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About Us
Heath & Brooke Purvis, from Singleton NSW, saw that many people were looking to purchase donkeys in an attempt to combat the growing stock losses from wild dog attacks, as Donkeys are renown for their stock protecting capabilities. There was only one problem, donkey’s are hard to come by.
However in the NT & QLD they are classified as a pests and eradication measures are in place usually aerial culling.
With an idea in mind, Brooke approached the Ag Teacher from St Catherine’s Catholic School in Singleton, Mrs Joanna Towers, with their idea. There was already a solid relationship with Jo that was established when both of their children attended the school and were heavily involved in the extensive cattle program that the school offered.
So in conjunction with St Catherine’s, the Last Stop Donkey Program was founded.
The donkeys and all costs involved were absorbed by the Purvis family and the school provided the facilities and the very capable, hands-on Ag teacher, Jo, who herself worked as a jillaroo on stations in her early years, was willing and able to oversee such a large and demanding program.
The Donkey program is currently running for Year 9 Ag students at the school and we are fortunate to have the support of some very knowledgeable donkey experts who have kindly offered to mentor and teach the students best practices when handling the donkeys.
It is a wonderful, cohesive community program that we hope will continue to develop over the years.
Our Mission
To repurpose donkeys classified as pests and destined to be culled by aerial shooting, to provide training and education so they are suitable to be sold to properties suffering stock losses due to wild dogs, or to families as much loved pets.
Our Program
We currently have 12 donkeys being put through their paces by 28 Year 9 Ag students at St Catherines. Many of these students have no experience with donkeys and so it is both animals and humans teaching each other.
At the end of the program our donkeys will be able to be caught, taught to lead and tie up and pick up each foot. This is an important part of the program as the donkeys will require foot trimming as part of their ongoing care.
It is our hope that, once our donkeys graduate, some will go to homes that are currently having issues with wild dogs and suffering stock losses at lambing and calving time, and others will be sold as much loved pets.
During the program, we will be keeping video diaries of each donkey and handler’s journey and the progress they are making.