Obituaries Australia

With the passing of Mr. James Newton Moore, of West Wyalong, N.S.W., at the age of 61, another of the men who fashioned and shaped the Australian sheep dog has gone from the world of men and dogs.

The late Mr. Moore passed away on the morning of the 27th April, the opening day of the National Sheep Dog Trials at Canberra, at which he was appointed to judge. Only the day before he had confided to his friends that he had achieved all he wished to do in the field of sheep dogs; his appointment to judge at Canberra was the crowning achievement of his judging career. The excitement of this coming event undoubtedly was responsible for the heart attack which followed.

The pastoral industry of Australia has been fortunate in that two men by the name of Moore played an important role in the breeding and development of the sheep dog. The late Mr. James L. Moore, of Melbourne, was the Grand Old Man of Border Collie breeders, while Mr. James Newton Moore put his faith in the Kelpie. It is unfortunate that few amongst the younger generation seem likely to follow in their footsteps.

Mr. James Newton Moore bought his first Kelpie in 1917, but for a long time, although he bred a lot of dogs, he could not get what he considered to be the perfect Kelpie. In 1938 he bought Currawang Tip and, two years later, Currawang Lady, both from Mr. Jack Goodfellow. He then bought Smokey from Mr D. V. Grey, of Spring Ridge. These dogs laid the foundation for his now famous Newton Kelpie stud, as Smokey bred with Tip and Lady gave Mr. Moore the dogs he was after. Then, in 1947, Mr. Moore purchased Artesian Cloudy from Mr. H. Morrice, of North Queensland.

One of the pups from old Tip by Smokey was a red and tan bitch called Newton Jennie, who made trial history by winning both the Sydney novice and Sydney open trials in 1948. Shortly after Mr. Moore bred Jennie's mother with another Morrice sire called Artesian Sunny, who had already sired Silver while in the hands of Mr. R. C. Noakes, of Walcha, N.S.W. Sunny mated with Tip sired the black and tan Kelpie Newton Nap, who won the Sydney open trials in 1951. Thus in three years two of the Kelpies bred by Mr. Moore won the most important trial in New South Wales.

To men like the late Mr. Moore the Australian pastoral industry owes a very great debt of gratitude. His contribution to that industry, together with such men as the late Mr. John Quinn and Messrs. H. Morrice, P. Scanlon and R. C. Noakes, has been far more remarkable than most people realise. I knew Mr. Moore as a friend and colleague and have to thank him for much friendly advice and assistance when starting off with my sheep dogs. To his many relatives and friends I offer my deepest sympathy. In the late Mr. Moore's dream of heaven I am sure he sees his grand old dogs Jennie and Tip and Pawn waiting by the gates.