Graduation Day is always a big affair.
From the early morning start, to the donning of your best outfit, and having your hair constantly smoothed for the seemingly endless photographs.
Thats exactly what Friday 17 March looked like for 18-month-old Border Terrier Kalli.
The popular pup graduated as a Lions Hearing Dog, the first for Hunter Business Lions Club.
Her schooling was thanks to the organisation fundraising $32,000.
Kalli is now living her best life with Newcastle East resident Margaret Watt.
Her job is to assist the 74-year-old in her day-to-day living, as well as provide an added level of assurance and emotional connectedness.
“She’s given me a new lease on life, she helps me get out and about and not have to worry about medical problems,” she said.
Margaret has been hard-of-hearing since she was born.
As a hairdresser, working in front of mirrors taught her to become an efficient lip-reader.
She also taught herself to speak.
Both Margaret and Kalli are talented at reading body-language.
“She’s very alert, she likes to know what’s going on when we’re out and about,” Margaret says.
“She is very good at reading people’s body-language, she’s a very curious pup.”
At home Kalli becomes Margaret’s second pair of eyes and ears.
“She gives me security, most importantly when I don’t have cochleas on, Kalli will alert me to a smoke alarm, or the doorbell or some other noises,” she said.
“If she hears sounds she’ll come and touch me and take me to the sound, unless its a danger then she’ll lay down and warn me not to go toward the sound.
“It gives me a chance to relax and unwind when I don’t have my cochleas on because I know she will alert me if she hears a sound.”
Margaret says Kalli has become a companion as well.
“My hearing is so bad I couldn’t even hear the Supercars and I live on the beach, almost on the track, so that gives you an idea of how bad it is. But now I can get out with Kalli and I feel like socialising again.”
The pair has become a regular sighting at Newcastle Beach
“The locals all recognise her now and stop to say hello. If she’s not wearing her uniform that’s her free time and I think she really likes the attention,” Margaret laughs.
Graduation Day is bound to have worn out the young pup.
After a meet-and-greet with local media at Newcastle Beach, Kalli was given an honorary graduation cap by her admirers at Newcastle Lions Club, followed by a stroll along the footpath.
It’s a dog’s life.
*One in six Australians has some form of hearing loss, with this number expecting to rise to one in four by 2050. Severe or profound hearing loss currently affects close to 400,000 people. (Australian Lions Hearing Dogs)
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