What a journey, Colonel Dingo!

The Bribie Island community is very lucky to have our dedicated Vietnam Veterans, who every fortnight volunteer to keep the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park looking beautiful.

Every second Thursday the veterans would start their whipper-snippers and lawnmowers and, without fail, Colonel Dingo, who lived across the road, would sneak out and hang with the Diggers in the park while they worked. Yes, you guessed it - there was food involved. Every fortnight the boys would have a barbecue and extra was always put on for their friend Dingo. In recognition of his comradeship the veterans some years ago presented their loyal mate with a dog tag bearing the inscription “1K9 Col. Dingo”.

Rod Devenish-Meares, President of The Bribie Island & District Sub Branch, Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia, fondly talks about Dingo and the wonderful memories of times they shared in the park while they were working. “There are about ten of us who work on the park gardens and edges, and Dingo was always there with us,” said Rod. The council rangers eventually accepted Dingo roaming in the park with the vets, and no one could stop him going to the park every fortnight to join his pals at their BBQ.

Dingo was sixteen-and-a-half and he passed away late last month.

On September 2 the locals who knew Dingo all came together at Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park to celebrate Dingo’s life. There were tears and lovely stories told of Dings and how he touched each and everyone of us with his infectious smile every day. He was a well-loved dog, not only by his family but by anyone who was lucky enough to spend time with him. Dingo loved people and other dogs and you couldn’t help but love him.

The veterans rely solely on fundraisers to keep the park looking the way it does and to keep it in the beautiful condition it is. There are many memorials held in this pristine parkland and every year on Anzac Day the park comes alive with over 100 locals attending the service.

Dingo now has a plaque at the memorial park in his honour, and Dingo’s mum, Vicki Cooper, and Samantha Gibson were there to thank the boys for looking after him so well every fortnight. Dingo’s brother, Bo Gibson, was unable to be there on the day. However, he was there in the photos and in Spirit for his best friend, Dings.

Dingo, you will be missed by all.