George Schofield OAM – Dog Legend
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Born in Lavington NSW in 1918, George Schofield is a gentle man of 90+ years. He has a rare talent for being able to perform manipulation on animals to release them from pain. In many cases, people are referred to him when vets can do no more with a paralyzed creature. This is where some people believe this self taught man can perform miracles!
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The famous 90 year old George Schofield and House – July 2008
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I have known this man since bringing my own dogs to him since 1974. He is a modest, gentle and caring person who, from his back shed (from where he works – 6 days a week) sees a variety of animals, but particularly dogs. He so cares about the animals that when he himself has been hospitalized his main objective was to get well enabling him up and about taking care of the injured again.
He is a legend in the show dog world. Many photos of champion dogs adorn the walls of his shed, attributing their great success to the wonders George performs on their dogs. He helps keep good dogs in sound condition and rights those which are able to be corrected. People come from interstate and some bring dogs from New Zealand too, when they are over for a show.
The Greyhound fraternity have had George involved in their sport for countless years and have awarded him, on various occasions with Achievers Awards, Life Memberships, etc., including the prestigious Ken R Carr Medal – the 2006 Greyhound Racing Victoria medal and the Outstanding Achievers Award from the Greyhound Racing Control Board (in 1992) …. it’s the equivalent of the ‘Brownlow Medal’ for Greyhound enthusiasts! He has been a director of the Melbourne Greyhound Racing Association and a member of various other organisations including the Sandown Greyhound Racing Club, the Greyhound Racing Control Board and Ballarat Greyhound Racing Club.
The Department of Corrections, Victoria Police Department’s Dog Squad and Australian Customs Detector Dog Department have all awarded George special plaques which are hanging on the wall in his famous old shed.
Television shows Totally Wild, Burkes Backyard, Talk to the Animals, The Catching Pen and countless others have all heard about this man and have told his story. Numerous newspaper and magazines have written about him.
In the Australia Day Honours list on January 26 2009, George was awarded the Order of Australia Medal :
George Hector Schofield, Yuroke, Victoria
dogs, and as an animal chiropractor.
I am thrilled George received this award. I count him as a personal friend….. I was delighted to dance at his 90th birthday party in April 2008.
In July 2009 George was yet again honoured by Greyhound Racing Victoria by being inducted into the association’s inaugural Hall of Fame as a Pioneer.
George was the only living inductee into this category and the Program from the event reads:
George Schofield
Pioneer
A legend in the sport, there isn’t much that George Schofield hasn’t achieved during his time in greyhound racing. He takes pride in his connection to the GOTBA and the fact he was an executive member for 32 years. During his time with the GOTBA he fought long and hard for the benefit of Victorian owners, trainers and breeders. He also sat on the GRCB of Victoria for some 16 years. George has been an iconic canine chiropractor for over 50 years, working from his Yuroke residence, with people travelling from all over the state to bring their injured animals to him for treatment. He has been a successful owner, trainer and studmaster over the years with his pride and joy Shan’s View being Victoria’s No. 1 sire from 1963 through to 1966. A true gentleman of the sport.
- Awarded 2006 Ken Carr Medal
- GOTBA Executive 32 years
- Greyhound Racing Control Board Member 16 years
- Melbourne Greyhound Racing Association Director for 8 years
- Ballarat GRC Committee 10 years
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For a man who has devoted the majority of his time to dogs (and their people)
there is little doubt in any of our minds that he is nothing short of being called ‘a legend’.
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George Schofield OAM
1530 Mickleham Road, Yuroke. Victoria.
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The following article was in response to VicDogs requesting I pay tribute to George – it was published in 2009 Gazette.
The Legendary
George Schofield OAM
“I’m taking my dog to George…” and most people immediately know to whom is being referred. That’s how famous George Schofield is! And to a large majority of the show, obedience, agility, field trial and companion dog fraternity he is known simply by his first name.
George Schofield is a gentle man of 91 years. He has a rare talent for being able to perform manipulation on animals to release them from pain. In many cases, people are referred to him by vets when they can do no more with a paralyzed creature. This is where some people believe this self taught man can perform miracles!
He is a modest, gentle and caring person, small in stature, who, from his back shed (from where he still works six days a week) sees a variety of animals, but particularly dogs – of all breeds. He so cares about the animals that when he himself has been hospitalized, his main objective was to get well, thus enabling him to be up and about taking care of the injured again.
He is renowned in the show dog world. Many photos of champion dogs adorn the walls of his shed, with owners attributing their great success to the wonders George performs on their dogs. He helps keep good dogs in sound condition and rights those which are able to be corrected. People have come from interstate and some have brought dogs from New Zealand too, when they are over for a show. He has even rescheduled the date of his customary annual holiday in September to accommodate those entered at Melbourne Royal Show.
Television shows such as Totally Wild, Burkes Backyard, Talk to the Animals, The Catching Pen and countless others have all heard about this man and have told his story. Numerous newspaper and magazines have written about him. Additionally, he has been lauded by the Victorian Police Department’s Dog Squad, the Department of Corrections and the Australian Customs Detector Dog Department.
However, George’s reputation is well also respected and much heralded in the Greyhound Racing world. Most recently in the Australia Day Honours list of 2009, he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for service to greyhound racing industry and to the health and welfare of dogs as an animal chiropractor.
The Greyhound fraternity has had George involved in their sport for more than 75 years. He has handled, owned, raced, trained, bred and been an administrator. He has been a Director of the Melbourne Greyhound Racing Association and a member of various other organisations including the Sandown Greyhound Racing Club, the Greyhound Racing Control Board and Ballarat Greyhound Racing Club. Over these many years, he has been the honoured recipient of Achievers Awards, Life Memberships, etc. These include the prestigious Ken R Carr Medal – an award for special or outstanding contribution to greyhound racing which requires the recipient to clearly demonstrate skill, integrity, empathy for others and leadership as four key qualities (it’s the equivalent of the ‘Brownlow Medal’ for Greyhound enthusiasts!), the 2006 Greyhound Racing Victoria medal and in 1992, the Outstanding Achievers Award from the Greyhound Racing Control Board.
The accolades continue to come. In July 2009, George was inducted in to the Greyhound Racing Hall of Fame as one of six Pioneers. He is the only living person so awarded
To most of us, George is the man to whom our dogs will willingly stand to allow his gentle but probing (aged) fingers seek out the sore spots which in itself tells us he is blessed with a special talent.
Perhaps in Lavington NSW back in 1918 they just bred them tough: you worked, you married, you fought in the war with the Australian Army, you survived the Great Depression and you began a family.
But the outcome is a kind, honest and courteous man who has never smoked, never swears, loves life and is always happy. Now a doting great grandfather, George Schofield is one man who has been heralded by family, community and government for doing something he loves – caring for our animals.
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George Funeral Tribute ~
There was often a bucket of lemons on offer whenever anyone visited George and mourners at his funeral were invited to ‘take a lemon’ – fruit from his lemon tree at Shan’s View.
Many Tributes A GAP Dog in attendance Hundreds of people in attendance
The Meadows Greyhound track pays tribute to George, a legend of their sport, with a giant billboard …. and a final lap of honour – passing the FINISH line
fly free George
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Some personal memories ~
My dogs were thrilled to meet up with George again on a social visit after his retirement
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Always kind hands for young impressionable Irish setters
