2000, AND INTO THE NEW MILLENNIUM . . .

     The History of The ACF (Inc) - the current decade  

2000
The 2000 National, sponsored by Whiskas, was hosted by WSCA, at Penrith Panthers Resort, west of Sydney.  The show was split over two days, with 180 kittens being judged in 6 rings on Saturday afternoon and the adults having their day on Sunday.  A total of 350 exhibits competed for the "highest scoring cat" award, which was won by a local youngster - black mackeral tabby persian Maskad Zulu, owned and bred by Debbie Moreno. Judges were: L Morgan Blythe, K Scallan, H Berntrop, B Edwards, D & L Williams and P Jacobberger.  Both Guild and ACF AGM's were of course held over the weekend.

After the AGM, there were several changes to the Executive Committee. QICC's new representative was Anne Faulkner (Pres of QICC) and later, for health reasons, CANT's member Diane Page retired, to be replaced by  Julian Schuller.  John Blythe was once again elected President, and VP was Kathie Scallan (QFA). The meeting also endorsed the exclusion from the ACF panel of any judge found guilty in a court of law of an act injurious or prejudicial to the aims and objectives or reputation of the cat fancy.

Patterns or colours granted recognition were: "o" gene in Ragdolls, Caramel in Australian Mists and golden tipped and shaded in orientals as well as a wider colour range in Turkish Van.

The ACF Judges' Guild membership  increased, with more members from ACF affiliates as well as associate members from the CCCA panel.  The quarterly publication "Felijudge" served to keep all members in touch with latest developments in many facets of the cat fancy by presenting up-to-date information from international sources.

In early March, 2000, the World Cat Congress (sponsored by Novartis) was hosted by ACF in Sydney, at  Olympic Park, Homebush Bay.  A show was held in conjunction with the conferences, as was a most successful seminar attended by breeders and judges from both Australian bodies and from all states and territories.  ACF nominated NZCF for Associate membership of the WCC, and NZCF subsequently became the first Associate Member body.

2001
The year 2000/2001 seemed to disappear in a blur of National weekend and World Cat Congress activities, which occupied so much of our time.   At the June 2000 AGM, caramel was accepted in Australian Mists and tipped and shaded (silver) as well as golden in those patterns was accepted in Oriental.  O gene and tabby were accepted in Ragdoll.

The 2000 National, sponsored by Whiskas, was hosted by WSCA, at Penrith Panthers Resort, west of Sydney.  The show was split over two days, with 180 kittens being judged in 6 rings on Saturday afternoon and the grown ups having their day on Sunday.  A total of 350 exhibits  competed for the "highest scoring cat" award, which was won by a local youngster - black mackerel tabby Persian kitten, Maskad Zulu, owned and bred by Debbie Moreno.

After the AGM, (at which John Blythe was returned as President and Geoffrey Dumigan - QFA - was elected VP and Nell Evans re-appointed as Secretary) there were several changes to the Executive Committee.  QICC's new representative was Anne Faulkner (Pres of QICC) and later, CANT's member Diane Page retired, to be replaced by  Julian Schuller.  (Julie had been a long-term member of the committee for many years until her retirement in 1997.)

During the year, in an Australian first, QICC members bred our founding litters of Selkirk Rex in both long and shorthaired versions.  This breed was to be be presented for recognition at the 2001 ACF AGM.

In March 2001, ACF hosted the World Cat Congress for the first time it had been held outside Europe.  Novartis was a most generous sponsor of the WCC.  This was held in Sydney at Olympic Park with the seminar and open meeting held on Saturday, attended by fanciers from all states and territories, from both ACF and CCCA bodies.  A show on the Sunday, run by WSCA, attracted some 300+ entries.

2002

On May 22nd, there was a meeting between representatives of ACF and CCCA which boded well for closer liaison.  This was attended (for ACF) by the President, the Secretary and the ILO.  One outcome of the meeting was that CCCA opened its CCCA titles to ACF registered cats, to become consistent with established ACF practice.

 

Adelaide was the venue for both show and AGM, hosted by GCCFSA at Morphetville Racecourse.  There was a Supreme Exhibit awarded in each of the three rings and the winners were GC Kaloofa Blue Velvet, Pompey Puttin’ on the Ritz (both British blues) and the stylish black oriental kitten, Naengnoi Orient Express.  Visiting judges were Kitty Angell (USA),  Phillipe Noel (France), Jan van Rooyen (South Africa)  and Yuki Hattori (Japan).

 

Michael Figwer (SA) was elected President and Keryn Rivett became Secretary.  Barbara La Rocca (QFA) became our new VP.  Recognition was granted to Oriental bicolour, the Javanese was re-named ‘Oriental LH’ and Tonkinese were accepted in O gene.  Selkirk Rex were allowed outcross until 2016 and some important clarification was made to the Recommended Practices on Breeding – neither rumpy Manx nor Scottish Fold may be mated like to like.

 

The inaugural ACF Distinguished Service Award was presented to Lesley Morgan Blythe for her efforts in many different ACF roles over more than two decades.

 

2003

And off we went to the tropics, to Darwin!   This was a most welcome change for the many southerners who converged.  This year, recognition was given to Siberians; apricot and caramel as well as silver tabby point in Birman and Ragdoll as well as caramel and apricot in Burmillas and ticked tabby pattern in Persian/Exotic, British, Scottish and Rex. John Blythe was re-elected President and Allan Raymond became International Liaison Officer. 

 

Again, the show format was different, so results for Best of Group was not calculated in the standard manner.  Visiting judges were Olga Abramova (Russia/Israel) and Ken Lawrence (USA).  The virtue of having an official Reserve judge was unfortunately made manifest when Olga was badly bitten and Ian Rivett stepped into the breach. 

 

Lilac Burmese female Kokhan Arielle Armani earned an (as yet unclaimed!)  Distinguished Merit award on the basis of two of her offspring winning Best Grp 3 Kitten (Rings 3 and 4).   The sheer quality of the NT Burmese was something of an eye-opener to many who had travelled from other states!  For the first time, a Japanese Bobtail won a Best in Show at a National – Hajime Ji Yu (owned by Harry Bush, WA).   Supreme Exhibit was a black Persian neuter from Queensland, ACF AOE Katzrus Kuta Kinda.

 

Early in the year, Turkish Van female Ch Vanstar Nephra of Delisman (breeder J Walker, owner B Harris) was accorded DM status.

 

2004

Westward, ho!  Back to Perth with FCCWA as hosts this year.  A bevy of overseas female judges graced the show – Aline Noel (now living in Canada), Nurit Pahl (Austria/Israel), Clare Coutinho (South Africa) and Stephe Bruin (Netherlands)  combined with ACF judges to determine the winners.  Ultimately,  Supreme Exhibit was Keeza Barnicle Bill (Lilac Burmese) owned by J & H Cooper (Tas).  (Interestingly, he was a son of Kokhan Audacious Audin, Highest scoring Grp 3 Kitten, Ring 3 the previous year.)

 

Julie Schuller (NT) was elected President and Nell Evans (SA) returned to the Secretarial role.  Our new VP was Keryn Rivett.  The incoming President of the Judges’ Guild was Margo’t Maddicks, replacing Helen Farmer whose long record of stewardship of the Judges’ Guild was so admired by its members.  Lesley Morgan Blythe was much relieved at the prospect of being replaced as Editor of  “ACF 2005” by Jane van Dyk, family circumstances at the time prohibiting the necessary commitment.

 

The Distinguished Service Award is not given lightly, but this year it was presented for the second time, to Margaret Bush (WA) for her sterling record on ACF’s behalf.

 

After much discussion at the AGM, the suggestions for change to the constitution were abandoned and it was decided to revert to WA Fair Trading Model Rules….with slight variations.  (See 2005!)  The formatting of ACF By-laws documents was still a work in progress.  The meeting decided that until ACF’s constitutional overhaul was completed, it was inappropriate to meet with CCCA as planned;  CCCA officers had taken the initiative to moot a new, single national body, but without our constitution refined, we were not in a position to debate this prospect.

 

A further 7 levels were added to the ACF AOE scheme, there was a modification to the Ragdoll profile description and the Foreign White Longhair was recognised.  Bi-colour Siamese and Balinese were recognised, as was the Burmilla Longhair.  Good news for host affiliates – it was agreed that they retain 10% of all profit made from National shows.  On the health front, affiliates were to encourage PKD testing of Persian and derived breeds to be recorded for registration purposes.

 

Also during 2004, Geoff Dumigan and Diana Arnold participated in a judging tour which took them to UK and Czech Republic – the first Australian judges to officiate in the latter country.

 

2005

A debut hosting by QICC at Marburg (near Ispwich, Queensland) took us out to an extremely pleasant rural setting, where all events took place at Marburg Estate, with its Victorian Heritage listed homestead building complete with fabulous cedar panelling and resident ghost. 

 

A Special General Meeting was convened for Friday afternoon, to admit FCCQ (whose application for affiliation was submitted in February) as a new member body with voting rights at Monday’s AGM.   This was the AGM to end them all – the agenda contained a slurry of proposals for change to the old (existing) constitution, as well as a proposed new ‘overhaul’ constitution.  Add to that 33 years’ worth of by-laws to be slotted into the appropriate place and you have the makings for a long, paracetamol – driven meeting!  Ultimately, the proposed  new constitution was voted down, so the amendments to the existing prevailed.  There were no changes of position amongst the Officers, but the writer was re-appointed as Yearbook Editor.

 

But the AGM wasn’t all constitutional – ‘skeletal deformities’ (formerly a W/H) was relocated to ‘Disqualification’ in the standard book,  the term ‘and white’ was reserved for bicolours or vans of breeds where no differentiation of amount of white is made in the standard,  and Rex and hairless breeds (with no points for colour) be exhibited as Agouti, Agouti and White, Non-Agouti, Non-Agouti and White.  Mating of patched to pointed was accepted, so bicolour colourpoints became legitimate.  Smoke points were accepted in all breeds which have both smoke and pointed patterns and it was no longer a penalty for apricot, red or cream cats to have freckles.  An important set of motions passed which addressed problematic Persian/Exotic skull structure and Dm colours as well as silver series was allowed in Persian/Exotic, British and Scottish breeds.  In abys, a bump on the nose became officially ‘undesirable’ and cinnamon and fawn were accepted as Tonkinese colours.  Golden (in breeds in which it’s recognised) in was allowed in colours other than black.  The name of the Bombay as it is bred within affiliates was changed to “Australian Bombay”, so as to avoid confusion with the US-style original breed.

 

Another most important issue was the unanimous agreement to QICC’s proposals that ACF take actions to address the S. E Asian pet trade issues which are of such concern to us all.  This topic has been taken to the WCC and in April 2007 action was taken to assist ACF and CCCA in its approaches to the Australian government.

 

At the show, the major winners were:  Best Allbreed Cat (and Supreme Exhibit):  ACF AOE Gold CCCAGC, Sap. DGC Vonderbren Sumthing Special (blue van Persian); Best Allbreed Kitten: Creswell Tally Ho (cream Burmese); Best Allbreed Neuter: Kachelle Sno Chivelle (Foreign White).  As some had attended the WCC and NZCF National the week before, the judging line up featured a large number of overseas judges: Pam DelaBar from USA, Edith-Mary Smith (Canada), Kaai Du Plessis (Sth Africa), Eric Reijers (Czech Rep) and Penny Bydlinski (UK).

 

Finally, two more DM winners emerged.  Yendor Boronia (black Oriental) Bred by M Sharpe and owned by J & H Slape and R Crowley) was awarded her title for the achievements of her ACF National BIS winning offspring and a grand old man, unfortunately no longer with us (but whose offspring keep his name alive), Chiton Don Carlos (bred by H Ferres, owned by L and S Andresen) became the first Siamese male to claim the title.

 

2006

In October 2005 an application for membership of ACF was received from TFANSW.  This achieved a majority Executive vote and was confirmed at the AGM in June 2006.

 

Geelong was the host city and CAV the host body of the 2006 National weekend.  This was the ultimate “bring your thermals” weekend, but while the weather was frigid, the CAV hospitality was the absolute opposite.  The social events were extremely varied – from informal welcome drinks at our ‘home’, a holiday village where we occupied a series of self-contained cottages,  to an even more informal BBQ (Harry Bush as grill chef) and one of the most memorable National show dinners I’ve been to, where the venue was wonderful, the company was lively and the food – by unanimous vote – absolutely exquisite.

 

The show as ever featured the crème de la crème from all states and territories but the final winner was a local baby, a wonderful black Oriental owned and bred by Tracy Appleby, Watirah Naughty But Nice.  (See feature on National Show winners.)  There was no opportunity for the traditional photo of Supreme in the silver Whiskas rose bowl – put her in it and only the tips of her large ears would have shown!  Visiting judges were Louis Coste (France) and Kim Cutter (Sth Africa) and a most welcome visitor was the effervescent South African judge Lynel Du Toit, (passing through Geelong - as one does - on her way home from the NZCF National the previous week), who dominated the dance floor at the dinner with an energetic Mr Coste.

 

At the AGM,  W.M. (Bill) Griffiths (a barrister from Tasmania) was elected President and Lesley Morgan Blythe returned to the role of ILO.  After the presidential election, the VP (Keryn Rivett) took the chair and conducted a tight meeting. 

 

Some of the decisions were: that to be eligible for AOE awards, an exhibit must be placed in Top 5 at a given show;  a sub-committee be appointed to review the constitution; provisional membership status of ACF became part of ‘definitions’ in the constitution; vitiligo (depigmentation of skin) was added to “Disqualifiers” and mink pattern in Scottish breeds was accepted.

Silver Bengals were recognised, as was the Egyptian Mau (CFA standard).    It became optional for Grp 2 and 3 training to be combined and the meeting approved the formation of a sub-committee (each affiliate to nominate a representative) to collect and collate information dealing with welfare issues, with particular reference to the pet trade to S. E. Asia. 

 

Part of the above - years 2002 to 2006 - is extracted from an article entitled "ACF - The Last Decade", written by ACF International Liaison Officer & Yearbook Editor, Lesley Morgan-Blythe for the 2007 ACF Yearbook, which Lesley concluded with:  

 

Epilogue:

Compiling this Episode 2 of ACF potted history (since 1996) has brought back many memories and in some respects I wonder where the last decade went.  In other respects 1996 seems such a very long time ago – so much has happened.  We have seen the death of some individuals whose influence on our cat fancy has left an indelible imprint.  We have seen worthwhile expansion within ACF just as we have seen torrid times, but as ever, the ‘family’ has weathered the storms as it always has (since 1972)  and as I’m sure it always will.  One thing which would give me enormous pleasure is for the members of affiliates to all feel they are part of ACF, rather than it being a remote national entity which simply hands out AOE titles and the like.  I think if you read this summary of activities, you’ll see it does much, much more for everyone than that!  See you all in Queensland next year!


As written at the end of our first "on-line" history, published here in 1998:

We have come a long way since that first, ambitious venture to unify the many separate bodies of the Australian cat fancy into one, nation-wide group.  Let us always take heed of the words of Dr. Tait, at the outset:
"We are about to create history in the Australian cat world, so let us do it with objectiveness, foresight, discrimination and intelligent, yet enthusiastic, planning.  The formation of a National Cat Council out of the relative chaos of Australia will undoubtedly involve all councils in certain changes of policy, which I hope they will make when, and if, necessary in the interests of the whole cat community ... Remember, we have one basic goal - our desire to improve the standard of the cats we breed."

 

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