Spot and Ted Stabb became friends in the late 1980s during the days of the Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands (CFL).
Rob Chalwell (ex-Bright Forests Commission) told Ted that Spot had been looking very sad and lonely in the front window of the Lands Department Office at Bright for some years.
Ted then rescued Spot and gave him a new lease on life with a focus on State forests, recreation, bushfires, planned burns, office openings, statewide videoconferences and similar gala events (invited or not).
Spot enjoyed many adventures and travels with Ted over the next 35 years or so, and became very popular and well known, particularly in northeastern Victoria.
But not everyone liked or appreciated Spot, and one Departmental Secretary, who has long since been forgotten, even referred to him as “That Dog”. But the locals ignored the rudeness and Spot stayed.
And outside work, Spot was also known to be active in his local community. He even had a social and political conscience and was occasionally seen trying to influence the way we vote.
On Friday 13th November 2025, Ted finally, and somewhat reluctantly, retired from the Department after a very long and distinguished career as a forester.
And while Spot would have liked to go home with Ted – which he did during Covid lockdown and for the duration of the Wodonga office refurbishments – Ted has a fairly small house and backyard, and Spot is a big dog that needs space to run.
Besides, Spot was not under any pressure to leave the department like other oldies, because he is not paid a salary, doesn’t need a computer or desk space and has no large credit of unused sick leave.
Pleasingly, Aaron Kennedy, the Deputy Chief Fire Officer for Hume Region, promised to give Spot a bit of a spruce up and find an appropriate place for him in the Benalla Office, rather than the dusty museum at Altona. He has also assured Ted that Spot will never end up in the dumpster or standing in a lonely window again.
But the staff objected to Spot’s transfer to Benalla, so he stayed in Wodonga. Allegedly for his own protection he has been placed in a Perspex display case at the front of the office, where he keeps a watchful eye on staff and visitors.
Spot and Ted… both Victorian forestry and bushfire legends…
Victoria’s Forests & Bushfire Heritage 