Meet Sally Purbrick-Illek, who lives on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, with her husband Gunther and three working border collies. Sally is a dedicated ISKL Alumni faculty member whose passion for giving back extends beyond the classroom. She is now a dog trainer specializing in urban-based working breeds, and recently, two of her dogs received nationwide recognition for their volunteer contributions to their local community and will soon be featured on Australian national television.
In this blog post, she shares her inspiring volunteering journey, how it has enriched her life, and how, through her experiences, she is creating a positive impact, both within our community and the world beyond.
Giving Back to My Community
I have volunteered in my local community for as long as I can remember.
As a kid growing up in the USA, I would rescue abandoned and injured animals, write articles about animal welfare for the local newspaper, and donate my pocket money to our local animal shelter. I founded and was president of “Students for the Environment” in high school. As an adult, I have been active in various organizations to promote a healthy environment and the welfare of domestic and native animals. While in Malaysia, I was an active member of the Malaysian Nature Society, and as an ISKL biology teacher, I encouraged my students to become involved.
After moving to Australia in 2004, I joined Wildcare Australia and worked the hotline, rehabilitated hundreds of injured parrots in my aviary, rescued many native animals, published articles, and created flyers (in English, Mandarin, and Russian) about the importance of looking after our native species and how to live with them, and have facilitated talks and education programs to raise public awareness of Australia’s unique wildlife and its diverse habitat requirements. I also organize a yearly cleanup of my local dog park and neighborhood as part of the “Clean Up Australia Day” in March of every year.
My other passions are training, competing, and volunteering with my dogs. My first dog, Lucy (a German Shepherd cross), was a “Reading Dog” with young people in our local schools. One of my current working border collies, Champ, was bred to work sheep, but since he was diagnosed with hip dysplasia shortly after I adopted him, I knew he needed another job. I felt Champ would also be an excellent “Reading Dog” as he gets along with people of all ages and animals of all kinds. Since retiring from full-time work, Champ and I have volunteered at assisted care facilities and now work with the “Animal Welfare League Queensland Reading Dogs” program and the “Preschoolers Overcoming Phobias” program. Champ is also an ambassador for the “Australian Veterinary Association’s Pets and People Education Program,” an education initiative that teaches children about responsible pet ownership and animal safety. Several times, he has been featured on local and national television and was a top ten finalist in “Australia’s Top Job with a Job” in 2022 and 2023. I am absolutely chuffed that my amazing working border collies Champ and Pepper were selected as “Everyday Heroes” finalists in “The Dog Down Under” TV series that will air on September 14, 2024. This show will feature Champ and his volunteer work and Pepper for her help tracking down a dog that went missing during a thunderstorm.
I hope those reading this blog will consider volunteering within your community. Research has shown that volunteering offers significant health benefits, especially for older adults, including:
- Improves physical and mental health
- It provides a sense of purpose and teaches valuable skills
- Nurtures new and existing relationships
Get out and volunteer – you won’t regret it!
