History of the Club/Breed in Victoria
*The Arrival of the Miniature Pinscher in Victoria*
The history of the breed in Victoria starts with the arrival into the state of a very
smart little red dog bred by Mr George Byron of Sydney who was the first to
introduced the breed to Australia in 1956.
This little red dog was TASSO VON ZBISAL, Born 23rd Feb 1961.
He was purchased by Mr & Mrs Chwaliszewski, He was shown under difficulties
as the breed was unknown to Victoria at that time.
However with determination & a love of the breed also with the help of
some 17 different Judges he became Victoria's first Champiom
Miniature Pinscher. He lived a long & happy life until his death on June 26th 1975.
The first female was also from Sydney.
Harry Spira well known Veterinary Surgeon & Dog Judge bred PINDOM LADY DAVINA.
She was Born in August 1962.
Her new owners were Mr & Mrs Longmore, Frank Longmore was a well known Judge,
both he & his wife were keen supporters of the breed.
Mrs Longmore was to become the future Miniature Pinscher clubs first Patroness.
She was also made a foundation member.
PINDOM LADY DAVINA was succesfully shown by the Longmore's
& in November 1964 she gave Victoria its first litter of Miniature Pinschers.
2 Red Dogs & 1 Black & Tan Bitch.
The little girl was purchased by Tess Henderson in March 1965 & shown to her Championship
Tess Henderson was also a foundation member & the clubs first vice President
& a life member.
*The Starting of a Breed Club*
The date was 19th of April 1972 St Marks Lutheran Church Hall East Melbourne.
Joyce Caldwell with the help of her husband John called a meeting of people
interested in the breed & in response 15 people arrived.
John Caldwell took the chair, The meeting decided to form a social club & apply
immediately for affiliation with the Kennel Control Council.
All those present were foundation members, A caretaker committee,
Consisting of President - Mr W F Lyons,
Secretary / Treasurer - Mrs J A Caldwell,
With a Committee of three - Mr L Borrwll, Mr J C Caldwell & Mrs S Chandler.
Membership subscriptions were fixed at $2.00 per adult & pensioners, juniors 50c
A further meeting on May 29th held at St Mark's Hall elected the following
as office bearers & committee for the balance of 1972-73 financial year.
Mr W F Lyons confirmed as President,
Mrs J A Caldwell as Secretary,
Mrs T Henderson as Vice President,
Mrs Marion Borrell as Asst Secretary,
Mr John Caldwell as Treasurer.
The following as Committee.
Mrs Marg Fisher, Barney McCaul, Bill Richardson & Graham Whitebourn.
John & Joyce Caldwell, Marg Fisher & Tess Henderson would become life members.
During the year Affiliation was granted by the KCC.
Several Social Events were held & late in 1972 the club's first magazine
the Min-Pin Monitor was published. A bank balance of $72.53 & membership of 42
had made the formation of the club worthwhile.
The first annual general meeting was held on April 4th 1973.
The KCC granted an open parade which was held on October 21st 1973.
Mr Mick Thomas was the judge & awarded Mr E J Kings bitch
CHINKDALE MIN PIN MINNI Best Exhibit from an entry of 26 dogs & bitches.
At the club's second annual general meeting held on May 5th 1974,
The founders of the club John & Joyce Caldwell were given life membership.
The club's first Championship show was held at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds
on the 31st of August 1975, The judge, Mr Laurie Reeves awarded Best Exhibit
to Mrs T Henderson's dog CHINKDALE MR SMALL.
Best Opposite Sex in Show = PRINZVONZEIG MELLISA = Mrs E T Mitchell.
With 35 dogs & bitches & a total of 69 entries the show was an outstanding success.
Highlight of the day was a parade of past & present champions of the breed.
In all 16 dog's & bitches were prwsented with rosettes including two adsent veterans,
One = CH Tasso Von Zbisal, Victoria's first Champion had passed away two months before
& CH Pindom Lady Devina was too old to be present.
Each year the club conducted an open parade & Championship show & also held
dog matches against other breed clubs, Social Events & Members Comp's.
Spoons are still presented to owners of new Champions each year.
By 1998 the club had a membership of 53 & included members from
Western Australia, South Australia,New South Wales & Queensland.
And so the club went into 1999 looking in great shape & must surely have been the year
of the Miniature Pinscher Club of Victoria.
The club today though having a small membership is still run by a very dedecated
group of Min Pin enthusiastes & the club now holds 4 shows a year,
2 Championship shows & 2 Open shows.
I for one would like to see more people become involved with the club
& the wonderful breed known as THE MIN-PIN.
*FOUNDATION MEMBERS*
-Mr L Burrell.
Mrs M Burrell.
Mrs J Caldwell.
Mr J Caldwell.
Mr L Chandler.
Mrs S Chandler.
Mrs S Chwaliszewski.
Mr Z Chwaliszewski.
Mrs M Fisher.
Mr J Henderson.
Mrs T Henderson.
Mrs S Longmore.
Mr W F Lyons.
Mr B McCaul.
Mr W Richardson.
Mr G Whitbourn.
*LIFE MEMBERS*
*1974*
Mrs J Caldwell.
Mr J Caldwell.
Mrs S Longmore.
1977 = Mrs T Henderson.
Mr W F Lyons. dec.
1979 = Mrs L O'Reilly. dec.
1983 = Mrs M Fisher.
1985 = Mrs L Wilson.
Mrs C Wookey. dec.
2001 = Mrs K McCracken.
Mr N McCracken.
Mrs Lisa Prior.
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HISTORY OF THE CLUBS MEMORIAL TROPHYS
THE SELLA LONGMORE MEMORIAL TROPHY
This trophy was named after Stella Longmore who was the
wife of Frank Longmore, Frank was the official
photographer for the then Kennel Control Council.
Frank & Stella had become involved in Min-Pins when
they were given a puppy by Dr Harry Spira.
Sadly Frank passed away but Stella maintained her interest
in the breed & was to become the clubs first Patroness.
At about this time the club was considering an annual
competition for those exhibiting Min-Pins through out
Australia & so a competition under the name
Miniature Pinscher of Australia was started.
When Stella passed away club members at a meeting
voted to rename this annual competition the
Stella Longmore Memorial Trophy.
The competition would be run on a point score system,
Points would be taken from a Min-Pins ten highest awards
at Championship shows in a financial year.
The entry in Group 1 must be more than 50.
Points were allotted as follows,
Class win = 2 pionts
Challenge = 2 pionts
In group awards = 4 pionts
Best exhibit in group = 10 pionts
Opp sex in group = 6 pionts
Best exhibit in show = 20 pionts
Best opp sex in show = 15 pionts
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W.F. LYONS MEMORIAL TROPHY
It soon became obvious that the Min-Pin still a rare breed
in Victoria & with judges not familiar with the breed
& with many new handlers who had never shown a dog before,
That there would not be as many in group or in show wins
in Victoria as in those early days.
It was decided to run in conjunction with the then
Min-Pin of Australia Competition this would be open only
to members of the M.P.C.V.
It would be the Min-Pin of Victoria Trophy.
W.F.(Bill)Lyons was among the first to own Min-Pins in Victoria.
Well before the club was formed he bought two Min-Pins
from Minelphi Kennels in NSW.
When he became aware that John Caldwell was organizing
social meetings for Min-Pin owners & their dogs he
immediately took an active interest in these social get to gethers.
From these social meetings the M.P.C.V was formed.
Bill became the clubs first President & was active for many years.
When Bill Lyons passed away it was decided at a club meeting
to rename the Victorian trophy
the W.F.Lyons Memorial Trophy with the same rules & pionts
system as the Stella Longmore Memorial Trophy.
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