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Training since 1956
Member of SV Germany
and GSDC Victoria
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Hans
Nowak began his lengthy experience in dog training in his
early teens in Germany. He gained his initial skills in
dog training at the Deutsche
Verein
für Gebrauchshunde (DVG) (effectively the German Working
Dog Club).
Here he trained his first dog, a German Shepherd canine
wonder called Eckus (Eck von Delvigerland).
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To this day, one sure way to get my father's attention
is to ask him about Eckus.
Photo at right - A young Hans Nowak with his two pupies,
Peter and Eckus (Germany 1958).
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Photo at right - Ellen Nowak with son Peter and
of course Eckus (Germany 1959).
Towards
the end of the 1950's Ellen & Hans Nowak began
thinking of settling abroad. South Africa and Canada
were both considered.
Two years after the birth of their 1st child, they
migrated to Australia. Hans
tried to train his first Australian born German
Shepherd while living in Glenfield NSW. Inbreeding
(due to post war restrictions) had left the Australian
stock rather lacking in temperament and the experience
was just short of disastrous.
It was several years before he would try again.
After four years living in Sydney they decided to
make their home in Victoria.
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Many adventures and another two children later, Ellen
and Hans purchased a 5 acre bush block covered in thick
Tea-tree scrub, in Upper Beaconsfield (Victoria). With
the help of their neighbor and oldest son, they built
their own home while living for almost a year in what
is now the garage.
Now the dog training could begin in earnest. Over the
following years they bred and trained their own dogs.
They went to national trials and shows resulting in
enough ribbons to wallpaper a room and a cabinet full
of trophies. These include 1st places (in various obedience
and utility levels) at the Canberra National Trials.
They became committee members of state clubs and trial
judges.
Eventually the workload became too much, and they decided
that having their own training school was more than
enough work. |
| 1970's |
Both Hans & Ellen Nowak were instructors at
the Southern Obedience Dog Club, Victoria and
the German Shepherd Dog Club of Victoria.
Throughout the 1970's they were very competitive,
entering and winning at many prestigious trials.
In
the photo (at right) Hans receives 1st Prize for
Obedience - Royal Show Melbourne Australia. Check
the flairs, definitely the seventies ;-) |
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A newspaper clipping from 1979, photo taken
at the Ballarat Town Hall.
Caption:
Putting On The Dog At
Town Hall
Text:
Cr
Jessie Scott welcomes one of the three canine
guests at yesterday's civic reception for officials
of the National German Shepherd Dog Show. She
is Amber, whose mistress, Ellen Nowak (left)
is Training Co-ordinator for the organisation
in Victoria.
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1979 - Amber's Excellent Medallion
5th National German Shepherd Dog Show and Trial.
Handler - Ellen Nowak.
This was the first time that an Excellent Medallion
was awarded for Obedience at the National German
Shepherd Dog Show and Trial.
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| 1980's |
For
the German Shepherd Dog Club of Victoria (GSDCV), they
held the positions of; Parade Manager, Trial Manager,
Training Co-ordinator, Instructor. Hans and Ellen were
on the GSDCV Demo Team for many years. Hans was Demo
Team Manager, Instructor and Chief Instructor for Eastern
Branch.
Ellen Nowak was Obedience Trial Judge for what was then
called the Kennel Control Council of Victoria.
Many
of the people Ellen and Hans have trained over the years
have gone on to be instructors, some have even started
their own schools.
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The
Nowaks worked with their dogs on the television series Prisoner,
Neighbours and Cop Shop, and the motion picture
Sky Pirates.
Today
the property in Upper Beaconsfield reflects the years of
care it has received and looks like it could never have
been anything other than parkland. Ellen and Hans have stopped
breeding German Shepherds, but will continue to teach and
train for as long as there is someone with a dog who wants
to learn.
Perhaps we'll see you there, at the next end of year barbecue.
Be well, best regards,
Peter Nowak
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