Our Story

OUR STORY - From Cate Harrison, Founder Sanctuary On Eyre

From the beginning

From the moment I was born, I was drawn to animals and the natural environment. They have been a source of strength, a calming influence and incredibly inspirational. All through my life I have thought and experienced that Nature Never Ceases to Amaze ME. Many creatures great and small have been part of my journey.

Childhood Experiences

During my childhood I had dogs, rabbits and a rescued brush-tailed possum called Possie. His surrogate mum was our family’s cocker spaniel, Trixie. I used to take Trixie for walks around the suburban blocks with Possie riding on her back. When Possie was about a year old, we left her enclosure door open and she moved out into our backyard which was full of fruit trees. She would disappear for winter but returned for the following seven years to interact with us during spring/summer. We regularly visited my cousins’ farm at Wasleys. I was in my element, farm dogs, horses, cattle and sheep. My grandparents lived at Mannum. It became a yearly event that for a large part of my childhood I led a cow or a steer in the grand parade of the Mannum Show. I loved it. I loved the smell of cattle and found them very responsive to the love I poured over them.

Career, Married Life, Shared Passions

I won a scholarship to Wattle Park Teachers’ College in my matriculation year. In my second year there I met a tall, handsome man called Paul Harrison. In eighteen months we were married. We bought a house and ten acres at Gawler River. We both taught at Smithfield Plains Primary school.

Having purchased a pedigreed German Shepherd and pedigreed Whippet as soon as we got back from our honeymoon, we became interested in the science of breeding pedigreed dogs. We became members of the S.A. Canine Association and registered breeders of German Shepherds, Whippets and Jack Russell Terriers under the Gayregal Prefix. We bred and showed our dogs for over 25 years. In 1980 our first child Shelley was born. Paul and I went part-time in our teaching so that one of us was always home with Shelley and our subsequent children Jessica and Sarah.

Our children lived with dogs, cats, chooks, birds, sheep, cattle, ponies, deer, joeys, reptiles, water buffalo and many others from an early age. They learnt to appreciate the diversity of all creatures great and small, to respect animals and understand that the wellbeing of our environment is dependent on animals and people working together for sustainable outcomes.

The golden Harrow in SOE is a silent honouring of my husband Paul whose passion has not died.

Our Story Sanctuary on Eyre with ponies

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our story sanctuary on Eyre kangaroo
our story sanctuary on Eyre Rehab reptile
our story sanctuary on Eyre pig

Wildlife Park On A Farm - A Conservation And Education Centre

Having purchased 90 acres of the Bullen’s Lion Park Complex in 1982 with three friends, to house Fallow, Rusa and Red deer (that is another story) and manage it. We fell in love with the property. We bought out our friends’ shares and in 1995 we established a native animal, Asian animal and South American animal and bird collection. We had farm animals in an open range section where people could get up close and personal. We bought some miniature pigs, calling our stud Short Pork.

A Mobile Education Unit

I travelled 350,000kms around SA with a cross section of farm animals, birds, native animals, reptiles, bones and other resources. Children were given the opportunity to handle some very friendly pythons, lizards, turtles, my faithful companion Fria (German Shepherd), rabbits, guinea pigs, chooks, ferrets, rats, lambs, pigs, Swift Wind (Shetland pony), calves, kids (goats), joeys, Harry the wombat and Grug the Rufus Bettong. They were also able to observe a variety of insects and Charlotte the bird-eating spider. The messages of respect, accountability, responsibility, conservation and the celebration were weaved throughout the sessions. Children learned through connection that all creatures, regardless of their looks and kind, deserve to be treated with respect just like themselves.

Heart Breaking Decision

A wildlife farm is not a 9-5 vocation. Our family hand-reared many young animals which required round-the-clock care. We often had joeys hanging in pouches on our bedroom doors, not to mention a huge variety of other animals that required our constant attention. Sadly Paul became very ill and after much reflection we made the heart wrenching decision to close. Many of our animals were sold to other wildlife parks. Snap, our freshwater crocodile, was the first crocodile allowed to travel over to Kangaroo Island.

Shift to Tumby Bay Eyre Peninsula 2004

Paul and I bought a house and 9 acres outside Tumby Bay; our remaining dogs (12) Swift Wind, Penny (ponies) and sundries(?) came with us. I went back to classroom teaching at Kirton Point Primary bringing in my array of animals to support the wellbeing of the children.

My world caved in

In 2011 Paul was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer and passed away six months later. During Paul’s treatment and afterwards my animals gave me strength, courage and a purpose. My family were/are my rock as well. The golden Harrow in SOE is a silent honouring of my husband Paul whose passion has not died.

RETIREMENT - at the end of 2014

When Passion Does Not Die

The fire in my belly, to make a difference in children’s and animals’ lives, is glowing. IT will not be extinguished.
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