Dog on the tuckerbox

You could be mistaken for thinking the dog in this statue was a famous dog known to all in the district.  Perhaps a ‘red dog’ type.  And maybe it was at the time but the only thing seems to be documented rhymes.

The ‘poem inspired’ pooch near Gundagai cast in bronze was placed for all to admire in 1932.  It was unveiled by the Joseph Lyons who was our prime minister at the time.   A dog on a tuckerbox was described in the poem or song ‘Bullocky Bill’ and it is said this became the inspiration for the first monument erected around 1926.

In 1937 the dog on the tuckerbox even had a song written about it.  Back in the day, a bullocky’s dog could help mind his masters goods while he was absent and this may be the concept. In the case of this statue it’s a masters lunchbox.  Another ditty suggests that the dog fouled the tuckerbox.  I like to believe the doggy was faithfully waiting in the lovely way a working dog does.

Although the current tuckerbox doggy is a handsome example I was simply chuffed when I saw the original from the 1920’s.

You can see an image of the current and original via the following site…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_on_the_Tuckerbox

Buster models himself posing here as… a doggy all ‘Tuckered’ out.

Leah & Angela OMeara

Hound Dog Day Care (Specialists in Dog Minding & Dog Boarding, Pet Sitting Brisbane & Doggy Day Care Brisbane)