Principal back in ‘classroom’ on ABC TV’s Muster Dogs

Muster Dogs, the hit show from ABC TV, has a familiar face this season.

Principal of Quirindi High School, Ian Worley threw his hat in the ring and had a crack at learning to train a working dog.

The premise of this season is a little different to previous ones.

This time not only were the dogs being taught but so were the trainers.

The show took on six fresh contestants who had never worked with dogs before to see if they could learn to train them from a pup to a champion muster dog in just 12 months.

Mr Worley grew up on a farm in Nundle and also currently runs a property with his wife.

When signing up to the show, Mr Worley thought it would be a good opportunity to test his knowledge.

“I have usually had working dogs, but I have not been an expert in their training,” Mr Worley said.

“I have usually used either my brother’s dogs or the dogs that my father had and then I got a work dog, but he just got trained on the job.

“I had no concept about how to actually train a working dog properly.

“There was an afternoon where I was relaxing on the sofa and a social media post popped up for inexperienced trainers for Muster Dogs, so I thought that would be a terrific idea.

“I applied online because I actually needed a new working dog, my wife didn’t think it was such a good idea because she thought I was busy enough.”

Contestants received a pup that ‘matched’ their personalities.

Award-winning breeder Joe Spicer, owner of Go Getta Kelpie Stud, picked out a red and tan male kelpie for Mr Worley, the only male kelpie on this season.

An energetic and playful pup, Mr Worley named him Buruma.

The Kamilaroi word that refers to a tame dog, a name chosen in hope of manifestation.

“Buruma is full of beans,” Mr Worley said.

“He is your standard kelpie who is high energy. He is very active and wants to be on the go all the time, which actually really suits me and really suits where we are.

“Buruma is interested in absolutely everything that is happening around him, if it makes a noise, he needs to know what it is.

“Buruma is very independent, very intelligent and very, very active.”

Buruma even got a tour of the school, which Worley said he loved.

“He has enjoyed school, and him coming to school has been really good for him to learn how to socialise with a variety of people,” Mr Worley said.

“There’s not a mean bone in his body he’s a really gentle, kind dog and so he loves being with people.”

Initially, Mr Worley was worried how he would take to being taught instead of doing the teaching.

The adjustment wasn’t as hard as Mr Worley was expecting, what was an adjustment, however, was coming to the realisation that he didn’t know as much as he thought he did.

Mr Worley learned a lot during his journey on Muster Dogs.

He learnt that he still loves learning, that age doesn’t necessarily mean you know better and that he still does not like goats.

Nor does his wife.

“The song lines of my life’s experience are etched a little bit more into my face than the other participants,” Mr Worley said.

“I think the eldest of the other participants is about 20 years younger than me, so what was really nice and what I learned from it was it’s a bit like being at work, age doesn’t mean expertise.

“I had to train him with goats because it was going to be a part of the final assessment.

“So I got six goats…and I didn’t realise three of them were pregnant, so they turned into nine goats.

“I was never a fan of goats, and that just really reinforced that I’m still not a fan of goats.

“Still not a fan, unless they’re in a curry,” Mr Worley said.

Support from family, friends, and the Quirindi community has been overwhelming for Worley.

Although sceptical at first, his wife also enjoyed the journey and Mr Worley’s kids have been hosting watch parties for their friends at university.

Quirindi High School has been equally supportive, with students and teachers alike stopping to show support for the show often.

“The whole experience has been really positive,” Mr Worley said.

“My wife has really enjoyed seeing what a beautiful place Nundle is on film, and particularly her garden, which she’s put a lot of work into.

“And my kids have enjoyed it too, they’ve been able to watch it with their uni friends and show them where they live and what that looks like.

“And so many of the kids here are from farms and their own dogs are working dogs as well.

“They’re really interested in the process as well, and I think they’re keen to see the principal have to sit in the chair of the student and be told what to do.”

You may take the teacher out of the school but you can’t take the school out of the teacher, and for Mr Worley this is true.

In typical teacher fashion, Mr Worley wants to turn his experience into a lesson for his students.

His advice is to push yourself out of your comfort zone, because you never know what may come out of it.

“It’s something that we actually talk with the kids here at Quirindi High School about all the time, and it’s those dispositions about showing perseverance, showing resilience, facing a challenge and being able to take feedback,” Mr Worley said.

“So, you know, I’ve been talking to the kids about this for a long time and I actually had to walk that.

“Take an opportunity when it presents, and it can make you really uncomfortable and be right outside of anything that you’re used to but you never know what happens if you’re willing to take a risk and face a new challenge.”

Muster Dogs is available for streaming on ABC iview.