Australian Cat Federation Inc
The 40th ACF National Show was held over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend in June. This show was unique in the annals of ACF(Inc.) as it was held in Melbourne but organised by a committee of people based around Australia. Joint Show Secretary/Treasurer was Robbie Walker from Queensland’s Gold Coast and Show Co-ordinator was Lesley Morgan-Blythe in the deep south of the continent, Hobart, Tasmania. The Northern Territory played no small part in this as Scoot Andresen in Alice Springs was the Chief Steward while in Western Australia a committee handled sponsorship and the web site.
SUPREME EXHIBIT
Kimara Zaris Evelina
Supreme Exhibit was a Russian Blue from Western Australia; Kimara Zaris Evelina owned and bred by L. Nikiforos.
The show was very successful and was the centre piece of the ACF(Inc)’s annual weekend which included The Judges’ Guild Seminar, official banquet and the Federation’s Annual General Meeting.
Highlights of this years meeting was the adoption of a competency based Judges Training Scheme, and recognition of the Peterbald, American Shorthair, American Curl and Pixiebob.
Of great concern to the ACF(Inc.) was the recent airing on T.V. of a programme about Toxoplasmosis gondii in which our pets were painted as the main culprits implicated in the spread of this disease. As with most T.V. exposes it sought to sensationalise the situation, however it was feared that the effect on the Cat Fancy could potentially be catastrophic so steps were immediately taken to point this out. A follow up programme was more balanced, but the ACF(Inc.) has now taken steps to discuss this subject on its web site in order to educate the public with respect to this disease. We would encourage all cat fancies within the WCC to include such subjects on the web sites and/or have links to informed sources for the general public’s education.
Julian R. Schüller
International Liaison Officer,
Australian Cat Federation Inc
The International Cat Association
TICA and TICA cats were well represented, October 20-21, at Meet the Breeds, co-hosted by the American Kennel Club in New York City. Once again, it was a huge hit with more than 40,000 cat—and dog—lovers walking the hall to see their favorite breeds in person.
Breed booth were decorated to reflect the origin of the breed or exhibited extensive educational insights into the breed. Visitors were encouraged to touch, pet and interact with their favorite cats.
