Morrie passed away at 0445 Friday morning the 4th of February 2000 as the consequence of a fit/heart attack. Both Susan and I were with him. His temperature had been up from Monday, and he last took food Tuesday afternoon. To keep him from dehydrating we kept his water intake up by feeding from a plastic syringe, but the hot weather was another debilitating factor. The antibiotics brought his temperature to normal Thursday afternoon and he began showing more awareness of his surroundings, but at 1830 Thursday he started having pain for which we gave him some analgesic. That evening Morrie slept from 2030, he took some water at 0100 Friday, then slept again until 0400 when he again began to experience pain. The major fit occurred at 0430, after which he never regained awareness again, breathing and heart-beat gradually fading out. It was 6 years to the day since release from the one month quarantine period at the Antarctic Division, Kingston, Tasmania which was required following arrival from the southern continent. Robert and Susan Nash.
The following is Morrie's record from the Mawson Dog-file.
NAME: Morrie
SEX: Male
SIRE: Ahab
BITCH: Jenny
BORN: Mawson, 15 September 1985
DESCRIPTION: Black body, white markings on face, pink nose.
REMARKS:
1986. Became regarded as the ugliest thing on four legs for thousands of miles. A really odd looking dog. Went on a few runs with Nanok's team, but was mostly only used on training runs. Solid, but not the most powerful dog we've got. Not for breeding. See what you think.
1987. What a dog! Pulls his heart out, never needs mushing up and easily disciplined. I don't think he's ugly either. Has earned himself a permanent place in Blackie's team. Run beside Tilley and Ursa in all positions. Not a fighter, a good, honest dog. A bad harness chewer.
1988. Ditto for 1987. Has harness chewing down to a fine art. Best and most consistent puller on Blackie's team. Run mid team alongside Ursa all year.
1989. He may be the ugliest dog on the station, he may be able to demolish his harness in three seconds flat and he has taken lessons from Houdini in how to escape from his collar, but I wouldn't swap him for any other dog. Put him on the trace, alongside Ursa, and Morrie will pull all day, through any conditions. On the Kloa trip he would pull until he was exhausted and then keep pulling. We had to cool him off with snow baths on sunny days and at the end of the day you could hear him gasping for air as he plodded along, head down, tongue out and his lead bar tight. Has a strong attraction for Bonza and was infatuated with Kamik when she was a pup. I don't think he is capable of breeding as he doesn't know what bitches are for. A real personality. If I needed two dogs to get me home, Bonza and Morrie would be my choice.
1990. Half of the Morrie and Ursa team, although contrary to what some people think, you can run Morrie with another dog, Bonza or one of the bitches, Morrie is not fussy, and will keep you entertained whoever he is run with and he has a one track mind. Uglier than ever after he lost his other ear at the start of the year. Loves a tummy-rub, is an excellent worker and one of the favourites this year.
1991. Pulled like the champion he is, but towards the second half of the year he started to show signs of his age with a touch of arthritis and sometimes becoming exhausted. Worked well on the Kloa run. Very good escape artist, needs two collars. Overall a wonderful dog and one of my favourites.
1992. Has been described by some as the ugliest dog in Antarctica. However a very friendly and kind dog with not a bad streak in him. Has lost a lot of fur from his tail and around his backside. Seems a little lethargic recently and a little arthritis creeping in. Has been one of the most consistent and hardest workers in harness of the Mawson dogs and will pull till he drops. During 1992 has slowed down and showing signs of old age. One of the most popular dogs on the station (31 August 1992). Morrie is not running in the team any more due to severe arthritis. Hair has grown back. He's still happy but now a station pet (31 December 1992).
1993. Too arthritic to run but mobility has improved over the year from being allowed to roam everyday, that is until the penguins returned. Was kennelled in the green hut below the old field store and a heater on a time switch provided 2 hours heat in the morning to ease early morning stiffness.
15 December 1993. Departed Mawson for Australia.
05 February 1994. Relocated to Rob Nash's property at Altona, Victoria.
Morrie's gentle loveable nature drew in hundreds of people during his years of retirement in Australia. Many people met Morrie fund raising for the ANARE Jubilee and Husky Memorial 1994-97. Morrie gave of his friendship unconditionally and people responded, suprised that such a tough working life could produce so amiable a character. But to survive as a working sledge-dog a husky must retain a sense of self, consequently young dudes who prodded him with a foot and old codgers who poked him with their walking sticks were appraised with a raised eyebrow and a 'what's this about' woof. Morrie was fascinated by children and literally eyeball to eyeball would walk into the middle of sitting groups of school children to flop onto his side for pats. Retirement wasn't all easy for Morrie but he faced life with effort and overcame the adversity with his shining spirit. Midwinter Dinner 1995 Rex Moncur, then Director of the Antarctic Division, helped to carry Morrie up the stairs. Morrie had a bone infection in the arthritic joint of his left elbow and there was concern about his future mobility but Morrie got up again, as always. I cannot think of Morrie as passed but merely as having heard a call of 'Ready Boys' and gone to rejoin the teams, to be present always on the wind in the open spaces under the stars.
A tribute to the Mawson huskies by Lawerence Morris, who now cares for Arne & Bundy in the USA.
The Passing Can you still feel the rhythm of the sled? From sea ice up to the plateau's heights The teams pulled there so it is said.
Although they are dispersed: retired or dead- And little remains in spindrifted white, You may still hear the rattle of the sled.
Where leopards sprawl on frozen beds And emperors huddle and brood in the night The teams ran there so it is said.
Up over the sastrugi they appear, spread Out in a fan, heads down, tails swung upright. Can't you hear the rasping of the sledge?
Plunging on through featureless dread, Doubled up to assault precipitous might, In unknown places they were proved it is said.
Should emptiness weigh upon lowered head At fissured edges where the margin is slight, There will always remain the line of the sled- The Mawsons have been there: let it be said.