Beginning a boarding kennel business from scratch was always going to be an ambitious project but nothing that resilient Clifton Creek couple, Beth and Gilbert Rothe, couldn’t handle.
They started the ball rolling in 1995 with the idea of Gambelon Boarding Kennels, because of the imminent closure of another local kennel business.
“It was a bit of a gamble,” Beth said.  
“So we called it Gambelon.”
At the beginning, despite various obstacles involving “a number of VCAT hearings and no support from the local council”, eventually their planning permit was approved after an 18-month wait.
Gambelon opened on March 1, 1997, with accommodation for dogs and cats.
Gilbert designed the entire facility with the main consideration based around animal welfare.

IMAGE: Beth and Gilbert Rothe have finished up their boarding kennel business and are looking forward to gardening, farming and visiting grandkids. They are pictured with Curly, Zuel and Lyka. K215-253