One last wag of Pilbara’s greatest tail

A legendary Pilbara tail has hit the big screens once again to close the curtain on one of the most iconic and beloved Australian movie franchises in history.

Koko: A Red Dog Story officially opened in cinemas last week, bringing an end to the award-winning film series that has become synonymous with the red dirt region.

The movie centres around Koko, the kelpie that starred in the original Red Dog flick, and combines fiction and facts for a comical take on the production of the first film.

It has become the last entry in the successful series, which saw the first film gross more than $21 million, making it the eighth highest homegrown movie of all time and the biggest-selling Australian DVD in history.

Good Dog Enterprises producer Nelson Woss, who oversaw all three films and adopted and cared for Koko until his 2012 death, said the final entry was made by dog lovers for dog lovers.

“Koko was a special dog and this film is very much about all dogs that are special,” he said.

“Anyone who loves the Red Dog films will love this and once again it puts the spotlight on the Pilbara region, which I think is one of the most wonderful places in Australia.”

More than $10,000 was raised for the Dogs Refuge Home of WA during the movie’s premiere at Event Cinemas Innaloo last Monday.

Mr Woss said he felt like a “bit of an underdog” himself, given there was no major studio behind the recent instalment.

Mr Woss said he hoped to run a screening in Karratha or Dampier to raise funds for not-for-profit animal welfare organisation SAFE.