The History of The Golden Retriever Club of Qld Inc

In August 1971 a group of twenty people all sharing a common bond – the love of Golden Retrievers – met to discuss the formation of a Club in Qld.  Application was made to the Canine Control Council (Qld) and permission to begin as a Social Club was granted.  The first meeting was held on 9th September, 1971, with 42 members present.

After operating as a Social Club for three very successful years, the Club became affiliated with the CCC in 1974, and later, in 1996, became Incorporated.

In those early times there was little recognition of the Breed, so one of the first aims was to promote public interest in Golden Retrievers.  In this, again, the Club was hugely successful and numbers grew.

The Inaugural  Parade was held on 28^th September 1974 at Brookfield Showgrounds there were 85 entries, which showed the overwhelming response from both within and outside the dog world, and the Goldens present showed the strength and quality that was now in the breed. A surviving catalogue and the critique given by the Judge (Mr. P Cousins) are reminders that some of the Goldens exhibited on that day went on to great successes.

The first Championship Show was held on 27^th July 1975, again at Brookfield, with Mrs. M. Evans (Vanrose) from New Zealand officiating as judge, and an entry of 70 entries.  Again, the strength of the breed was evident, the progeny of the great sires and dams of the time proved their worth then and later, and the breed became dominant in the show ring.

Field Trials were organised and run successfully, although regretfully they eventually ceased and more emphasis was placed on Conformation Shows. Importantly, Obedience Trials are held in conjunction with the Conformation Shows.

The 10^th Anniversary Show was held in July 1985 with an entry of 150 Goldens, with Mrs. Lucille Sawtell (Yeo Kennels) UK, as judge: a testimony of the strength and development of the Club.

Plans are now under way for the Club to prepare for the running of its second National in 2011, following the great success of its staging of the first.

The Club has a Recovery Service which is devoted to finding new homes for those Goldens who may be in need of them, and produces a monthly Newsletter which keeps members informed of Club activities and which publishes articles of interest.

The aims of the Club are to promote the welfare of the Breed and to improve the quality of all aspects of the Golden Retriever.

Pioneering the breed in Qld. Was Mrs. Elsie Dodd, who brought with her from England in 1953 ‘Regency Roger’ and ‘Molyneux Gina Edwina’.  Until 1954 Goldens were entered under the A.V.O. (Any Other Variety) category at shows. However, due to Mrs. Dodd’s persistent efforts, Golden Retrievers soon became a recognised class and were entered as such.

During that decade both Mrs. Dodd (Molyneux) and Mrs. V. Reid (Leoline), were largely responsible for continuing the breed in Qld.  Among the breeders who followed were Mr. L. Carlsson (Mahrud), Miss D. Beal (Taragai), Mrs. A. Watts (Quinthinga), Miss B. Lane (Copperglo) who also trialled her dogs, Mr. E. Atkinson (Edsgold).

Another early import, this time  into Toowoomba,  in 1964, was Ch. Fergus of Westley, who sired five litters, two to Mrs. Reid’s bitches.  Further investigation, hopefully, may discover the name of his owner.  Mrs. Reid also later produced a litter sired by another English dog, Ch. Glennessa Seahawk of Stenbury, imported into Sydney by Mr. L.de Groen (NSW).  Seahawk was to sire several of the great stud dogs of the breed in Australia.

During the 1960’s Goldens from southern States began to arrive in Brisbane and made their presence felt in the Show and Obedience rings.  In 1969 a further influx of Goldens arrived,  the most notable being Ch. Kyvalley Watergleam (Seahawk x Ch.Bonspeil Goldglint), bred by R.H. Philp and owned by E&H. Phillipson (Ferngold).  He was a major show winner and had a great influence on the breed: many Goldens sired by him went on to become top winners and producers.

A lovely Golden who came to Qld. and became a great winner during this period was Ch, Santamaria Gonzales (Ch. Kyvalley Jason xCh.Santamaria Zita) , owned by J&G Ferguson.  Another very influential Golden was Ch. Ferngold Glen Sovereign (Ch. Kyvalley Watergleam x Ch. Nayr Melodymaker).  Following in their footsteps was Ch. Doncari Josiah UD (Ch.Ferngold Glen Sovereign x Bussell Samantha) owned by C. Ryan.

When Mrs. Sullivan came to Brisbane, she brought with her a Golden who also was to have a major influence on the breed, Ch. Buffalo Woodbuff, already well known for his show wins in southern States and in Queensland.  Mrs. Reid mated her bitch, Ch. Andalee Lady Celeste to Woodbuff, and in April 1976 produced a litter which was the start of a winning strain which won major awards during the next years.  The mating was repeated several times and the progeny appear in the background of many important Goldens.  The best known of the progeny is possibly Ch. Leoline Golden Comet.

Breed history was created in 1977 when Ch. Nayr Melodymaker (a daughter of Watergleam x Lessaline Golden Narelle – who was from Leoline lines) produced a litter of two dogs and two bitches from deep frozen semen of Eng. Ch. Camrose Cabus Christopher: this mating led to  progeny of great influence.  It was an important milestone for the breed in this country and was a direction others would follow in the future – another plus for the Qld. Goldens and the Club.

During the following years many breeders made their mark, among them G.& J. Stephens (Matana), Mrs. Y. Dunne (Melvonroy), S & M. Careless (Imatriever).  Miss C. Ryan ( (Riangold) has been particularly successful with outstanding wins with her Goldens and their progeny.

With the influence of more recently imported Goldens with bloodlines which vary from those of previous years types have changed, but with concentration on the retention of the beautiful temperament for which Goldens have always been known, and care taken in the attention to follow all the aspects of the standard, Goldens, and indeed the Club, can only continue to prosper in the future.