By Danielle Davey
At a secret location in Crib Point, a nurse, a plasterer, a counsellor, a mechanic and a corporate manager search for hidden bodies.
SARDA founder Julie Cowan with her dog, Billie.
Away from their day jobs, they form part of a select group of handlers who, together with their canine offsiders, undertake simulated training exercises to locate missing persons and human remains. On call 24/7, they never know when a real incident will require their expertise.
Search and Rescue Dogs Australia was founded by Mornington resident Julie Cowan in 1994. The organisation began after a casual conversation at a local dog obedience class where a fellow member revealed his past as a Swiss avalanche rescue dog handler. Inspired by his experience, Julie established the volunteer group to bring similar specialised skills to Australia.
Since its inception, SARDA has assisted in numerous search and rescue efforts, becoming acknowledged experts in live finds – locating missing persons in bushland and urban environments – and human remains detection.
Before social media, the group’s earliest cases were generally close to home, secured through word-of-mouth referrals. However, when a volunteer with links to Victoria Police joined its ranks in 1995, he raised SARDA’s profile, recommending its services to the missing persons and homicide units.
In the mid to late ’90s the team was in high demand, deployed by police to work on numerous cold cases. These included successful finds along with indications for areas of interest. When Victoria Police launched its own internal canine detection program in 2004, however, SARDA pivoted. Using the period to refine its own capabilities, it invited a UK expert to biennially assess its training in accordance with international standards.
The preparation paid off. The police program disbanded in 2009, and SARDA immediately returned to the forefront of local search operations, facing its biggest challenge yet: Black Saturday. As the only non-government organisation to assist in the location of remains in the aftermath of the bushfires, Julie and her husband, Andrew, joined police, fire brigades and the SES at Kinglake and Strathewen. The pair brought bacteria-discriminating dogs with them, realising the specialised skill required to find charred remains.
“Bacteria can be found on remains for up to 36 hours, working on heat and moisture,” Julie said. The onset of drizzling rain aided their search, resulting in a significant number of positive finds. For their work, they received the National Emergency Medal, the first canine search team in Australia to do so.
SARDA is still a valuable ally to Victoria Police. Contacted recently to help look for a missing elderly woman at Yea, its certified teams immediately attended the search area. In a happy outcome, the woman was found. It’s these results that spur the team to continue what they do.
As a 100 per cent not-for-profit organisation, SARDA appreciates any contribution allowing it to continue its important work, whether it’s volunteering as a ‘dog hide’ – a person to be found in training exercises – or showing support through sponsorship or donations. For information and contact details, visit sarda.net.au
