Last week, two Eden teenagers became heroes after the dramatic rescue of Millie, the dog.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
This week, the rescuers and the rescued were brought together for the first time, in a memorable reunion that had everyone’s tails wagging.
As reported in last week's edition of the Eden Magnet, Millie became stranded on the cliff overlooking Nethercote Falls on Tuesday, May 12.
With a 20-metre drop to rocks below her, and no safe passage back up, the dog was in serious trouble.
Thankfully for Millie, Sharon Gordon and friend Raechel Nikitaras, both 18 years old, who had decided to take a winter’s swim that day, raised the alarm.
“We heard some barking, and looked up to see the dog appear above us,” Miss Gordon said.
“She looked like she wanted to jump down, so we were screaming 'Sit! Sit!' and she did.”
“We could see she was stressed, she was shaking,” Miss Nikitaras said.
“And every time she moved she pushed rocks over the edge.
"She was stuck on just a tiny ledge.
"If she fell, she would have landed on rock, not water.”
Miss Gordon called a local vet for help, who said the pound would be alerted.
An agonising wait began.
“The dog kept moving around, as if she wanted to get to us,” Miss Gordon said.
“It was so stressful, I was crying.”
As the minutes ticked by, the distressed girls turned to other people for advice and help.
Mothers were called, who recommended the SES.
Miss Nikitaras used her iphone to send out an SOS on facebook, and then plucked up the courage to attempt a rescue.
“I decided to go up the cliff to see if there was any way to get to the dog,” Miss Nikitaras said.
“But when I got up there I realised there was no way, because it was really steep.”
Scratched and bruised, Miss Nikitaras climbed back down the cliff to rejoin her friend, and continue the long wait.
“We were there for three hours, and no one came,” Miss Gordon said.
“Finally we had to leave, because Raechel needed to pick up her brother and sister from school.
"We were so upset to go.
But as soon as we got to the main carpark the fire brigade arrived, and we spoke to them and told them where she was.”
The girls were too afraid to call authorities to find out about the fate of the dog, fearing the worst.
“We only found out she was safe when we read the story in the Eden Magnet,” Miss Gordon said.
On Monday, the girls met up with Millie and her owner Murray Ferguson, from Lochiel, for the first time at a park in Eden.
Millie excitedly leapt from the car to meet the girls, who were delighted to fuss over the dog.
It was the first chance for the girls to see Millie at close-quarters, and hear more of her story.
“We live only 500 metres from the falls as the crow flies,” Mr Ferguson said.
“Millie went missing the day before, and was gone all night.
"She normally sleeps in the laundry at home, so she’s used to her creature-comforts.
"I don’t think she would have survived a second night outdoors.”
When Mr Ferguson got the call that Millie had been discovered, he drove to the Nethercote Falls’ carpark where he was confronted by a scene that made him ‘beetroot red’ with embarrassment.
“I couldn’t believe how many people were involved in Millie’s rescue,” Mr Ferguson said.
Perhaps overwhelmed by the fuss, dog and owner didn’t indulge in a mushy reunion.
“I felt like a parent who’s finally found a child who got lost in a shopping mall," he said.
"I wasn’t sure whether to be angry or happy,” Mr Ferguson laughed.
“I just helped her into the car, and took her home.
"She had one lick of her bowl, then collapsed by the fire ... and slept for 14 hours straight.”
To show his thanks, Mr Ferguson gave the girls a voucher for a cuppa and cake, joking he wasn’t rich enough to buy them a car each.
“And there were too many people in the rescue team to thank them all with a slab of beer or a barbie,” Mr Ferguson added, “but we’re very appreciative of all their efforts.
"Millie’s a lucky dog.”
