GORDON CHALLIS was born in 1932 in a family of Welsh origin who had, by
then, moved to southern England. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1954 and trained in psychology and social work, later working in these two occupations – at hospitals and health centres – until retiring in 1988. He and his wife, Penny, now live in Nelson.

Challis comments: ‘The setting for “Walking an imaginary dog” is the north coast of New South Wales where many caravan parks are sited on the wide estuaries. These parks are often run by the local shire councils who generally have a “no cats or dogs” policy. You can, however, have a caged bird.’

 

Poem: Walking an imaginary dog