Viewers of ABC TV’s Muster Dogs would have noticed Walcha grazier Sam Mackaway and his bright shirts, but they’re more than a fashion statement, and he’s hoping they’ll save lives after his own tragic losses.
Sam is currently starring as one of the ABC TV’s Muster Dogs participants, but has an important message to share as part of his television appearances with Border Collie, Captain.
The award-winning show has captured the hearts of Australians across the country and, no doubt, beyond our shores, and the Walcha farmer is using the opportunity to highlight mental health among farmers and tradies through This Is A Conversation Starter (TIACS) shirts.
During his electrical apprenticeship, another apprentice took a year ahead of him took his own life and, his dad’s uncle died by suicide just as filming for Muster Dogs began.
The TIACS shirts are designed to grab attention with their bright designs, and encourage people to speak up if they’re not okay.
“I love those shirts, I love the designs, and I love what they stand for and getting people to talk about what’s going on with their head noise, and getting on top of that,” Sam said.
“If people see something and it starts a conversation, that’s worthwhile.”
While the show has only recently begun airing, Sam said life on his New England property has been busy with sowing season underway.
“There’s been a few phone calls and interviews, but I’m still here doing the same work,” he said.
However, he now has a new mate by his side in form of Border Collie Captain, his Muster Dog.
Sam applied to be part of Muster Dogs to learn more about properly training a working dog for mustering and farm work.
The training came with its usual challenges of working with a puppy as a rookie trainer, but Sam’s journey was interrupted by injury through the show, but consistency paid off in the end.
“I wasn’t able to do anything with him,” he said.
“And when a working dog’s bored, they get into trouble pretty quickly.”
With Sam off his feet, Captain missed the regular mental engagement needed for training, but was back on track once Sam could get back into training.
“We just kept chipping away at it a bit everyday and that’s how it works,” he said.
The results became clear as the series progressed, with Captain adapting to situations well beyond the paddock gates. The finale, filmed in an unfamiliar environment filled with distractions, tested the rookie working dog in ways he’d never experienced before.
“He’d never been off the farm,” Sam said. “Different dogs, people, and cameras, so everything was new. I was really happy with how he handled it.”
For Sam, the biggest thing he’s taken from Muster Dogs was learning how to train dogs deliberately, rather than solely relying on instinct. He’s moved onto a property with limited fencing infrastructure which meant he needed dogs capable of thinking and working independently.
“I knew I’d be working on my own a lot more and I needed dogs that could really do the job properly,” Sam said.
Captain isn’t the only dog who has benefited, as Sam said his other dogs have also learned a lot.
“They’ve all lifted,” he said.
“They work better together now, and I understand what they need from me.”
Captain has settled into his role on the team, continuing his training while mustering sheep and cattle and showering Sam, his wife and their children with plenty of affection.
“He’s doing what he was bred to do and that’s really the point of it all,” Sam said.
Muster Dogs airs on ABC TV each Sunday night at 7.30pm or you can check out the whole series on ABC iView.
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