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Life has been a spiraling roller coaster for Therese & Dave Badcock over the years. The journey of uncovering just the right financial investment that suited the family and their children was just around the corner and the start of a love affair was about to unfold. After becoming passionately in love with the penetrating eyes of an alpaca on display at Tasmania’s largest rural outing, Agfest some six years ago, Theresa & Dave have certainly made some life changes that now see them owning the largest Alpaca Stud in Tasmania and complimenting the Tasmanian Serena Lodge stud with the purchase of their most recent acquisition of another stud at Romsey in Victoria, just minutes from Melbourne’s busy airport. The enthusiasm that started Therese and David owning, eventually breeding and ultimately investing in Alpacas is an interesting one for the Stowport couple. After leaving Agfest in Tasmania’s picturesque north, Therese, on a whim stopped at the local corner shop to purchased a copy of ‘ The Age ‘ newspaper. She was interested to see if there were any Alpacas for sale on the mainland, as the numbers at the time in Tasmania were very limited. Their initial enquiry created the immediate purchase over the phone of a thirteen-year-old female named Serena; the Badcock family hasn’t looked back since. Serena was the initial start to a life of owning alpacas and she still features prominently in the Stud’s main advertising campaigns and is the naming alpaca for the Stud. After the first alpaca came the learning. Therese wanted to gain more knowledge about these stunning animals with their gentle nature and curious eyes. She travelled to South America then on to Chile finally arriving in Peru - the home of the Alpaca and the famous Inca tribes. Therese’s life dream was always to have a menagerie of animals that would ultimately compliment and keep company the multitudes of grandchildren both Dave and herself wanted and thanks to their children, they now have the complete family unit. The next acquisition was the dream property that was to house the children and the animals. Their dream property had to possess grazing paddocks, must have running waterfalls, possess flowing creeks that is home to freshwater lobster and the water was pure. The last requirement was the calm and peacefulness atmosphere in which to enjoy it all and belong and be part of the rural countryside and community. “When we first saw the property advertised, we knew that this was the one we had dreamed of for so long. The farm had to be big enough to house all the animals and our families “ Therese said. The Badcock’s appear to have provided the perfect family environment, not just for their children and their families but also for all the hundred of alpacas they now own. They purchased a beautifully presented 200-hectare spread that now contains four homes with all of the families in mind - all within close walking proximity to one another. “We get to see the grandchildren all the time now and its only a short walk to the kids houses “ Therese remarked. The animals that live at Serena Lodge are vast and varied in their countries of origin, their nature and creation. The property includes Llama’s and their babies, a couple of Camels, four hundred or so broad ribbon winning Alpaca’s and their offspring, a selection of miniature cattle, miniature donkeys, several horses, miniature ponies and a multitudes of other differing animals including a rare bred of sheep. “Some of the animals on the farm have come here from other homes to live out their remaining days and now are able to retire in the lap of luxury, and in peace “Therese went on to say. The Badcock’s were not content just having animals and their families surrounding them and the extra responsibilities all this entails. They thrived in the knowledge of having a foster child a few years ago now. Today, George is eight and loves life on the farm with all the animals and the rest of the family members. He is a keen junior handler and competitive exhibitor at the Royal Agricultural shows that make up the Tasmanian and mainland Alpaca calendar – he even goes to the Nationals. Therese’s dedication to her animals is paramount and very evident. Whilst attending Melbourne Royal Show several years ago, Therese received a mobile phone call from her daughter informing her that her pregnant Llama had gone into premature labour and was due to deliver really quickly. The attending Vet was called to go check on the newborn baby llama’s temperature after the birth along with its general health and found this particular baby had no anal passage. This medical phenomenon is extremely rare but does occur in alpacas and llama’s as it does in the remaining animal and human world. The odds are incredible to say the least but Therese wanted the best for this llama baby and money was no object for little one to survive. “Im a firm believer that ever creature should have a chance at life and if I can make a difference to at least one, Im a very happy person. I feel like I can give back what nature can’t provide “Therese said passionately. The vet’s immediate gut reaction was the baby would not survive and the surgery would be so radical at best that it would be kinder for all concerned to considering euthanasia. Therese wasn’t about to let this little baby die without a fight to save her precious life. So the fight to save him was on. “I needed a good vet that was in some way familiar with the breed and was willing enough to have a go with the surgery. “ she said. After enlisting the help of Deloraine and Wynyard Veterinary Clinic and with the help of consulting vets from the mainland, the surgery was started. Communication with the mainland veterinary team was done via conference phone loudly on speaker phone while the operation was being performed. “After she was operated on, she only weighed 7.2 kilo’s. I milked her mother personally, expressing the necessary milk and drip-feed her for the first couple of weeks. It was an amazing experience as her mum moved over for me to step in to feed her like she understood what was happening and knew I was really only trying to help her and her baby “ Therese commented. Therese slept in the nursery with her llamas keeping a constant vigil for the first several weeks to ensure the best survival rate for the baby and the health of her mother. It also helped with the bonding process between llama mother and baby. Therese was fortunate to have experienced the same bond with this little one as his mother did. "Now years on, she is a thriving healthy llama and is very inquisitive about her surrounding world. She really is ‘little miss attitude “ Therese said. The special bond Therese holds for all her animals are very evident when you enter her nursery of baby alpacas. The cuddles and kisses are first for each and every one of them then the little chats of affection that each one receives individually. Therese explained that all her babies are handled within the first five minutes of birth to get them used to people but this is not done to excess. Therese and Dave have now decided to commit themselves to breeding for colour genetics to improve the alpaca breed and their fleece production. “They are very captivating and that is why we use the catch cry – addicted to alpaca love. We were badly addicted, maybe our addiction will rub off on to others. We haven’t looked back and the plans we have are exciting for the industry in Tasmania as well as the industry as a whole “ Therese finished. C. Copyright.Margaret O’Donnell 2006 Fenixx Media |