June 16th, 2025Ted and Penny’s amazing Trentham adventure
There can be few moments of relief greater than the recovery of a much-loved missing pet as the rescue of labrador Ted from a Trentham mineshaft earlier this month illustrates.
A big team effort on Monday, June 2 saw Trentham CFA and Bendigo’s Oscar 1 rescue team safely rescue Ted from where he was trapped down an eight-metre deep mineshaft in Trentham bushland.
Ted and his labradoodle buddy, Penny, had gone missing four days earlier on Thursday, May 29, sparking a huge community search and online campaign after the dogs’ owners, Chantal Henderson and her family discovered them missing.
Luckily, a neighbour finally heard Penny’s frantic barking and was then able to locate Penny guarding the top of the shaft with poor Ted stuck below.
The canine pair were found on Pronk Track in Trentham around noon.
A quick call was made to Triple Zero, and the Trentham Fire Brigade and Oscar 1 swung into action, with help from Hepburn Shire Council staff and Forest Fire Management Victoria.
Ted was kept calm with food and water until rescuers could safely bring him back up about three hours later, into owner Chantal’s waiting arms.
A very relieved Chantal had plenty of praise for all concerned with the rescue, posting on social media:
“Our family is ever so grateful for all the support and well wishes we have received these past five days.
“Thank you to Ruth and her daughter for their perseverance searching the bush after hearing their barking. Without you they would never have been found.
“Penny was found guarding Ted who had fallen down a straight eight-metre mine shaft some time before or around Friday lunchtime. Both dogs are in unbelievable condition, a little lighter than usual, but otherwise excellent.
“Thank you to our rescuers, Trentham CFA, Hepburn and Moorabool shire rangers/officers, Forest Management and CFA Oscar 1 Mine Rescue.”
Trentham CFA Captain David Wheeldon said: “When we arrived, as you would expect, Penny was quite agitated, but luckily one of our firefighters knew the owners because they lived next door to them.
“We were able to get a hold of them to come down before Bendigo’s Oscar 1 crew started the rescue process.
“Throughout the morning, we were providing Ted with plenty of food and water.
“The members of Oscar 1 descended down the eight-metre shaft to safely extricate Ted and hand him back into the arms of his owners – happy, healthy and well.”
The incident serves to highlight the ongoing dangers posed by old mine shafts in the area.
While on scene, Trentham Fire Brigade members had worked with Forest Fire Management Victoria to locate and red-tape a number of open mine shafts in the area in an effort to help prevent future incidents.
Words: Eve Lamb | Image: Supplied
