Alpaca news

Overall:
The Committee is seeking to ensure that the event provides the best opportunity for ‘marketing’ alpacas and alpaca products to the wider community.  While the vast bulk of the people who will come into the alpaca pavilion would not be expected to become alpaca breeders, they may become consumers of alpaca products.

Accommodation:
For 2010 the alpacas will be housed in the Centenary Hall which will provide both additional and better space for the pens and competition.  It will also provide space for display of fleece and alpaca garments and product.

As was the case in 2009 the pavilion will be shared with the poultry competition, but an area will be set aside in the pavilion throughout the show for display of animals and product.  .

Show dates:
The RASV has moved the dates of the Royal Melbourne Show.  Instead of opening on Thursday 16 September and closing on Sunday 16 September, the 2010 show will commence on Saturday 18 September and close on Tuesday 28 September.

While the Alpaca Committee strongly represented the views of the Victorian AAA regions that the first weekend would be the most suitable time for the alpaca competition, the logistics of setting up the pavilion for the various competitions that will be held in it has meant that the alpacas will have to be judged towards the end of the show.

The prior competitions in Centenary Hall will end on Friday 24 September and the pavilion set up overnight for the alpacas.  As Saturday is an important day for the RASV and attracts large crowds, it was a requirement from the RASV that there be alpaca activity in Centenary Hall, a major venue on the showgrounds, on the Saturday.  Consequently it is planned that alpacas will be required to arrive at the Melbourne Showgrounds on the morning of Saturday 25 September.  

Alpacas will be able to arrive from 6:00am and are required to be in their pens for inspection no later than 10:00am.  Judging of Huacaya Juniors will commence at about 1:00pm.

 Age section judging is projected to be completed by the evening of Monday 27 September.  It is anticipated that, while interstate exhibitors may wish to depart on Monday evening (or early Tuesday morning), the Tuesday will provide for a ‘spectacular finale’ for the final day of the show on Tuesday 28 September and, of course, provide a good opportunity for ‘marketing’ the alpaca industry to the general public.

While the alpacas will have a new and far better home than in the past couple of years, accommodation is still quite limited.  Consequently there will not be classes for wethers or fancies in 2010.  Fancy breeders are, however, encouraged to participate in the displays and Town Square Walks (see below).

The Schedule and Entry form are available and can be downloaded from the web – see links below – or obtained from the Alpaca Coordinator at the RASV:  entries close 23 July.
Schedule:    Entry Form:    Health declaration

Show rules:
The show will be conducted under AAA show rules.

Judges:
Alpaca classes will be judged by Ron Reid (WA) and Peter Kennedy (Vic) and fleece classes by Jo Ham (Vic).
Fleece will be judged prior to the show so it can be displayed throughout the period of the show. 

Trophies:
The Committee requests that the Victorian regions continue sponsorship of section championships as has been the case in recent years, and some additional funds will need to be found to ensure that pavilion decoration reflects the quality associated with alpaca, and a good range of information is available to visitors.  Costs associated with Royal Melbourne Perpetual trophies will be picked up by the RASV.

Promotional Display and Town Square Walk:
It is proposed to establish attractive displays of fleece, yarns, garments and other alpaca products in Centenary Hall throughout the show (ie Saturday 18 to Tuesday 28 September) so the general public can gain a better understanding of the alpaca industry.  These displays would be supplemented by effective information distribution throughout the show.

As part of the promotional activities it is intended that the alpacas undertake a “Town Square Walk” each day of the show.  This has proven very popular in recent years, and is a very useful tool to bring the visiting public to the alpaca displays and judging.  The walks should, as far as possible, show off both Huacayas and Suris – and Fancies are always popular with the visiting public.

As the displays in Centenary Hall will run through the whole show period they will provide a great opportunity for our industry to communicate with a bigger than ever public – something like 1/2 a million or so.  It’s a great opportunity not only for the breeders who participate, but also for our ‘downstream’ partners – those who make and sell yarns, garments, rugs, blankets, scarves etc.

The committee seeks the support of the regions, therefore, in arranging for a number of their members to be available to bring alpacas to the show over three or four show days (not necessarily consecutive).  Names and contact details for members who can participate should be advised to Vibeke Pederson, RASV Alpaca Coordinator [Vibeke.Pederson @rasv.com.au].  We would also appreciate contact details for members and others who take our fleeces and turn them into consumer products so we can look to developing an effective display promoting our industry.

Russell Dawe
Chair
RASV Alpaca Committee