Happy Greys bring Mackay together

By Jordan Gerrans

The regional Queensland city of Mackay has a thriving community of greyhound lovers who often get together to celebrate their shared love of the breed.

A growing group of people who go by the name 'Happy Greys Social Club' regularly meets with their retired chasers for a coffee and walk in Mackay.

Mackay trainer Neville Jackson is heavily involved in the club and has rehomed as many as 10 dogs to fellow members. 

Former Jackson-prepared dogs such as Moonlit Dior, Moonlit Mandy, Blue Vista, Sonic Groove and Broombrae Blaze, among others, all regularly reunite with their new owners for a chat, stroll and latte. 

“The public interest is fantastic,” Jackson said.

“Where we go, they all stop and pat the dogs and ask a lot of questions and so on.”

At the Happy Greys Social Club Christmas party last year, 17 people attended with 14 retired chasers also on hand.

The city of Mackay previously had its own track up until 2009.

Jackson was the president of the Mackay Greyhound Racing Club in its final years.

He has remained involved in the industry in a number of different capacities, including continuing to race a team of chasers at Rockhampton.

The Happy Greys Social Club was initially instigated by local resident Kate Chiconi.

“It started when a neighbour a few streets away and I discovered we both had greyhounds,” Chiconi recalls.

“We'd both been operating in isolation, not knowing that there were other greyhound owners around.

“There are plenty of people who have them, but you don't see them being walked an awful lot on the street.

“Anyway, we decided it was worth getting together and we knew that there were other people around.

“So, we decided to start a club. I designed a logo and we just got together.

“We meet regularly once a month at the local Botanic Gardens because they're very welcoming to the dogs and it's a great place to walk them afterwards.”

Moonlit Dior, Moonlit Mandy, Blue Vista, Sonic Groove and Broombrae Blaze all won races for Jackson before they retired.

The long-term industry member says finding great homes for his chasers post-career is important.

“It's animal welfare first and foremost,” he said.

“As long as they've got a good home and are looked after, you cannot ask for more.

“During their racing life, they give you 110% and they ask for very little in return. It's a great thing, that's my attitude, I believe the animal welfare comes first.

“But, so does this group, they really look after them.”

The State Member for Mackay Nigel Dalton has even popped into a Happy Greys Social Club catch-up before.

“We get together regularly, once a month,” Chiconi said.

“We also have a big Christmas party. There are dogs lounging everywhere with people sitting around outside.

“There's regularly about seven dogs that come to our monthly coffee mornings.

“We also do the Great Global Greyhound Walk in September.”

As well as taking on former Jackson-prepared dogs, Happy Greys Social Club members have also picked up retired chasers from other Central Queensland trainers as well as through the Greyhound Adoption Program.

On the track, the Jackson kennel has been in form of late, collecting four winners this month.