We had six shows this year, five scheduled in advance and one by popular request. All were held at the Waramanga Scout Hall, Badimara Street, Waramanga. The shows were as follows (I will only list the top awards, please refer to the newsletters for further detail):

19 March was combined with the NSW Cavy Club Southern Regional Branch's first Canberra show. Our judge (for the rabbits) was Leonie Kelly (NSW). Best in Show: Rojeana Satin Ivory; Reserve Best in Show: Alpine Mini Rex Self; Best Adult: Rojeana Satin Ivory; Reserve Best Adult Alpine Mini Rex Self; Best Junior: Toybox Netherland Dwarf Shaded; Reserve Best Junior Rojeana Satin Ivory; Best Kitten: Elfin Netherland Dwarf Agouti Pattern; Reserve Best Kitten Elfin Netherland Dwarf Agouti Pattern; Best Fancy: Rojeana Polish Self; Best Fur: Rojeana Satin Ivory; Best Rex: Alpine Mini Rex Self

Novelty judge: Karen Swinbourne

7 May Judge Greg Irwin (NSW). Best in Show Rojeana Polish REW; Reserve Best in Show: Toybox Netherland Dwarf REW; Best Adult: Rojeana Polish REW; Reserve Best Adult Toybox Netherland Dwarf REW; Best Junior: Rojeana Polish REW; Reserve Best Junior Rojeana Satin AOC; Best Kitten: Rojeana Rex Shaded; Reserve Best Kitten Blue Carrot Mini Lop Self; Best Fancy: Rojeana Polish REW; Best Fur: Rojeana Satin AOC; Best Rex: Rojeana Rex Agouti

Novelty judge: Jean Hill

23 July Judge Vija Hone (Vic). Best in Show: Toybox Netherland Dwarf REW; Reserve Best in Show: Toybox Cashmere Lop REW; Best Adult: Toybox Netherland Dwarf REW; Reserrve Best Adult Petite Mini Lop REW; Best Junior: Toybox Cashmere Lop REW; Reserve Best Junior Toybox Netherland Dwarf REW; Best Kitten: Bugsy's Mini Lop Shaded; Best Fancy: Toybox Netherland Dwarf REW; Best Satin: Reguli Satin Agouti; Best Rex: Alpine Mini Rex Self

Novelty judge: Luke Sowden

[For those who are curious - Jean (Rojeana) was unwell and couldn't attend this show]

27 August Judge Christine Carter (ACT)Best in Show Rojeana Satin Ivory; Reserve Best in Show Rojeana Rex Tan Pattern (Orange); Best Adult Rojeana Satin Ivory; Reserve Best Adult Rojeana Netherland Dwarf REW; Best Junior Petite Netherland Dwarf Tan Pattern; Reserve Best Junior Brialea Mini Rex Self; Best Kitten Rojeana Rex Tan Pattern (Orange); Reserve Best Kitten Petite Mini Lop Self; Best Fancy Rojeana Netherland Dwarf REW; Reserve Best Fancy Petite Polish REW; Best Fur Rojeana Satin Ivory; Reserve Best Fur Rojeana Satin Ivory; Best Rex Rojeana Rex Tan Pattern (Orange); Reserve Best Rex Brialea Mini Rex Self

Novelty judge: Luke Sowden

29 October Judge Jackie Woods (Vic) Best in Show Rojeana Satin Ivory; Reserve Best in Show Cancelare Netherland Dwarf Shaded; Best Adult Rojeana Satin Ivory; Reserve Best Adult Cancelare Netherland Dwarf Shaded; Best Junior Rojeana Satin Ivory; Reserve Best Junior Bonreiki Mini Lop REW; Best Kitten Bugy's Mini Lop Shaded; Reserve Best Kitten Petite Mini Rex Castor; Best Fancy Cancelare Netherland Dwarf Shaded; Best Fur Rojeana Satin Ivory; Best Rex Brialea Mini Rex Self

Novelty judge: Jean Hill

As if that wasn't enough, we even found time to go to other clubs' shows. On 25 March, the Sowdens, Jean Hill and Nikki White took their bunnies to the inaugural Albury-Wodonga Rabbit Club show at the Wodonga Agricultural Show. The Sowdens took their brightest and best up to Sydney for the Royal Easter Show. Then on 2 May it was the Rabbit Breeders Association of NSW show at the Fairfield Koi and Pet Show and again the Sowdens, Jean and Nikki were there in the mini-bus. The Sowdens and Jean went to two other Rabbit Breeders Association of NSW shows, one in August (where John was judging) and one in October.

Nikki also attended a number of NSW Cavy Club shows - at Campbelltown in April, the Fairfield Koi & Pet Show, Russell Vale in July and Pymble in Nov. as well as the two shows in Canberra combined with our show. Plus the National Cavy Show in Narrandera in August.

Six newsletters were published this year, usually two weeks before each show. It underwent a change of title in February becoming Rabbit Droppings as a result of a club competition, instead of plain old CRCI Newsletter. Most of the items in it were written by me however, Christine Carter, Sue Sowden and Susan Smith also provided articles, show results and some input respectively. There were also some select items off the House Rabbit website. My policy with internet material is to use it selectively, and edit it where necessary to make it relevant to Australian situations. I always state its origin so you can make your mind up about its worth. Next year I would like to see more contributions from members - putting one's rabbits' by-lines on articles for variety is a bit desperate! The contents of earlier newsletters this year is as follows:-

No. 2 (Feb. 2000): Listing of the club library; accounts of displays at Australia Day in the Park and the Royal Canberra Show; a letter from Ron Harris (Tasmanian judge) on breed standards, the first of a series entitled Cyberbunny on rabbit sites on the web of interest to Australian fanciers.

No. 3 (April 2000): Articles on companions for rabbits; showing rabbits; reports on the March combined rabbit/guinea pig show, and on the Wodonga Agricultural Show; CRCI code of ethics; more Cyberbunny

No. 4 (July 2000): Review of recent rabbit books; article on fat rabbits by Christine Carter; BRC breed standards for the Miniature Cashmere Lop, and the genetics of the dwarf gene (both sent in by Sue Sowden); report on the display at the Narrabundah Community Centre and on the Koi and Pet Show at Fairfield, Sydney; more Cyberbunny

No. 5 (Aug. 2000): Interpreting body language and behaviour (House Rabbit Society); rabbit hierarchies (House Rabbit Society); housing rabbits; early history of rabbits; guinea pig grooming

No. 6 (Sept. 2000): Emergency treatment for rabbits (House Rabbit Society); advantages of rabbits as pets

A deposit copy of each issue is sent to the National Library (it has been catalogued and can be found searching the Library's online catalogue) and another copy is sent to Peter's Foods in Melbourne, who sponsor us. Articles from various issues during the year have been put on the club website, as well.

The club was invited to mount a number of displays during the year, by various groups. These were as follows: Australia Day in the Park (25 Jan., Commonwealth Park, Sue Sowden, Gail Lincoln and Nikki White); Royal Canberra Show (25-27 Feb., Animal Nursery, Showground, Christine Carter, Jean & Ron Hill, Heather & Wayne Boreham, Karen & Megan Swinbourne, Gail Lincoln, Angela & Lyn Nicoli, Maxine & Daniel Rehwinkel, John & Sue Sowden, Nikki White); 18 April Southside Community Centre (for pre-schoolers and their parents - Nikki White); 14 July Narrabundah Health Centre (for pensioners - Christine Carter); Murrumbateman Field Days (14-15 Oct., Murrumbateman Showground - Nikki White, Gail Lincoln, Sue & John Sowden); Canberra Pet Expo (3-5 Nov., Exhibition Park - Nola Faulkner, Christine Carter, Jean & Ron Hill; Sue, John & Fiona Sowden and Nikki White)

Displays entail bringing rabbits of as many different colours and breeds as willing members can muster and labelling their cages accordingly. Literature about the club and about keeping rabbits is displayed and volunteers answer queries from the public about rabbits as pets, for breeding, even as food. The aim is to encourage appreciation, knowledge and interest in rabbits among the public.

Apart from organising and running the shows; they arranged for new club discs and medallions for the show awards; negotiated with the Canberra Show Society over a proposed change of venue for the Animal Nursery next year; investigated the cost of the new BRC standards book (with colour photos in it) and obtained a bulk supply of water bottles for sale through the club at a discount (they were on sale at the October show). Contact Nola about them if you want one.

Jean Hill of Rojeana Stud notched up an impressive 13 consecutive Best In Show awards over the past 12 months or so. These were not only awarded at Canberra Rabbit Club shows but interstate ones as well.

Jean at the October Show with one of her Rexes

John Sowden began the practical hands-on part of his judge-traineeship with judging a show at Bonnyrigg for the Rabbit Breeders Association of NSW. He followed this up with judging our December show at Waramanga.

John (centre) with one of his Polish rabbits among the line-up for Best Fancy at the October show.