The Shepparton greyhound racing community lost a popular stalwart with the recent passing of Grahame “Joe” Connell.

Grahame, who passed away on March 10, aged 84, and wife Wendy were highly regarded for their breeding and racing prowess, enjoying homegrown success with their ‘Clovalley’ greyhounds.

“Dad was a friend to everybody; he couldn’t do enough to help other people,” said daughter Tammy.

“Greyhound racing was a huge part of his life.

“After he married Mum in 1983, they moved from Broadford to Harston, built new kennels and turned it into a huge operation, Clovalley Park Kennels.

“Mum and Dad were very successful in breeding, rearing, and training. They had between 20 and 30 race dogs, plus brood bitches, pups and rearers.

“Their dogs had the ‘Clovalley’ prefix, which came from a block of land, Grahame’s family bought in Greensborough.”

Tammy described Grahame, who was known almost universally as Joe, as an “old school” trainer, skilled in all aspects of his craft, from the breeding barn to the racetrack.

Grahame’s notable achievements included being recognised on multiple occasions as Wangaratta’s Trainer of the Year, while Clovalley Duke was the 2008 Shepparton Greyhound of the Year.

“A lot of people get accolades for buying fast dogs, but Dad did all the hard work; he bred them, reared them and from day dot he was handling them,” Tammy explained.

“Dad and Mum brought their own dogs through the ranks, and they also trained for other people. He was from the Les Slattery era.

“Dad could break dogs in, and he became very well-known for his box-work. They would nearly always ping the lids after he’d worked with them!

“Dad raced at Shepparton and Bendigo and in the old days at Wangaratta, which was a track he liked to use to bring his dogs through their grades. After Wangaratta’s closure, he went to Longwood a fair bit.

“Mum and Dad raced all over Victoria and ventured to Wentworth Park, South Australia and even up to Brisbane. They would always trial before they raced at a track, which was a phenomenal feat to travel all that way.”

Shepparton GRC Manager Carl McGrath said Grahame was a permanent fixture at his home track.

“I can’t remember Grahame not being around Shepparton and I grew up here,” McGrath said.

“He was popular and very well-respected around the local region.

“Grahame and Wendy had quite a lot of success with breeding. At one stage they were in the top 20 breeders in Victoria, and they trained some very handy country dogs.”