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History & Overview
According to Beryl
Chandler in her article "The Governing Council's 50 Years of
Cats", written in 1981, cat shows were run in conjunction with dog
shows until the first Cat Control Body was formed. At one such show,
60 cats were shown, 58 pedigreed Longhairs and 2 Siamese! The
earliest cat show for which a catalogue is known to still exist was run by
Australian Cat Club in 1912.
On the 31st October 1928 a meeting of all cat fanciers, organized by
The Australian Cat Club, was held at Lyon's Cafe, Melbourne. At the meeting, it was
proposed that a "Governing Cat Council" be formed to officialise
and represent the Cat Fancy, with a guiding policy of working together in
harmonious and co-operative activity to the benefit of the Cat Fancy.
"The Governing
Council of the Cat Fancy" was only the third body of this type to be
formed in the world, pre-dated by those of England and America. The Governing Council
of the Cat Fancy, Australia & Victoria, the only control body in Victoria until 1962, was registered as
a company limited by guarantee under the Companies Act 1961 on 22nd November 1962.
Mr D.J.C. (Clyde)
Chandler, a long-term member of the G.C.C.F., was one of the five who were
integral in the formation of the Governing Council into a company in 1962
and was its President/Chairman, Judge and Judge Instructor for many
years. Dedicated to cats and the cat world, Clyde attracted and admiration and
respect of many. The D.J.C. Chandler Memorial Roll of Honour was
instituted after his death in 1984, as a lasting memorial to his dedication
to the Governing Council and his love of cats.
In 1978, Governing
Council celebrated its Golden Jubilee with the celebrations culminating in
the G.C. Combined Clubs Grand Championship Cat Show. This two-day
show was held on the 25th and 26th November, with Longhairs, Domestic Pets
and Uncertified Pedigree Cats competing on the Saturday and all Shorthairs
competing on the Sunday. Over the two days, a total of 578 cats and
kittens were exhibited.
In 1979, Governing
Council became a foundation member of the Co-ordinating Cat Council of
Australia, a recommendatory, advisory and co-ordinating council, wherein
representatives from each of the member bodies throughout Australia could pool and discuss ideas.
The Governing
Council's Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 1988 had the distinction of being
endorsed as an official Bi-Centennial Activity by the Australian
Bi-Centennial Authority.
In recent years,
Governing Council has actively strived to ensure that local Council by-laws
and State Government legislation will not disadvantage responsible owners
and breeders and representatives attended many meetings with the Government
when the legislation was being drafted.
Governing Council
continues to be of service to all in the Cat Fancy, by providing for
registration of cats, showing of cats and by being actively involved in many
issues relating to animal welfare. Advice and information leaflets
are available at all GCCF shows and at the office
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