More pets the better for the Corbo family

By Caitlyn Grant

Jun 8, 2022

Farm fun: Bentley, 8, Charlotte, 5, Penelope, 5, and Hunter Corbo, 10. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

There’s a bear in there, and a chair as well ― and four horses, more than a dozen chooks, two sausage dogs and a duo of cats, Bangers and Mash.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

The Corbos’ Congupna farm has many parallels with Play School, with identical twins Charlotte and Penelope, 5, and brothers Hunter, 10 and Bentley, 8 ruling the roost

Long: Sammy Sausage the rescue pup. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

The Corbos made the move from Tatura last year to land on a larger property, which according to farm manager (mum) Katherine Ferguson was the right move for her energetic little farmers.

Of the more than 20 pets, the majority have been rescued from lives much less comfortable than the loving farm of the Corbos.

Best friends: Charlotte Corbo, 5 with Unicorn the chook. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Although, in rehoming the pets, Katherine said she had never intended to have quite so many.

“We absolutely did not mean to,” she said with a laugh.

“But the kids all do pitch in by feeding the animals, collecting eggs, they all do their jobs.”

Warm and cosy: Penelope Corbo, 5, with Midget the chook. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Suzy and Sammy Sausage, the two dachshunds, were given a second life from a puppy farm, and just about all the chickens were born elsewhere.

Each of the Corbo kids has their favourite pet, from Unicorn the chook to Skittle the horse.

Feathery friend: Hunter Corbo, 10 with Bob the black feathered chicken. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Five-year-old Charlotte has an affinity for unicorns, so of course her favourite feathered friend is named after the horned creature.

“Unicorn is the best chook because I love her and she loves me,” she said.

Rescue: One of many chooks making the Congupna farm home. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Bentley’s favourite, however, is his four-legged meowing friend Mash, even if at times he’s hard to track down.

While the boys have stuck to the more traditional sports of soccer and cricket, Charlotte and Penelope have taken to horse riding.

Horsing around: Charlotte Corbo, 5, with her four-legged neigh-bour. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Both tend to give their riding teacher a bit of trouble figuring out which of the identical twins is which, but each has earned an impressive array of ribbons.