Billy - the loveable village dog

  Billy's story that follows was writtin in 2008

on 24 January 2009.

He is now buried in the gardens of the Koonwarra Store.  Billy was given a moving memorial service by his devoted "father" and friend, Thomas Burge.  A number of local residents who loved him were also present.

"Rest in Peace Billy"

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A visit to Koonwarra is always a treat and one should be prepared to spend time to soak up the atmosphere of this tranquil, relaxing but vibrant village which is unique in so many ways.  Where else can one go to experience such peace and harmony?

Where else do you find a loveable Staffy sleeping peacefully
in the doorway of a store?

It would be almost impossible to visit Koonwarra without meeting Billy.  Billy is owned by Thomas Burge, proprietor of Revamp Apparel and Revamp Interiors and is the village treasure. 

	Billy meeting and greeting two new admirers and all three sharing a special few moments.

He will greet you with a big wag of his tail that invites everyone to stop and say "hello" and tell him he is so beautiful. 

He will then race before you into the shop, which was once a house, to find Thomas.  Should you then look around the many rooms of the house where clothing racks stand within the furniture blending perfectly, Billy will sleep under the hanging clothes or supervise your pathway to the fitting room.  He will then retreat back to the doorway.
"It is so tiring supervising this shop and I would prefer you did not take my photo."

Yes, he is not easy to photograph.  He has always been camera shy and will quickly disappear inside the shop if you put your camera up to your face.

"Oh, no, a camera."   "I'm keeping my eye on you."    "I'm out of here."

Billy is a friend to everyone, including other familiar dogs in the village -  Jessica, the Maltese Shih tzu, who goes to work with her owner at the Koonwarra Sustainable Communities Centre and Nelson, the Labrador, who occasionally escapes from his home to visit the shops or comes with his owner to the Store at school bus times. Nelson is a amember of the Koonwarra Sustainable Communities Centre.

Next time you stop for a coffee or to visit one of the shops, be sure to say hello to Billy, give him a pat and tell him he is beautiful.  I would be most surprised if he didn't understand you!

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