Millicent Spencer
Tributes have flown in via Facebook after Doreen Primary School announced their “beloved school pet Fudge” passed away after an incredible 17 years of life.
Fudge the bearded dragon lizard was just one year shy of reaching the world record currently held by Sebastian who died in 1997 after an 18 year innings.
Principal Glenn Simondson said Fudge was an integral part of the Doreen Primary School community and has been a part of so many children’s lives.
“Fudge has been a stalwart of the school,” he said.
“Some of our students are now 25 and they still remember Fudge.
“Judging by the comments that have come in on Facebook, she meant a lot to the community.”
Mr Simondson said Fudge lived a “fairly interesting life”.
“She went on many visits to the classrooms to sit on the kids desks,” he said.
“The students made a movie about her for the ACMI Screen It competition, and we ended up being a finalist in the grade 5-8 category.
“She also went on holidays with the teachers who took a pic of her by the river, and then bought that photo back for the students to complete a writing task.”
Mr Simondson said all the way along the kids were involved in Fudge’s care, from constructing a cage for her, to running a yearly fundraiser for her food.
“Kids these days often don’t have responsibility for looking after something, but Fudge was that for the kids at the school,” he said.
Fudge will be honoured at a full school assembly on Monday, but in the meantime the tributes will continue to flow via the school’s Facebook page.
“Such sad news! Thank you for eating all the spiders that tried to scare me in the library Fudge,” Rebekah Di Berardino said.
“Can’t believe she lived to be 17, a true modern legend of the school,” Max Walton said.
“I think the new building should be named in memory of Fudge,” Catherine Sutherland said.
