Back row: Richard Nelson - President NZCF, John Blythe - President ACF, Kay De Vilbiss - President TICA. Front row: Penny Bydlinski - WCC Secretary/Treasurer, Lesley Morgan-Blythe - International Liaison Officer ACF, Alva Uddin - WCC President & FIFe President, Anneliese Hackmann - President WCF, Don Williams - WCC Vice-President & President CFA.
The Annual Meeting of the World Cat Congress took place in Sydney, Australia where it was hosted by the ACF Inc., one of the foundation members of the Congress.
The delegates who arrived on Friday, 2nd March were Alva Uddin, the FIFe President from Sweden, from the States came Don Williams the President of CFA and Kay De Vilbiss, the President of TICA, Anneliese Hackmann, the President of the WCF who is based in Germany and the hosts of the event represented by Lesley Morgan Blythe the ACF international Liaison Officer together with the ACF President John Blythe.
On Saturday, 3rd March the weekend opened with a Seminar in which the visiting delegates took part. Don Williams spoke about Singapuras. Kay de Vilbiss presented an illustrated talk on Bengals as well as Manx and Cymric. Hetty Berntrop, a well-known Dutch juge who is now resident in Australia gave an interesting talk on the colours caramel, apricot and golden in the Siamese and Orientals.
Kay de Vilbiss, TICA president, demonstrates a fine example of a Bengal during her illustrated presentation regarding Bengals, Manx and Cymrics.
Anneliese Hackmann talked about Birmans, Siberians and Don Sphynx. Penny Bydlinski, FIFe General Secretary, presented the Burmilla and the Tiffany and Alva Uddin showed a video and talked about the Norwegian Forest Cat.
The highlight of the Seminar was the presentation by Novartis, the veterinary products firm which had sponsored the WCC. Their veterinary surgeon presented the Datamars microchips and scanners for which they are agents and which are marketed by them under the name of REUNITE, as well as the main cat medications in their range. These were specifically PROGRAM flea control, which although Novartis makes no claims on this, has also been found by some to be effective in the treatment and prevention of ringworm. Clomipramine for cats which have behavioural problems and which spray was also presented and CATLAX for constipation problems as well as, soon to be launched, Benazepril for cat kidney and heart conditions. The programme was large and varied and a lot of interest was expressed by the large number of judges and breeders who were present.
Alva Uddin, FIFe president, presents a beautiful Norwegian Forest Cat.
On Sunday, 4th March, Waratah State Cat Alliance, an affiliate of ACF Inc. ran an all-breeds championship show at which Mrs Penny Bydlinski, FIFe General Secretary and Secretary/Treasurer of the WCC, Mrs Anneliese Hackmann, President of WCF, Mrs Lesley Morgan-Blythe (International Liaison Officer for ACF Inc.), Mrs Alva Uddin, FIFe President and President of the WCC, and Mr Don Williams, President of CFA and Vice-President of the WCC judged. The show was held in a light and airy sports centre which was part of the Olympic Park complex created for the recent 2000 Games and was an enjoyable and relaxed event.
On Monday, 5th March the closed meeting of the foundation members of WCC took place at the Novotel in Homebush, next to the Olympic Park. Before continuing with the meeting a minute’s silence was observed in memory of Larry Paul, the TICA President who died in August 2000. Larry’s belief in the WCC had been an enormous help in the preceding years and his wisdom and gentle wit would be sadly missed by all who knew him.
Alva Uddin , FIFe president, presents John Blythe, ACF president and his wife, Lesley Morgan-Blythe an acknowledgement for their work in getting the WCC meeting in Australia.
At this meeting the New Zealand Cat Fancy Inc. was accepted as a member in accordance with the rules expressed in the Charter of 1999.The first item on the Agenda was an application for Associate Membership by the New Zealand Cat Fancy Inc., this application had been proposed by ACF Inc. and seconded by CFA in accordance with the rules already expressed in the Charter of 1999. A chart showing common disqualifications and serious faults in breeds in the various organisations was also presented and agreed for publication.
A presentation was made to the ACF President and his wife, Lesley Morgan-Blythe as an acknowledgement of the work involved in getting the WCC meeting in Australia.
The closed meeting took place on Monday the 6th March and the Minutes are available in the library.
The Minutes of the meeting are available for download.
