In the late 1890s and early 1900 there were many social clubs in the Goldfields of Western Australia. Sporting and church groups were popular but there were many others with something to suit everyone. One of the more unusual groups was the ‘Dog and Poultry Society’. This may seem an odd combination with dogs and birds, but it was a very popular group for both men and women, and competition in their shows fiercely contended and the medals and trophies greatly prized.
Dog and Poultry Soc Medal
In Western Australia, the first annual show took place in Perth in 1879 and the Kalgoorlie Dog and Poultry Society was formed on Wednesday 11 April 1900, and ran until sometime in 1911. The Boulder Group seemed to run right up to the late 1920s.
Judging of Cocker Spaniels 1905 – Photo TROVE
The following article is from the Western Argus on the 25th July 1905. The Judge, Mr. C Court Rice certainly doesn’t hold back any criticisms of which he warns the reader. If constructive or not, I will leave you to decide.
“The Kalgoorlie Show”. About the dogs, by Mr. C. Court Rice. I wish to express my appreciation for the very great honor the Kalgoorlie Society has done me in entrusting me with the judging of its dog section. I would also ask them to believe that my criticism is written with the sole hope that it may prove useful.
Thomas Enright’s Flossie
The chief faults in the novice field of spaniels were thick heads and light eyes. in which respect the winner, Lady Brom, does not fail. In the open dogs’ section, Geelong Bogie stands preeminent. showing considerable type and character. I would wish that he were sounder in the forelegs.
In the Cocker Spaniels novice class, Cotvio Bill wins by reason of his better head and set-on of ears. Gainsborough Bobs, third in open class, loses in having a weak face and being of the field spaniel type.
Corio Gipsy is of very true type, which I considered far out balanced by her having white on her chest she well deserved her championship. Speaking generally, the cockers were either light-eared, a serious deficit, and weak in muzzle.
“The one entry in the Retriever class was not even a retriever at all. I believe my awards in the Collie classes were somewhat discussed, and I daresay that had all the exhibits done themselves justice in the ring some alteration might have been made. There can, however, be no doubt that Castlecomer Carlo, the champion dog. He is a dog of great excellence, with no serious defect, truly symmetrical, excellent in coat, legs, feet, expression, and collie character. His ears could be very slightly improved, but although we have had longer heads, abnormal length in this respect is not in accordance with the standard and is generally obtained at the expense of evenness of mouth. Sandow’s ears are not flat enough, his face is somewhat dished, and he is weak in his hindquarters. Still, he shows great quality and a good coat. On the other hand, Chieftain is lamentably coarse-far too big and massive for his age and although he has many good points, will, I fear, fail to fine down.”
Entrants to the Kalgoorlie Dog and Poultry Society 1905 – TROVE
Mr. Kewney’s, Famous, who carried all before him in dogs, is bumpy in the skull, and, like the vast majority of his breed shown, not sufficiently short in the back. Apart from these two faults, it is most difficult to take exception to him, and his ears are ultra-perfect. Yelland Monocle is light in the eye, very short in the neck, and weak in the fore-face, but he is shorter in the back than most and has a good front and coat.
Mr W Terrell’s Brace of pointers – TROVE
Claudius is also too big for his age, long in the body, and bad in hindquarters, and I cannot understand his exalted position at the Boulder show, despite his good head, eyes, and ears.
Taken as a whole the terriers were a very even lot, possibly not able to quite hold their own in the Eastern States but showing less ‘tail’ to the classes. Irish terriers were very bad indeed, Barney standing right out. This dog is too large in the eye and fails in expression, being too mild, but his coat is good and his head is long, with plenty of jaw power. In bitches Noreen is moderately good, but beyond these two there was nothing of merit. The St Bernards were fairly good, Prince Carlos, an immense dog, standing well out. He is remarkably sound, especially for so big a one.
The Poultry sections included mainly chickens but also had categories for ducks, turkeys, and pigeons. The following comment from the judge from the Boulder Society in their annual show in 1922 are most interesting:
Mr J A Francis’s Minorca Hen
GOLDFIELDS POULTRY JUDGE’S COMMENTS. Mr. J. Maude, a well-known poultry expert, acted as a judge at the Boulder Dog and Poultry Society. The twenty-fifth annual show of the Boulder D. & P. Club was held in the Town Hall on July 21 and 22. The entries were not equal to several past shows, due to a certain extent to the cutting down of the classification, but for quality, there has probably never been seen a better lot of birds. As in most mining centres, the majority of the exhibitors are chiefly men that earn their livelihood by the sweat of their brows and it is always a pleasure for me to judge such men because, unlike some city exhibitors, they are never abusive.
Mr Whitaker’s Turkey
It is 25 years since I last visited the fields and it is gratifying to find that, whereas on my former visit, nearly every exhibitor knew little or nothing about the points of prize poultry The people I met on this occasion are alive to the good points or bad of their own and opponent’s exhibits.
He proceeds to detail the finer points and the many and varied shortcomings of the entrants and I only hope that they were not too distressed by his almost withering comments. I think being a member of the society would not be something to be undertaken by anyone of a sensitive nature.
Watching the Judging – TROVE
Moya Sharp
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