PALMERSTON GUNDOG CLUB
Northern Territory Australia 
Founded | 1977 

There are very few people around now, who were here at the beginning of our Club ~ so I will enjoy passing on some of our backgrounds.
 

I first became interested in gundogs generally & their working abilities specifically quite a few years ago in Canberra. I was secretary of the 'ACT Gundog Society' for a couple of years & enjoyed helping at the 'Non-Slip Retrieving Trials'. I came to Darwin for the second time early in 1974 (just in time to settle in before Cyclone Tracy) & shortly afterwards was asked to join the 'North Australian Canine Association' (NACA). It was as a Councillor of this body that I asked the NACA to investigate the interest in the Retrieving Trials locally.  It was a subcommittee of the NACA (which included myself  Rink Van Der Velde) that looked at various Constitutions etc from clubs already around Australia.  The NACA subsequently called a public meeting to access the interest in our general membership.
 

There had been 2 attempts to start a Gundog Club in Darwin, but neither one had ever actually got to the stage of affiliation with the NACA.  I went to one of their "training sessions" shortly after we arrived in Darwin in early 1974.  It was an experience I shall never forget.  The "birds" the dogs were training on were small wallabies ~ wallabies that had been gutted & beheaded were then thrown up in the air to encourage the dogs to retrieve.  Needless to say, I never went back & this group faded away over the next year or two.
 

The public meeting was held at the Red Cross shop/meeting room at Mitchell Street, Darwin City in February 1977.  There was a very large turnout & a Committee was quickly formed.  The inaugural President was Brian Hammond (GSP's) & the Secretary was me (Carmen Sinclair).  Because of the preparatory work done by the subcommittee, a Constitution was tabled & accepted on the night & formally accepted by the NACA Council at their March 1977 meeting. Other members involved in the early Committees included: Joe & Doreen Kane (Curly Coated Retrievers), now retired & living in Palmerston, Terry O'Brien (GSP's) who has been living in South Australia for some years & is a Retrieving Trial Judge in the State. Lois & Colin Glen (Curly Coated Retrievers), sadly both have now passed away.
 

In the early days, there was tremendous fundraising involved.  We certainly worked on many, many cake stalls among various raffles & even catering at shows back then.  Our Club brought, up to 6 interstate judges a year up for retrieving trials.  Our members were higher then.  For quite a number of years, we could field an average of 6 or 8 dogs 'Novice Stakes' & 4 or 6 dogs in the 'Restricted Stake'.  At that time our club also conducted a special NT Trial Class called 'Intermediate Stake'.  This was for dogs & handlers that had qualified out of 'Beginners Test' but did not feel they were yet up to 'Novice'.  We haven't used this option for quite a number of years now.
 

Our venues have also changed over the years.  At one good spot at Humpty Doo, we first had to chase a wild buffalo away before we could trial our dogs.  On another day at Howard Springs, we had a visiting Judge from South Australia (Mr Geoff Oakes),  & his friend accompanied him & acted as Steward.  He ignored our suggestions for wearing a hat, & consequently spent 3 days in the hospital recovering from Sunstroke. Many of our venues we can no longer use for a variety of reasons.  As most of you would be aware, our primary concern is to have swimming depth of water to test our dogs but to also be free of our local "large geckos" aka our crocodiles. Many breeds have changed over the years.  In the early days, breeds regularly trialled included:  

* Labrador Retriever 
* German Shorthaired Pointer
* Curly Coated Retriever
* English Springer Spaniel 
* Irish Setter
* Golden Retriever
* Brittany
 

As I have said, our numbers of actual working dogs have varied over the years.  Even when our numbers were good, we never quite had enough to hold an 'All Age Stake'.  By the time we had 4 dogs through 'Restricted', the earlier ones who had graduated were too old to compete.  After a few quiet years, our numbers appear to be on the increase again & this, of course, is great. As most of you will be aware, the awards gained in Retrieving are obviously unique.  The 'Qualifying Certificate' (QC) is gained for a dog shot over in the field, has shown it is not gun shy and able to retrieve the bird.  For some time now, a dog needs to complete its Stake (ie 3 'runs') to be eligible for this award.  A 'QC' is not part of a dog's title & therefore cannot be placed after its name.
 

A 'Certificate of Merit' on the other hand is an official ANKC title.  The wording states it is for dogs showing "exceptional ability" & is not awarded to dogs in less than a 'Restricted Stake'. There are dogs in Australia who may be a 'Retrieving Trial Champion' but still do not have a 'Certificate of Merit' (CM).  Only one dog has ever won in the Northern Territory & that was a black Labrador bitch 'Champion Strangways Georgina (N) CD CM' owned by Rob & Carmen Sinclair, trained & handled by Carmen.  'George' has always been a hard act to follow.  As triallers would be aware, each run can score a total of 55 points & 'George' achieved this on more than one occasion & regularly scored over 50 points.
 

A great many other people have contributed over the years to help make the Club the continuing success that it is.  Some have only been around for a couple of years, others seem to have been around since Noah was a boy.  These members have contributed consistently over many years: Tom Rees, Sally Blyton, Bruce Robinson, Anne O'Mahony & Alan Robb & Merrilyn Robb.
 

Other consistent supporters over the years have been:  Geoff Oakes (from South Australia) has judged several trials for us over the years & has always been happy to help with advice & tips. Bob Boodnikoff (Queensland) who lived here for a couple of years & was very strong on regular & form training.
 

Well, that is just a small background of the Club.  It is not a complete history, because that would indicate a finished product.  Our Club will be around for a long time yet & there is a lot more history yet to come.  I started the Club because having been introduced to Retrieving in Canberra, it was the field I thoroughly enjoyed & wanted to continue.  I have enjoyed the many aspects of Gundog work over the years & still get great satisfaction overseeing a good working dog, for the purpose for which they were bred. Keep enjoying your Gundogs,  both as companions & as a working dog.

 

Photo: From the left
* Irish Setter ~ owned by Peter Bennett (a Chief  Photographer with the NT News).
* Black Labrador ~ owned by Noel Ferguson (who was also a NACA Councillor).
* Golden Retriever ~ owned by Elaine Leader.
* Curly Coated Retriever 'Skipper' ~ owned by Joe & Doreen Kane
* German Shorthaired Pointers ~ owned by inaugural PGC President Brian Hammon.
* Black Labrador 'George' ('Champ Strangways Georgina CD CM') ~ owned by R. & C. Sinclair.

'Our Beginnings' | written by Carmen Sinclair.