence before he began driving in the 1960s, and was immensely proud of his 1966 Beechcraft Debonair, which he christened "Deb". It was understood that Mr Stephens was a non-instrument-rated pilot, which meant he could only fly when he could see the ground and maintain visual contact with landmarks. "I do that [kind of flight] all the time. It's called 'tiger country' where you can't land without tearing the wings off. Some people go around it. It's the risk you take," Mr Rettke said. "I don't know if his plane was completely destroyed. I think it would have looked like newspaper shredded through the trees, because they are built light. "It's more dangerous to ride a motorbike from here to Canberra, without a doubt. People worry that I swim with sharks, but they're always there." About 4pm, Thursday, July 17, a rescue helicopter found the crashed plane near its last known GPS location. Just before 3pm the next day, NSW police found the body of a man in the wreckage. Mr Rettke remembered his friend as an honest man who served as secretary on the Frogs Hollow Flyers committee, where he was an active member. "I pulled him onto the committee because he was a member, and I could tell he had a lot to contribute to being a wise person and a flyer for many years," Mr Rettke said. "He did his job well and had only been doing it for about six months, and had a major role in a recent fly-in with 25 aircraft coming to camp." Besides being the immensely proud pilot of "Deb", his 1966 Debonair, Mr Stephens had a long history of racing on dirt trails. As well as a Frogs Hollow Flyer, Mr Stephens was a well-known and respected rally sport competitor and a dedicated committee member for various motorsport clubs across the Far South Coast. If he wasn't competing, he volunteered as an official in all capacities for the ACT and NSW rally series, and, in turn, the Australian Rally Championships. Mr Stephens was a very active member of the club and had previously been treasurer and secretary. In 2017, his wife Ms Leigh told Bega District News that Mr Stephens competed on the famous Upper Cobargo and Buckajo Roads since the '70s and often hoped she would get a chance to drive the Bega Rally herself. "David takes his rallying seriously and I was honoured to be asked to be his co-driver - in my first year in the 'silly seat', we won the 2015 NSW Pace note series, which wasn't a bad start," she had said. Current Bega Valley Rally director Ian Slater said he would remember his friend as being kind and generous with his time and knowledge. "He would do anything for you that you asked him," Mr Slater told ACM's Bega District News. "Sometimes he probably didn't agree with you, but we'd nut it out and we'd move on," he said with a chuckle. "He was good for the younger people coming into the sport. "He could mentor them in navigating, although he was a very good driver as well." Mr Slater was watching television when Mr Stephens' wife tried to call him, but unfortunately, he didn't hear his phone ring. "She then rang my wife and said, 'David's gone missing in his plane'. I rang her back and she told me the same thing," Mr Slater recalled. "It was a bit of a shock. I didn't really believe it, and since then we have stayed in contact to find out what's going on. "Having done a bit of flying myself, it's normally not a risky sport. Car rallying is probably more dangerous. "We're doing all right. We ring up Lynda all the time to keep in contact with her. It's pretty tough." A pilot who died when his plane crashed in the NSW Snowy Mountains last week was always "generous with his time and knowledge" and just two months away from retirement, friends say. Police found David Stephens' body in wreckage in the Snowy Mountains on Friday, July 18, after a multi-day search for a missing plane. The 74-year-old resident of Brogo, north of Bega on the NSW South Coast, went missing while flying from Wangaratta in northeast of Victoria to Moruya on the south coast. Mr Stephens worked for decades as a chartered tax accountant and was only two months away from retirement, and his family said they had been hoping to spend more time with him. On Tuesday, July 15, at 4.35pm, emergency services were notified of a possible plane crash near Dargals Trail in the Snowy Valleys. The wreckage, and Mr Stephens' body, were found a few days later. In a recent press conference, Riverina Police District Commander, Superintendent Andrew Spliet said the force of the impact of the aircraft was significant. "You wouldn't recognise it as an aeroplane," he said. "There was obviously a fair bit of speed into the mountain range, which has completely destroyed that aircraft, and it wouldn't be a survivable collision." Tony Rettke is a fellow aviator and president of Bega's rural flying club, the Frogs Hollow Flyers. He recounted getting the call from Mr Stephens' wife. "I got a message, and it was from David's wife. She said something like, 'Hi, this is Lynda Leigh. Could you call me back, please?' She sounded upset," Mr Rettke told ACM's Bega District News. "Lynda said, 'I'm just calling to let you know, as the president of the Frogs Hollow Flyers and a friend of David's, he's crashed his plane'." "I had been talking to David a day or two before. He needed to get a couple of emails out for me, and said he would do it at Wangaratta [the airport he left prior to the disappearance]." Mr Rettke sat in his car as thoughts crossed his mind of what may have happened to his friend. "It actually knocked me," he said. "I've been thinking a lot about it. About how David would have felt and what might have happened, and there could be 100 things. [It] could be the aircraft, could be a mistake he's made, could be ... many things." Mr Rettke said it was sobering to think about, as he, too, had flown on numerous occasions across the past month in varied weather conditions. Mr Stephens earned his pilot's licence before he began driving in the 1960s, and was immensely proud of his 1966 Beechcraft Debonair, which he christened "Deb". It was understood that Mr Stephens was a non-instrument-rated pilot, which meant he could only fly when he could see the ground and maintain visual contact with landmarks. "I do that [kind of flight] all the time. It's called 'tiger country' where you can't land without tearing the wings off. Some people go around it. It's the risk you take," Mr Rettke said. "I don't know if his plane was completely destroyed. I think it would have looked like newspaper shredded through the trees, because they are built light. "It's more dangerous to ride a motorbike from here to Canberra, without a doubt. People worry that I swim with sharks, but they're always there." About 4pm, Thursday, July 17, a rescue helicopter found the crashed plane near its last known GPS location. Just before 3pm the next day, NSW police found the body of a man in the wreckage. Mr Rettke remembered his friend as an honest man who served as secretary on the Frogs Hollow Flyers committee, where he was an active member. "I pulled him onto the committee because he was a member, and I could tell he had a lot to contribute to being a wise person and a flyer for many years," Mr Rettke said. "He did his job well and had only been doing it for about six months, and had a major role in a recent fly-in with 25 aircraft coming to camp." Besides being the immensely proud pilot of "Deb", his 1966 Debonair, Mr Stephens had a long history of racing on dirt trails. As well as a Frogs Hollow Flyer, Mr Stephens was a well-known and respected rally sport competitor and a dedicated committee member for various motorsport clubs across the Far South Coast. If he wasn't competing, he volunteered as an official in all capacities for the ACT and NSW rally series, and, in turn, the Australian Rally Championships. Mr Stephens was a very active member of the club and had previously been treasurer and secretary. In 2017, his wife Ms Leigh told Bega District News that Mr Stephens competed on the famous Upper Cobargo and Buckajo Roads since the '70s and often hoped she would get a chance to drive the Bega Rally herself. "David takes his rallying seriously and I was honoured to be asked to be his co-driver - in my first year in the 'silly seat', we won the 2015 NSW Pace note series, which wasn't a bad start," she had said. Current Bega Valley Rally director Ian Slater said he would remember his friend as being kind and generous with his time and knowledge. "He would do anything for you that you asked him," Mr Slater told ACM's Bega District News. "Sometimes he probably didn't agree with you, but we'd nut it out and we'd move on," he said with a chuckle. "He was good for the younger people coming into the sport. "He could mentor them in navigating, although he was a very good driver as well." Mr Slater was watching television when Mr Stephens' wife tried to call him, but unfortunately, he didn't hear his phone ring. "She then rang my wife and said, 'David's gone missing in his plane'. I rang her back and she told me the same thing," Mr Slater recalled. "It was a bit of a shock. I didn't really believe it, and since then we have stayed in contact to find out what's going on. "Having done a bit of flying myself, it's normally not a risky sport. Car rallying is probably more dangerous. "We're doing all right. We ring up Lynda all the time to keep in contact with her. It's pretty tough."
The Advertiser
15-07-2025
- The Advertiser
Quad bike crash victim recalls moment she 'somersaulted' on Greek island
Through intermittent puffs of oxygen, Narelle Massey recalls how she somersaulted during a serious quad bike crash that disrupted her travel plans. Just over a week ago, Ms Massey lay alone with no privacy and a difficult language barrier in a Greek public hospital, unsure about why her travel insurance had denied her claim. "After your story ran, my husband received a phone call from the insurance company saying they had reassessed my claim and they said it had been approved," she told ACM's Bega District News. "I was waiting for it in writing as I wasn't going to get excited until I had it in writing, and that came." Since then, the Merimbula resident's son Aaron Reid had raced to be by her side. He had taken a last-minute flight from Sydney with a wheelchair among his luggage, prepared to bring her home. Prior to Narelle's emergency stay, she had been enjoying an overseas holiday with her sister Pam, when the pair decided to go on a quad biking tour. Sadly, the unthinkable occurred, and the sisters crashed, resulting in numerous injuries. Narelle sustained a punctured lung, splenic hematoma, fractured spine, broken ribs and a broken pelvis. "I absolutely remember it. It went in slow motion. We were coming around a left-hand bend, my sister was driving," the 62-year-old recalled. "The bend wasn't like we have in Australia, and it was a bit sharper than Pam thought, and so she went to correct herself, and the front wheel came up, and we hit gravel. "We slid into the stone wall. Pam went over the handlebars and the stone wall, and I flew over the top of her and somersaulted, landing in a little grass patch with stones around." The Far South Coast woman was airlifted from Naxos, a Greek island in the South Aegean, to Athens for treatment. She had been in the hospital for two weeks when she spoke to ACM's Bega District News on July 14. "The first week was horrendous to say the least," Ms Massey said. She described her hospital room as being from the 1970s. "There's nothing modern. There are no curtains around to separate people. The window in the room is broken. It's 37 degrees outside and [it feels like] it's 90 in here," Ms Massey said. "I am starting to improve a bit, health-wise, but not many people speak English fluently, so I have to rely on other people to tell me what they've said. "They are looking at transferring me to a physiotherapy facility rather than being in the hospital, because of the chance of getting an infection, and they don't want that to happen. "I've probably got another three weeks. They're saying August 9 is when I will be clear to fly." When Narelle returns to Sydney, she said she will have surgery on her pelvis and hip. Aaron said he wouldn't be leaving her until he could bring her back home. "When I first spoke to her, she said, 'Bring me home'. That's my job. If she asks, I'm doing it," he said. A GoFundMe was organised to help Narelle, Aaron and Pam with miscellaneous incidental costs until they are all home. Those wishing to donate can find the fundraiser here. Through intermittent puffs of oxygen, Narelle Massey recalls how she somersaulted during a serious quad bike crash that disrupted her travel plans. Just over a week ago, Ms Massey lay alone with no privacy and a difficult language barrier in a Greek public hospital, unsure about why her travel insurance had denied her claim. "After your story ran, my husband received a phone call from the insurance company saying they had reassessed my claim and they said it had been approved," she told ACM's Bega District News. "I was waiting for it in writing as I wasn't going to get excited until I had it in writing, and that came." Since then, the Merimbula resident's son Aaron Reid had raced to be by her side. He had taken a last-minute flight from Sydney with a wheelchair among his luggage, prepared to bring her home. Prior to Narelle's emergency stay, she had been enjoying an overseas holiday with her sister Pam, when the pair decided to go on a quad biking tour. Sadly, the unthinkable occurred, and the sisters crashed, resulting in numerous injuries. Narelle sustained a punctured lung, splenic hematoma, fractured spine, broken ribs and a broken pelvis. "I absolutely remember it. It went in slow motion. We were coming around a left-hand bend, my sister was driving," the 62-year-old recalled. "The bend wasn't like we have in Australia, and it was a bit sharper than Pam thought, and so she went to correct herself, and the front wheel came up, and we hit gravel. "We slid into the stone wall. Pam went over the handlebars and the stone wall, and I flew over the top of her and somersaulted, landing in a little grass patch with stones around." The Far South Coast woman was airlifted from Naxos, a Greek island in the South Aegean, to Athens for treatment. She had been in the hospital for two weeks when she spoke to ACM's Bega District News on July 14. "The first week was horrendous to say the least," Ms Massey said. She described her hospital room as being from the 1970s. "There's nothing modern. There are no curtains around to separate people. The window in the room is broken. It's 37 degrees outside and [it feels like] it's 90 in here," Ms Massey said. "I am starting to improve a bit, health-wise, but not many people speak English fluently, so I have to rely on other people to tell me what they've said. "They are looking at transferring me to a physiotherapy facility rather than being in the hospital, because of the chance of getting an infection, and they don't want that to happen. "I've probably got another three weeks. They're saying August 9 is when I will be clear to fly." When Narelle returns to Sydney, she said she will have surgery on her pelvis and hip. Aaron said he wouldn't be leaving her until he could bring her back home. "When I first spoke to her, she said, 'Bring me home'. That's my job. If she asks, I'm doing it," he said. A GoFundMe was organised to help Narelle, Aaron and Pam with miscellaneous incidental costs until they are all home. Those wishing to donate can find the fundraiser here. Through intermittent puffs of oxygen, Narelle Massey recalls how she somersaulted during a serious quad bike crash that disrupted her travel plans. Just over a week ago, Ms Massey lay alone with no privacy and a difficult language barrier in a Greek public hospital, unsure about why her travel insurance had denied her claim. "After your story ran, my husband received a phone call from the insurance company saying they had reassessed my claim and they said it had been approved," she told ACM's Bega District News. "I was waiting for it in writing as I wasn't going to get excited until I had it in writing, and that came." Since then, the Merimbula resident's son Aaron Reid had raced to be by her side. He had taken a last-minute flight from Sydney with a wheelchair among his luggage, prepared to bring her home. Prior to Narelle's emergency stay, she had been enjoying an overseas holiday with her sister Pam, when the pair decided to go on a quad biking tour. Sadly, the unthinkable occurred, and the sisters crashed, resulting in numerous injuries. Narelle sustained a punctured lung, splenic hematoma, fractured spine, broken ribs and a broken pelvis. "I absolutely remember it. It went in slow motion. We were coming around a left-hand bend, my sister was driving," the 62-year-old recalled. "The bend wasn't like we have in Australia, and it was a bit sharper than Pam thought, and so she went to correct herself, and the front wheel came up, and we hit gravel. "We slid into the stone wall. Pam went over the handlebars and the stone wall, and I flew over the top of her and somersaulted, landing in a little grass patch with stones around." The Far South Coast woman was airlifted from Naxos, a Greek island in the South Aegean, to Athens for treatment. She had been in the hospital for two weeks when she spoke to ACM's Bega District News on July 14. "The first week was horrendous to say the least," Ms Massey said. She described her hospital room as being from the 1970s. "There's nothing modern. There are no curtains around to separate people. The window in the room is broken. It's 37 degrees outside and [it feels like] it's 90 in here," Ms Massey said. "I am starting to improve a bit, health-wise, but not many people speak English fluently, so I have to rely on other people to tell me what they've said. "They are looking at transferring me to a physiotherapy facility rather than being in the hospital, because of the chance of getting an infection, and they don't want that to happen. "I've probably got another three weeks. They're saying August 9 is when I will be clear to fly." When Narelle returns to Sydney, she said she will have surgery on her pelvis and hip. Aaron said he wouldn't be leaving her until he could bring her back home. "When I first spoke to her, she said, 'Bring me home'. That's my job. If she asks, I'm doing it," he said. A GoFundMe was organised to help Narelle, Aaron and Pam with miscellaneous incidental costs until they are all home. Those wishing to donate can find the fundraiser here. Through intermittent puffs of oxygen, Narelle Massey recalls how she somersaulted during a serious quad bike crash that disrupted her travel plans. Just over a week ago, Ms Massey lay alone with no privacy and a difficult language barrier in a Greek public hospital, unsure about why her travel insurance had denied her claim. "After your story ran, my husband received a phone call from the insurance company saying they had reassessed my claim and they said it had been approved," she told ACM's Bega District News. "I was waiting for it in writing as I wasn't going to get excited until I had it in writing, and that came." Since then, the Merimbula resident's son Aaron Reid had raced to be by her side. He had taken a last-minute flight from Sydney with a wheelchair among his luggage, prepared to bring her home. Prior to Narelle's emergency stay, she had been enjoying an overseas holiday with her sister Pam, when the pair decided to go on a quad biking tour. Sadly, the unthinkable occurred, and the sisters crashed, resulting in numerous injuries. Narelle sustained a punctured lung, splenic hematoma, fractured spine, broken ribs and a broken pelvis. "I absolutely remember it. It went in slow motion. We were coming around a left-hand bend, my sister was driving," the 62-year-old recalled. "The bend wasn't like we have in Australia, and it was a bit sharper than Pam thought, and so she went to correct herself, and the front wheel came up, and we hit gravel. "We slid into the stone wall. Pam went over the handlebars and the stone wall, and I flew over the top of her and somersaulted, landing in a little grass patch with stones around." The Far South Coast woman was airlifted from Naxos, a Greek island in the South Aegean, to Athens for treatment. She had been in the hospital for two weeks when she spoke to ACM's Bega District News on July 14. "The first week was horrendous to say the least," Ms Massey said. She described her hospital room as being from the 1970s. "There's nothing modern. There are no curtains around to separate people. The window in the room is broken. It's 37 degrees outside and [it feels like] it's 90 in here," Ms Massey said. "I am starting to improve a bit, health-wise, but not many people speak English fluently, so I have to rely on other people to tell me what they've said. "They are looking at transferring me to a physiotherapy facility rather than being in the hospital, because of the chance of getting an infection, and they don't want that to happen. "I've probably got another three weeks. They're saying August 9 is when I will be clear to fly." When Narelle returns to Sydney, she said she will have surgery on her pelvis and hip. Aaron said he wouldn't be leaving her until he could bring her back home. "When I first spoke to her, she said, 'Bring me home'. That's my job. If she asks, I'm doing it," he said. A GoFundMe was organised to help Narelle, Aaron and Pam with miscellaneous incidental costs until they are all home. Those wishing to donate can find the fundraiser here.
The Advertiser
11-07-2025
- The Advertiser
Son vows to get injured lifesaver mum home from Greece after serious crash
An injured Australian resident lies alone in a Greek public hospital with no privacy, a language barrier, unclothed, with just a sheet across her. Narelle Massey was on an overseas holiday and had been enjoying an ATV ride with her sister when the unthinkable occurred, which resulted in numerous injuries. Narelle, from Merimbula in NSW, sustained a punctured lung, splenic hematoma, fractured spine, broken ribs and a broken pelvis. The woman was airlifted from Naxos, a Greek island in the South Aegea, to Athens for treatment. But her son Aaron Reid said the experience had been terrible. Aaron was standing at the Sydney International Airport on July 10, with a wheelchair among his luggage, prepared to fly to see his mum and arrange plans to bring her home. "I won't be leaving her until I bring her back home," he told ACM's Bega District News. "Mum's an amazing human, mate. She's a volunteer surf life saver and helps every year with the Pambula same wave program." "She's been a surf lifesaver since 17. She was one of the first female life rescue radio operators. "I just have to get there," Mr Reid stressed. He said it had been difficult to communicate due to the difference in time zones and the language barrier. However, he had spoken with the embassy over there numerous times and they had helped. Narelle and her sister Pam were originally going to the United Kingdom for a family wedding, but had decided to go via Greece when the unfortunate incident happened. Due to a health insurance dispute with Narelle's bank, Aaron was looking to an ombudsman. "They denied the insurance. She thought she was covered for the ATV, and they've denied it all. We have the reports for it all," he said. "It went from bad to worse. It's been frustrating for everyone involved." Tracy Wallis, a friend of Narelle's from Yellow Pinch, organised a GoFundMe to raise donations to help bring her home to the Far South Coast. "She's pretty down," Ms Wallis said, as she described her friend's spirits. "She had her insurance. She rang them and asked them before she went on the quad bike if she needed extra cover, as she's a very cross-the-T's and dot-the-I's type of person," she said. "They told her no. She accepted that the insurance she had would be ok. "Since she had the [incident] they are refusing to cover her because she didn't have the extra cover." Those wishing to donate can find the fundraiser here. An injured Australian resident lies alone in a Greek public hospital with no privacy, a language barrier, unclothed, with just a sheet across her. Narelle Massey was on an overseas holiday and had been enjoying an ATV ride with her sister when the unthinkable occurred, which resulted in numerous injuries. Narelle, from Merimbula in NSW, sustained a punctured lung, splenic hematoma, fractured spine, broken ribs and a broken pelvis. The woman was airlifted from Naxos, a Greek island in the South Aegea, to Athens for treatment. But her son Aaron Reid said the experience had been terrible. Aaron was standing at the Sydney International Airport on July 10, with a wheelchair among his luggage, prepared to fly to see his mum and arrange plans to bring her home. "I won't be leaving her until I bring her back home," he told ACM's Bega District News. "Mum's an amazing human, mate. She's a volunteer surf life saver and helps every year with the Pambula same wave program." "She's been a surf lifesaver since 17. She was one of the first female life rescue radio operators. "I just have to get there," Mr Reid stressed. He said it had been difficult to communicate due to the difference in time zones and the language barrier. However, he had spoken with the embassy over there numerous times and they had helped. Narelle and her sister Pam were originally going to the United Kingdom for a family wedding, but had decided to go via Greece when the unfortunate incident happened. Due to a health insurance dispute with Narelle's bank, Aaron was looking to an ombudsman. "They denied the insurance. She thought she was covered for the ATV, and they've denied it all. We have the reports for it all," he said. "It went from bad to worse. It's been frustrating for everyone involved." Tracy Wallis, a friend of Narelle's from Yellow Pinch, organised a GoFundMe to raise donations to help bring her home to the Far South Coast. "She's pretty down," Ms Wallis said, as she described her friend's spirits. "She had her insurance. She rang them and asked them before she went on the quad bike if she needed extra cover, as she's a very cross-the-T's and dot-the-I's type of person," she said. "They told her no. She accepted that the insurance she had would be ok. "Since she had the [incident] they are refusing to cover her because she didn't have the extra cover." Those wishing to donate can find the fundraiser here. An injured Australian resident lies alone in a Greek public hospital with no privacy, a language barrier, unclothed, with just a sheet across her. Narelle Massey was on an overseas holiday and had been enjoying an ATV ride with her sister when the unthinkable occurred, which resulted in numerous injuries. Narelle, from Merimbula in NSW, sustained a punctured lung, splenic hematoma, fractured spine, broken ribs and a broken pelvis. The woman was airlifted from Naxos, a Greek island in the South Aegea, to Athens for treatment. But her son Aaron Reid said the experience had been terrible. Aaron was standing at the Sydney International Airport on July 10, with a wheelchair among his luggage, prepared to fly to see his mum and arrange plans to bring her home. "I won't be leaving her until I bring her back home," he told ACM's Bega District News. "Mum's an amazing human, mate. She's a volunteer surf life saver and helps every year with the Pambula same wave program." "She's been a surf lifesaver since 17. She was one of the first female life rescue radio operators. "I just have to get there," Mr Reid stressed. He said it had been difficult to communicate due to the difference in time zones and the language barrier. However, he had spoken with the embassy over there numerous times and they had helped. Narelle and her sister Pam were originally going to the United Kingdom for a family wedding, but had decided to go via Greece when the unfortunate incident happened. Due to a health insurance dispute with Narelle's bank, Aaron was looking to an ombudsman. "They denied the insurance. She thought she was covered for the ATV, and they've denied it all. We have the reports for it all," he said. "It went from bad to worse. It's been frustrating for everyone involved." Tracy Wallis, a friend of Narelle's from Yellow Pinch, organised a GoFundMe to raise donations to help bring her home to the Far South Coast. "She's pretty down," Ms Wallis said, as she described her friend's spirits. "She had her insurance. She rang them and asked them before she went on the quad bike if she needed extra cover, as she's a very cross-the-T's and dot-the-I's type of person," she said. "They told her no. She accepted that the insurance she had would be ok. "Since she had the [incident] they are refusing to cover her because she didn't have the extra cover." Those wishing to donate can find the fundraiser here. An injured Australian resident lies alone in a Greek public hospital with no privacy, a language barrier, unclothed, with just a sheet across her. Narelle Massey was on an overseas holiday and had been enjoying an ATV ride with her sister when the unthinkable occurred, which resulted in numerous injuries. Narelle, from Merimbula in NSW, sustained a punctured lung, splenic hematoma, fractured spine, broken ribs and a broken pelvis. The woman was airlifted from Naxos, a Greek island in the South Aegea, to Athens for treatment. But her son Aaron Reid said the experience had been terrible. Aaron was standing at the Sydney International Airport on July 10, with a wheelchair among his luggage, prepared to fly to see his mum and arrange plans to bring her home. "I won't be leaving her until I bring her back home," he told ACM's Bega District News. "Mum's an amazing human, mate. She's a volunteer surf life saver and helps every year with the Pambula same wave program." "She's been a surf lifesaver since 17. She was one of the first female life rescue radio operators. "I just have to get there," Mr Reid stressed. He said it had been difficult to communicate due to the difference in time zones and the language barrier. However, he had spoken with the embassy over there numerous times and they had helped. Narelle and her sister Pam were originally going to the United Kingdom for a family wedding, but had decided to go via Greece when the unfortunate incident happened. Due to a health insurance dispute with Narelle's bank, Aaron was looking to an ombudsman. "They denied the insurance. She thought she was covered for the ATV, and they've denied it all. We have the reports for it all," he said. "It went from bad to worse. It's been frustrating for everyone involved." Tracy Wallis, a friend of Narelle's from Yellow Pinch, organised a GoFundMe to raise donations to help bring her home to the Far South Coast. "She's pretty down," Ms Wallis said, as she described her friend's spirits. "She had her insurance. She rang them and asked them before she went on the quad bike if she needed extra cover, as she's a very cross-the-T's and dot-the-I's type of person," she said. "They told her no. She accepted that the insurance she had would be ok. "Since she had the [incident] they are refusing to cover her because she didn't have the extra cover." Those wishing to donate can find the fundraiser here.
The Advertiser
27-06-2025
- General
- The Advertiser
How inheriting a dog named Jeffrey changed a young woman's life
Voice of Real Australia is a regular newsletter from the local news teams of the ACM network, which stretches into every state and territory. Today's is written by Bega District News journalist Jimmy Parker. When Cami Hartnett discovered an ink-smudged letter on her late best friend's kitchen counter, the simple but powerful request of four words reshaped her future. "Take care of Jeffrey," it read. In that sombre moment, she made a promise. Months earlier, Cami's best friend Dan discovered an abandoned cardboard box on the side of the road in Blacktown. However, the contents inside weren't the usual items destined for the landfill. They were breathing. "Jeffrey had a couple of little mates inside the box, but they didn't survive. It was just Jeffrey, a six-week-old, Bull Arab cross," Cami recalled. "Jeffrey brought Dan so much joy for the six months he was there, and that's probably what kept him going. "But then, one day, I couldn't get on to Dan for a couple of days. So I went over there, and unfortunately, I found Dan with Jeffrey lying on him. "I had never heard a dog cry, ever. But Jeffrey was blubbering, and tears were coming from his eyes." Grief-stricken, lost, trembling and sobbing, both the then eight-month-old puppy and Cami became inseparable. Together, the pair tried to navigate a world that suddenly felt "emptier and darker" than it previously did. "I bundled up this tiny little thing. I didn't know how to support him through it, and I didn't know how to deal with this situation," Cami said. "At the time, I was a disaster, and I think he needed a lot more support than I could give." Cami had always envisioned a career surrounded by animals, this admiration evident in the tattooed reminders on her skin. "I was always obsessed with animals from as far back as I can remember," she said. "I always wanted to be a vet, but my brain didn't function well at school, so the ATAR wasn't going to be high enough." After high school, Cami took a gap year and went to Africa. She joined a tiger and lion conservation park that had a captive breeding program where she helped release big cats back into game reserves. "The park also took on a lot of lions and tigers that people had taken on as pets, due to a really bad exotic animal trade, and [many] had ended up eating family members or hurting family members," Cami said. When she returned to Australia, she studied zoology, animal management and vet nursing. But it was that note on the kitchen bench and Jeffrey that inspired her to establish "Trail Sniffers Dog Behaviour and Training" to help others navigate, train and advocate for dogs. During Jeffrey's adolescent years, Cami said he began to get antsy, reactive, and had some negative experiences with other dogs. Reactive canines might appear aggressive when, in reality, it was an overreaction rooted in distress, from fear, excitement, or frustration. Cami stressed that reactive dogs were not bad; they were just misunderstood pups. "I had no idea what this was," Cami said. "I knew I had to learn. I owed it to Dan, Jeffrey, and myself to be the best guardian I could be. "I'd seen dogs at the vet being aggressive because they're in pain, so I reached out to Ian Shivers from Bondi Behaviourist. He's a dog guru. He taught me everything. "I never thought about the 'why' behind a dog's behaviour, I just thought it was happening and you've got to stop it, when realistically, Jeffrey was triggered by incredible trauma that would affect anyone." Cami said she learnt that it wasn't about changing Jeffrey's behaviour, but supporting him, and helping him feel safe. "Once I started chatting with Ian, I decided that's what I wanted to do, help other people understand their dogs," she said with a smile. Based in Merimbula, Trail Sniffers offered virtual behaviour and training services, making behaviour and training support accessible from anywhere in the world. Suitable to dogs of all ages, from puppies to seniors, Trail Sniffers aimed to help pet parents address common "problem" behavioural issues, understand body language, and how to better meet their needs. Support is available for those who may be distressed. Phone Lifeline 13 11 14; Men's Referral Service 1300 776 491; Kids Helpline 1800 551 800; beyondblue 1300 224 636; 1800-RESPECT 1800 737 732 or 13YARN 13 92 76. Voice of Real Australia is a regular newsletter from the local news teams of the ACM network, which stretches into every state and territory. Today's is written by Bega District News journalist Jimmy Parker. When Cami Hartnett discovered an ink-smudged letter on her late best friend's kitchen counter, the simple but powerful request of four words reshaped her future. "Take care of Jeffrey," it read. In that sombre moment, she made a promise. Months earlier, Cami's best friend Dan discovered an abandoned cardboard box on the side of the road in Blacktown. However, the contents inside weren't the usual items destined for the landfill. They were breathing. "Jeffrey had a couple of little mates inside the box, but they didn't survive. It was just Jeffrey, a six-week-old, Bull Arab cross," Cami recalled. "Jeffrey brought Dan so much joy for the six months he was there, and that's probably what kept him going. "But then, one day, I couldn't get on to Dan for a couple of days. So I went over there, and unfortunately, I found Dan with Jeffrey lying on him. "I had never heard a dog cry, ever. But Jeffrey was blubbering, and tears were coming from his eyes." Grief-stricken, lost, trembling and sobbing, both the then eight-month-old puppy and Cami became inseparable. Together, the pair tried to navigate a world that suddenly felt "emptier and darker" than it previously did. "I bundled up this tiny little thing. I didn't know how to support him through it, and I didn't know how to deal with this situation," Cami said. "At the time, I was a disaster, and I think he needed a lot more support than I could give." Cami had always envisioned a career surrounded by animals, this admiration evident in the tattooed reminders on her skin. "I was always obsessed with animals from as far back as I can remember," she said. "I always wanted to be a vet, but my brain didn't function well at school, so the ATAR wasn't going to be high enough." After high school, Cami took a gap year and went to Africa. She joined a tiger and lion conservation park that had a captive breeding program where she helped release big cats back into game reserves. "The park also took on a lot of lions and tigers that people had taken on as pets, due to a really bad exotic animal trade, and [many] had ended up eating family members or hurting family members," Cami said. When she returned to Australia, she studied zoology, animal management and vet nursing. But it was that note on the kitchen bench and Jeffrey that inspired her to establish "Trail Sniffers Dog Behaviour and Training" to help others navigate, train and advocate for dogs. During Jeffrey's adolescent years, Cami said he began to get antsy, reactive, and had some negative experiences with other dogs. Reactive canines might appear aggressive when, in reality, it was an overreaction rooted in distress, from fear, excitement, or frustration. Cami stressed that reactive dogs were not bad; they were just misunderstood pups. "I had no idea what this was," Cami said. "I knew I had to learn. I owed it to Dan, Jeffrey, and myself to be the best guardian I could be. "I'd seen dogs at the vet being aggressive because they're in pain, so I reached out to Ian Shivers from Bondi Behaviourist. He's a dog guru. He taught me everything. "I never thought about the 'why' behind a dog's behaviour, I just thought it was happening and you've got to stop it, when realistically, Jeffrey was triggered by incredible trauma that would affect anyone." Cami said she learnt that it wasn't about changing Jeffrey's behaviour, but supporting him, and helping him feel safe. "Once I started chatting with Ian, I decided that's what I wanted to do, help other people understand their dogs," she said with a smile. Based in Merimbula, Trail Sniffers offered virtual behaviour and training services, making behaviour and training support accessible from anywhere in the world. Suitable to dogs of all ages, from puppies to seniors, Trail Sniffers aimed to help pet parents address common "problem" behavioural issues, understand body language, and how to better meet their needs. Support is available for those who may be distressed. Phone Lifeline 13 11 14; Men's Referral Service 1300 776 491; Kids Helpline 1800 551 800; beyondblue 1300 224 636; 1800-RESPECT 1800 737 732 or 13YARN 13 92 76. Voice of Real Australia is a regular newsletter from the local news teams of the ACM network, which stretches into every state and territory. Today's is written by Bega District News journalist Jimmy Parker. When Cami Hartnett discovered an ink-smudged letter on her late best friend's kitchen counter, the simple but powerful request of four words reshaped her future. "Take care of Jeffrey," it read. In that sombre moment, she made a promise. Months earlier, Cami's best friend Dan discovered an abandoned cardboard box on the side of the road in Blacktown. However, the contents inside weren't the usual items destined for the landfill. They were breathing. "Jeffrey had a couple of little mates inside the box, but they didn't survive. It was just Jeffrey, a six-week-old, Bull Arab cross," Cami recalled. "Jeffrey brought Dan so much joy for the six months he was there, and that's probably what kept him going. "But then, one day, I couldn't get on to Dan for a couple of days. So I went over there, and unfortunately, I found Dan with Jeffrey lying on him. "I had never heard a dog cry, ever. But Jeffrey was blubbering, and tears were coming from his eyes." Grief-stricken, lost, trembling and sobbing, both the then eight-month-old puppy and Cami became inseparable. Together, the pair tried to navigate a world that suddenly felt "emptier and darker" than it previously did. "I bundled up this tiny little thing. I didn't know how to support him through it, and I didn't know how to deal with this situation," Cami said. "At the time, I was a disaster, and I think he needed a lot more support than I could give." Cami had always envisioned a career surrounded by animals, this admiration evident in the tattooed reminders on her skin. "I was always obsessed with animals from as far back as I can remember," she said. "I always wanted to be a vet, but my brain didn't function well at school, so the ATAR wasn't going to be high enough." After high school, Cami took a gap year and went to Africa. She joined a tiger and lion conservation park that had a captive breeding program where she helped release big cats back into game reserves. "The park also took on a lot of lions and tigers that people had taken on as pets, due to a really bad exotic animal trade, and [many] had ended up eating family members or hurting family members," Cami said. When she returned to Australia, she studied zoology, animal management and vet nursing. But it was that note on the kitchen bench and Jeffrey that inspired her to establish "Trail Sniffers Dog Behaviour and Training" to help others navigate, train and advocate for dogs. During Jeffrey's adolescent years, Cami said he began to get antsy, reactive, and had some negative experiences with other dogs. Reactive canines might appear aggressive when, in reality, it was an overreaction rooted in distress, from fear, excitement, or frustration. Cami stressed that reactive dogs were not bad; they were just misunderstood pups. "I had no idea what this was," Cami said. "I knew I had to learn. I owed it to Dan, Jeffrey, and myself to be the best guardian I could be. "I'd seen dogs at the vet being aggressive because they're in pain, so I reached out to Ian Shivers from Bondi Behaviourist. He's a dog guru. He taught me everything. "I never thought about the 'why' behind a dog's behaviour, I just thought it was happening and you've got to stop it, when realistically, Jeffrey was triggered by incredible trauma that would affect anyone." Cami said she learnt that it wasn't about changing Jeffrey's behaviour, but supporting him, and helping him feel safe. "Once I started chatting with Ian, I decided that's what I wanted to do, help other people understand their dogs," she said with a smile. Based in Merimbula, Trail Sniffers offered virtual behaviour and training services, making behaviour and training support accessible from anywhere in the world. Suitable to dogs of all ages, from puppies to seniors, Trail Sniffers aimed to help pet parents address common "problem" behavioural issues, understand body language, and how to better meet their needs. Support is available for those who may be distressed. Phone Lifeline 13 11 14; Men's Referral Service 1300 776 491; Kids Helpline 1800 551 800; beyondblue 1300 224 636; 1800-RESPECT 1800 737 732 or 13YARN 13 92 76. Voice of Real Australia is a regular newsletter from the local news teams of the ACM network, which stretches into every state and territory. Today's is written by Bega District News journalist Jimmy Parker. When Cami Hartnett discovered an ink-smudged letter on her late best friend's kitchen counter, the simple but powerful request of four words reshaped her future. "Take care of Jeffrey," it read. In that sombre moment, she made a promise. Months earlier, Cami's best friend Dan discovered an abandoned cardboard box on the side of the road in Blacktown. However, the contents inside weren't the usual items destined for the landfill. They were breathing. "Jeffrey had a couple of little mates inside the box, but they didn't survive. It was just Jeffrey, a six-week-old, Bull Arab cross," Cami recalled. "Jeffrey brought Dan so much joy for the six months he was there, and that's probably what kept him going. "But then, one day, I couldn't get on to Dan for a couple of days. So I went over there, and unfortunately, I found Dan with Jeffrey lying on him. "I had never heard a dog cry, ever. But Jeffrey was blubbering, and tears were coming from his eyes." Grief-stricken, lost, trembling and sobbing, both the then eight-month-old puppy and Cami became inseparable. Together, the pair tried to navigate a world that suddenly felt "emptier and darker" than it previously did. "I bundled up this tiny little thing. I didn't know how to support him through it, and I didn't know how to deal with this situation," Cami said. "At the time, I was a disaster, and I think he needed a lot more support than I could give." Cami had always envisioned a career surrounded by animals, this admiration evident in the tattooed reminders on her skin. "I was always obsessed with animals from as far back as I can remember," she said. "I always wanted to be a vet, but my brain didn't function well at school, so the ATAR wasn't going to be high enough." After high school, Cami took a gap year and went to Africa. She joined a tiger and lion conservation park that had a captive breeding program where she helped release big cats back into game reserves. "The park also took on a lot of lions and tigers that people had taken on as pets, due to a really bad exotic animal trade, and [many] had ended up eating family members or hurting family members," Cami said. When she returned to Australia, she studied zoology, animal management and vet nursing. But it was that note on the kitchen bench and Jeffrey that inspired her to establish "Trail Sniffers Dog Behaviour and Training" to help others navigate, train and advocate for dogs. During Jeffrey's adolescent years, Cami said he began to get antsy, reactive, and had some negative experiences with other dogs. Reactive canines might appear aggressive when, in reality, it was an overreaction rooted in distress, from fear, excitement, or frustration. Cami stressed that reactive dogs were not bad; they were just misunderstood pups. "I had no idea what this was," Cami said. "I knew I had to learn. I owed it to Dan, Jeffrey, and myself to be the best guardian I could be. "I'd seen dogs at the vet being aggressive because they're in pain, so I reached out to Ian Shivers from Bondi Behaviourist. He's a dog guru. He taught me everything. "I never thought about the 'why' behind a dog's behaviour, I just thought it was happening and you've got to stop it, when realistically, Jeffrey was triggered by incredible trauma that would affect anyone." Cami said she learnt that it wasn't about changing Jeffrey's behaviour, but supporting him, and helping him feel safe. "Once I started chatting with Ian, I decided that's what I wanted to do, help other people understand their dogs," she said with a smile. Based in Merimbula, Trail Sniffers offered virtual behaviour and training services, making behaviour and training support accessible from anywhere in the world. Suitable to dogs of all ages, from puppies to seniors, Trail Sniffers aimed to help pet parents address common "problem" behavioural issues, understand body language, and how to better meet their needs. Support is available for those who may be distressed. Phone Lifeline 13 11 14; Men's Referral Service 1300 776 491; Kids Helpline 1800 551 800; beyondblue 1300 224 636; 1800-RESPECT 1800 737 732 or 13YARN 13 92 76.
