On Wednesday the 15th June 2005, Chester died.

Master of the house

With Leo

With Barb at Yabba Ck Wier

This could be a very long story, as he was born in October 1990, but I will keep it short.

He was a gorgeous little dog, the runt of the litter, a cross between a shitzu and a terrier.

When he came to us he was three weeks old. Andy, 10 years old at the time, discovered him in the course
of violin lessons with neighbours a few blocks away, and there was no refusing such a beautiful little pup.

While he was a constant companion to the boys, he was more of a companion to me, particularly once I started
working at Northey St City Farm, a community garden only ten minutes walk from home.

He accompanied me there from 1994 until the day he died. It was there that he died. By this time he was almost blind, and fairly deaf, and lived by and for smell alone. But that did not stop him making the walk down there, and visiting all of his old haunts. In the course of those visits he occasionally crossed the busy Northey St, a minor arterial road, and it was here that he was struck down by a utility. It did not stop. It was drizzling rain, and the driver may not even have seen him. But others did. Two women in a sedan stopped and rescued him from the road, taking him to the footpath. One of them them entered the farm, seeking the owner, and thus found me. When I got to him he was already dead.

It was quick and merciful. He had had a wonderful morning, skipping down to the farm that morning following four days of being bound at home. But the previous Friday we had taken him to Bribie, and there he delighted in a two hour walk along the beach.

About to roll down the dune

Walking the beach with Barb

Today, Thursday, we buried him. We had a small funeral ceremony, with about a dozen people in attendance, mostly workers at the farm, and Barb. We each took a turn to say a few words and lay in a shovel of dirt. Barb made it five - one for her, one for Andy, one for Jim, one for Vicki, and one for Paul. Bip sent the balloons as a way of farewell.

Taking turns with the shovel 1	Taking turns with the shovel 2	Chesters grave with flowers
Chesters grave under bunya pine	Celebrating a life that was	Chesters grave from the road

He was a much loved dog. He had a great life, free, and happy, for the most of it.

He will be long remembered.