GUEST SPEAKER - PETER ABBOTT

Rachel introduced Peter Abbott, Manager Tourism Services. Peter was invited to provide an update on the impact the film Odd Ball has had on local tourism.

Peter has been with the Warrnambool Council for 9 years. In his role he manages tourism services, Flagstaff Hill, the Visitor Information Centre, Foreshore Holiday Parks, and 4 years ago he took over management of 4 maremma dogs. Peter said in the early days of Warrnambool, Middle Island had a lighthouse on it, and was easily accessible to people and predators at low tide. Foxes killed hundreds of penguins. The population on the island got down to 4 penguins. A local man, known as Swampy, had trained maremma dogs to guard his free range chickens and suggested the dogs could be trained to do the same for the penguins. In 2011 Steve Kearney, whilst visiting Fun4Kids learned about the project to train maremma dogs and started a movie script development. In 2013 movie funding was confirmed. Shane Jacobson played Swampy. On 17 September 2015 the movie Odd Ball was released in Australia. Since it has been released in the UK, NZ, Italy and Slovenia, and will open in the USA in June. It has certainly put Warrnambool on the map.

Peter wanted to especially thank Doug and Marcelle Maclean who care for the dogs at home when they are not working on the island.