Joey Thompson’s Legacy Lives on at Charlton Show

The legacy of the late Joey Thompson will live on at this year’s Charlton Show, with the Working Dog Trials renamed in his honour.

Joe Thompson spent 35 years at the helm of the trials after taking over from Alan McGurk, helping establish the competition as a much-loved part of the Charlton Show.

Now, with the trials entering a new chapter, organisers are celebrating both Thompson’s contribution and the foundations laid by McGurk.

The competition will continue to test the skill and communication between working dogs and their handlers, with entries open until the morning of the event.

The trials are sponsored by Bendigo Bank, with Jamie Soulsby and Co. now helping steer the event.

Secretary Wendy Laffin said people interested in competing or getting involved could contact her on 0427 115 194.

Four Decades For Dogs
Working dog trials have been a centrepiece of the Charlton Show for 40 years, reflecting the long connection between Australian farmers and their working dogs.

The trials themselves date back to Scotland, where the first recorded competition was held in 1874. The tradition later travelled to Australia alongside sheep farming.

Australia developed several breeds specifically suited to its demanding conditions, including the Australian Kelpie, Australian Cattle Dog, Koolie and Smithfield.

The Kelpie became particularly important to the Australian sheep industry, bred for its stamina, intelligence and ability to work sheep over large distances with limited direction.

That partnership between handler and dog remains at the heart of working dog trials today, where whistles, hand signals and subtle movements are used to guide dogs through a series of challenges.

At Charlton, that tradition will now carry the name of a man who devoted much of his life to the competition.

The Joey Thompson Memorial Working Dog Trials will give competitors another opportunity to put their dogs’ skills to the test while celebrating the contribution Thompson made to the event over more than three decades.