ON Friday 11 September, a herd of donkeys from Glen William Good Samaritan Donkey Sanctuary was loaded onto transport destined for Melbourne.
Affectionately known as the ‘Travelling Donkeys’, they’ll be performing at the Melbourne Royal Show.
It won’t be their first performance, just their first in Melbourne.
In March, they were a feature of the Sydney Royal Show under the care of Dave Manchon, owner of Tamworth’s Rooftop Express, an entertainment company specialising in Australian equine and livestock.
Twenty donkeys took centre stage in Sydney in a performance called ‘Imagine a Horse’.
Alexandra (Sandy) Kokas-Magnussen, manager of the Good Samaritan Donkey Sanctuary, explained that the travelling donkeys ‘bring the country to the city’, allowing city families to connect with rural Australia in meaningful ways.
Sandy is the daughter of founder Jo Anne Kokas, who has been rescuing donkeys since 1972. Jo Anne Kokas is a recipient of the Order of Australia Medal recognising her outstanding work and dedication to animal welfare.
According to Sandy, over four thousand donkeys have been rescued since the Donkey Sanctuary opened its gates.
The sanctuary currently has over 100 donkeys in care, 15 in a dedicated intensive care unit.
Every donkey has a name and a personality to match.
The donkeys have their own paddock areas according to need, along with affectionate herd names like the ‘JC Crew’ (Jenny Craig Crew), a small group of donkeys with special nutritional needs.
The Donkey Sanctuary is entirely run by caring volunteers from the Dungog Shire.
It relies solely on public donations. Volunteers over the age of 18 are welcome.
By Megan WILLIS
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