For over a century, Kambala has been proudly described as a school “never short of dogs.” Canines have long been a comforting, lively thread in the fabric of the boarding school lifestyle, residing on campus as faithful companions to staff and students alike. The earliest whispers of dogs around the school trace back to the Bellevue Hill era. The 1902 Report of the Union affectionately noted the passing of a “faithful little dog” belonging to Petersen, an “Old Hermit” who lived in a nearby cave.
However, the canine presence truly took root under the tenure of the Misses Roseby, who shared campus life with a series of spirited Airedales. Among them was Admiral Sturdee, a dog of distinguished honour who won a champion ribbon at a 1916 show and generously donated his prize money to Mademoiselle Soubeiran’s French Dog Fund. Miss Roseby was also known to have two other special Airedales, Nana and Bing. Nana was the school’s prolific matriarch, who produced eight puppies in 1917 and nine more in 1919; she was even famously treated with quinine by the Matron for ticks. In true patriotic fashion, three of her pups were said to have “answered the call of the Navy,” while others went on land. Yet, not everyone was always enchanted by the morning energy, a 1922 poem in The Kambala Chronicle playfully complained about the dogs barking in the “cold grey dawn,” waking everyone on campus except the lucky “top-floor girls.”
Under Miss Fifi Hawthorne, the tradition of the Principal’s dog continued with Adam, a loyal Kelpie with a sensitive side. During a 1942 wartime air-raid alert, Adam had to be brought directly into the shelter because he hated the guns and was found whimpering outside. Adam was eventually followed by Gooby, a special favourite who was so cherished he retired alongside Miss Hawthorne to Northbridge in 1966. Other dogs also made their mark during this era. Solomon, a little black dog belonging to junior school cleaner Reg Coppins, was a fixture on campus from 1951 to 1961, loyally shadowing Reg everywhere as he kept the grounds in order. Around the same time, a student named Vicki was regularly followed to school by a neighbour’s faithful hound, who would spend the entire day contentedly lounging on a bench outside her classroom window. When Miss Joyce Gibbons became Principal, she was accompanied everywhere by a black poodle named Nina. Nina was so iconic that students quickly learned to treat the distinct sound of her approaching paws as a warning signal that the Principal was nearby!
Others might remember Kosi, the beloved Kambala support dog, who was introduced by Head of Junior School Jenny Holt and is regarded as one of her most popular initiatives during her 35-year career. Known for his “soft white curls” and “happy bark,” Kosi provided vital emotional support to students, who could always visit Miss Holt’s “open door” for a cuddle if they were feeling upset. Kosi was a lively presence on campus, once famously jumping into a Chess team photo in Miss Holt’s office and barking proudly for the camera. The lasting impact of his presence was clear upon Miss Holt’s retirement in 2015, as students shared their sadness at his departure through letters and drawings in The Soubeiran & KOGU Magazine from 2015.
Kosi’s departure marked the end of an era, and for a short time, the pitter-patter of paws was heard less frequently across the grounds. However, the beloved tradition experienced a heartwarming revival in 2022 when Principal Jane Danvers brought her dog named Floyd to the school. Floyd was soon followed by Ms. Jacquellen Young’s dog Dudley. Today, that century-old spirit remains very much alive, with dogs like Ms Gedling’s Daisy, Mrs. Scott’s sweet Archie, Dr. Lang’s puppy Luna and Mr Petite’s beautiful Coco regularly spotted bringing warmth and joy to the Kambala campus.
Laura Carmichael
Archivist