Tony moved to Collie in 2004.

“My family and I moved here for a lifestyle change. If I’d stayed there I would have been a screaming mess,” he laughed.

Tony got just what he wanted in terms of a lifestyle change – on his first day working in Collie he had to chase a chicken down Throssell Street.

That chook wasn’t the last of the lost and crazy animals Tony would have to round up.

“Once I received a call that some stock were going along Coombe Street heading towards Retravision,” he recalled.

“ I had to call the police and tell them to bring firearms and everything but fortunately we managed to round them into the cattle yards at Wallsend Ground.

“If they had got to roads near Retravision there would have been a huge mess.”

Although it was a wake-up call, Tony said he’s used to such alarms now. “I’ve got to a stage now where I quite enjoy it,” he laughed.

“Everyone in Collie has a great attitude and a friendly approach to everything. Complaints are easier to deal with because people have a more amicable manner.”

Most people have lowlights in their job, however Tony says he only has one – issuing fines.

“It’s not much fun, but it is something that has to be done,” he said.

Even having to put dogs down is something he has grown accustomed to.

“You never get attached to them. They aren’t in the pound long enough to get attached, usually only three days.”

Tony’s favourite part of his job is rehoming dogs and the satisfaction of helping people. “It’s the kind of job where you feel great when you get praised, like getting a thank-you card from the owner of shed that was burning down. It really helps your day along.”

Apart from his job, Tony also has quite an impressive hobby – running marathons.

In 1983 Tony won the Perth People’s Marathon and has also competed in a number of Perth City to Surf Marathons.

“In the ’80s I was running around 100 to 110 kilometres a week,” he said. “I won a few state titles.”

Although he does not compete in many events now, Tony still keeps in top shape.

“I go running everyday and do between six and 10kms. I just can’t stop. It’s built-in.”

Tony remembers during a visit to Sydney quite a few years ago his friends were running in the City to Surf. “I was going out for a jog and wasn’t staying too far away from where the race began, so I thought I’d go and see my mates off,” he said.

“So I jogged to the starting line and found my mates who were at the very front of the pack. There was an enormous mass of people there waiting to race. All of a sudden they started counting down to the beginning of the race, and I was stuck at the very front!

“When they said ‘go’, I was forced to run with everyone because I wasn’t able to get out of the pack.

“I think I ran about three kilometres before I found part of the track where I could sneak out. Spectators were yelling at me saying I was going the wrong way, but I just laughed and kept jogging.”

Apart from life as ranger and a marathon extraordinaire, Tony likes a quiet life at home. He and his wife, Elizabeth, have been married for 15 years and have two children Jessica, 14, and Richard, 12.

He also has a dog which he rescued when he first came to Collie. “Within the first few months in Collie, I found a little puppy out Minninup with a cut on his head.

“I took him home with me and put him on the lounge with my wife and kids and he has been there ever since,” Tony laughed.

“He is a beautiful dog; he hasn’t got a vicious streak in him.

“I promised the kids a dog when we moved to the country, because it was too hard having one in the city. Moving to Collie has been a big culture change for them too.”