Welcome to our new face book page. Please enjoy looking at our dogs both past and present. page dedicated to our dogs and associated activities
12/11/2024
In August 1999 my sister Elaine and I were invited to Colleen & Jack McDaniel’s at Whistlestop so that we could attend the IWSCOPS match. Elaine was looking for an IWS girl to take back to Edmonton and then moved to Australia when Elaine retired. She returned the following year to collect her beloved Neala. That 1999 weekend was to become a major turning point for our Irish Water Spaniels in Australia and the direction in which we would go with future plans.
At the match we met Nancy Wiley and a litter of puppies. Plans for one of the puppies to come to us in Australia were put into place. Puppies were run on until it was time to pick. Aislinn was the one selected as the most suitable partner for Casey [Grand Ch Yehudi of Currabell (Imp Eire)] and the one with the most potential to fulfil our aspirations for the breed here. She was to stay in the States to hopefully attain her title before joining us. The first titled (Champion) IWS to Australia arrived the following year.
Aislinn was a real character. She was fondly called Aislinn van Haasteren-Wiley, except when she not in favour, when she reverted to being Aislinn Wiley!!
Late 2004 Nancy was able to visit for some weeks. I drove over to Melbourne with Casey and Ash as we were having Casey collected for Nancy. After greeting Nancy we went to my van. Our gentle Ash was a different beast when in charge of any vehicle. With enlarged black eyes, Ash told Nancy to get the heck out. Nancy quietly spoke to Ash in the way she had five years before. To witness the reaction was a memory etched - the tail wagged gently at first and progressed to a full body swing. Nancy was here to see our girl gain the final points to make her Australia’s first Grand Champion IWS bitch. She was also the first IWS bitch to go Best in Show. Nancy joined us as we welcomed our first grandchild though she did manage to sleep through the midnight emergency caesarean delivery.
After several unsuccessful AIs, we opted to try to bring in an adult male should we be able to find some-one willing to part with one. We asked Nancy to try to find one for us. She found a young male that Colleen would let us have. There was an issue we should be aware of, he was an escape artist! A distressed call to Greg Siner explaining our concerns that neither our daughter nor we had kennels. Greg knew the dog and his response was “Tie the …. dog up then!” A panic call to Nancy that we definitely wanted the boy so please go ahead. It turned out the boy was only seeking the company of a playmate in another yard. Nancy handled the details including the quarantine and export arrangements, and so Gibbs arrived downunder and we were given the privilege of allowing an incredible dog to shine.
We will always be thankful to Nancy for the massive contribution and support she gave us. Her knowledge and help was always just a call away.
Eternal grateful thanks for all you did for us Nancy. Rest peacefully, you’ll never be forgotten.
