Gem was the first to notice the visitor. After barking from a distance she softly approached with a dipped head and lay at the reporter’s feet for pats. In comparison, Rusty marched up, glared, barked twice and pranced off.
Photo by
Daneka Hill
It’s a case of polar opposites on the Stedmans’ sheep and cropping enterprise in Caniambo. Their senior herding dog Gem is gentle, intelligent and a good listener, while her up-and-coming replacement Rusty has been labelled a boofhead and “a bit different” by the workers and farmer Locky Stedman.
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How many dogs are on the farm?
There is Gem, Rusty and my sister’s border collie Tilly.
Tell us about Gem.
Gem is six years old maybe. Six, seven, eight — somewhere in there. She’s getting older. She’s a pure kelpie and our herding dog. She’s really good with the sheep, she listens to you most of the time and she’ll do what you want, which makes things a lot easier. She’s pretty shy.
Gem and Locky Stedman.
Photo by
Daneka Hill
What’s Rusty like?
Rusty is Dad’s dog (Trevor Stedman). He’s only learning and would be a year old. Rusty is supposed to be the up-and-coming one but he’s a bit of a s***-head.
The handsome Rusty strikes a pose ...
Photo by
Daneka Hill
... then takes a break to lick the trailer.
Photo by
Daneka Hill
Do you only have one main working dog?
Gem is still the main working dog. She’s just a really good dog and she loves to be by your side, whether you’re on the tractor, on the bike or whatever. And she really likes to go around the sheep.
Rusty dutifully practices his sheep glare on the workers — and jumps in to ‘handle’ the situation when the welding sparks fly.
Photo by
Daneka Hill
How did you get Gem?
I believe she was given to our grandpa and he gave her to us.
“Gem will often sit with a smile on her face,” Locky says.
Photo by
Daneka Hill
