Retired couple

More information about this house sitter

G'day,

We are offering ourselves as house/dog/cat/sheep/poultry/exotic bird sitters!

We are available from mid Nov 2025 to late March 2026 in rural QLD, preferably on -or close to- a line Brisbane (QLD) to Katherine (NT) ideally for around 14 days/sit; all options considered, dates flexible.

I (Martin) am from Busselton, WA & I'm married to Sylvia, a Dutch citizen. We hit the road in our camper most years, November to March & try to visit a different part of our beautiful country each time.

We are both retired (Sylvia- accountant, Martin - elections planner) after careers that have seen us wandering the world. (details & CV available).

I (Martin) have owned two dogs (a wire-haired terrier x standard schnauzer cross and also a kelpie x collie cross) over the years & much enjoyed the experience.

Sylvia inherited two cats when her parents passed away & they were fully integrated members of our family until they both passed away in the last 18 months.

So, we are happy, healthy, solvent, reliable, non-smoking university graduates & ‘semi-cultured’ world-traveller. We love exploring areas new to us but without having to stay in a hotel; we just want to enjoy animals & some peace and quiet- and new adventures.

We are very active and if we are asked to look after dogs, we would walk them miles every day! We enjoy looking after pets and find pet sitting a therapeutic way to spend time relaxing.

What about the sheep & poultry! Well, 20 years ago, with a former partner (the daughter of a sheep farmer), I (Martin) tried my hand at sheep rearing (mostly successful, but very time consuming) & had a hobby farm with 80 ewes. These days, we do not now have the land- neither do we want the responsibility - of looking after sheep permanently, but would gladly do so again on a temporary basis. Also kept chickens & ducks, so happy to include poultry in the menagerie!

REFERENCES.
Over Christmas/NY 2023/24, we looked after 6 lorikeets & galahs & 6 chooks for 2 weeks at Adelaide for Karen & Graeme. (And they gave us a very positive reference!)

In Dec 22/Jan 23, we looked after their Rhodesian Ridgeback at Perth, WA for Dani & Ben (for 7 weeks). (And they also gave us a very positive reference!)

In Feb 2019, I looked after a cat, a house & a large fruit/veggie patch for Marty & Helen -for three weeks at Bathurst, NSW. Reference available

In November 2016, I 'cat, chook & house' sat for Narelle & Stephen at Tamworth, NSW. We have kept in touch over the years & - at their invitation- concluded a 3 week successful sit at their new home at Westbury, TAS, Jan/Feb 2024. We returned - for a 3rd enjoyable sit- in Jan 2025.

In April 2017 - and again, at their invitation, in Oct 2018- Sylvia & I 'dog & house sat' for Fiona & Ed at Aylesbury, UK .

In April 2016- and again (at their request), in May 2017, Sylvia & I 'dog & house sat' for Karen & Simon at Arborfield, UK.

In all cases, the families were pleased with the way we looked after their animals and their houses. All families have offered very positive references by email, so we invite you to contact them to get, first hand, their views on how we performed. (Email addresses available on request).

If you are interested, please feel free to ask any question & we'll do our best to answer.

Look forward to hearing from you,

Big thanks & regards,

Martin & Sylvia

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