Club History
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History of Maltese in Victoria, Australia
In 1958, Mrs Phyl De Valle (now Howard) bought a bitch 'Dai Ichi Snow Flurry' from Mr and Mrs S Coombes of NSW as a show bitch and future breeding. ‘Dai Ichi Snow Flurry’ was mated to ‘Aust Ch Joynol Guido’ (NSW). The litter was registered under Mrs P De Valle prefix ‘Samakand’. Mrs De Valle showed in the Shepperton area of Victoria and was a very active member of the executive and committees representing the Agricultural Society Dog Section over many years. The KCC reward Mrs De Valle for her loyal services with a Life Membership of the KCC.
Soon Mrs De Valle’s Maltese were attracting attention and in the nearby township of Bendigo, Mrs J Williams was to purchase ‘Samakand Square’ (whelped 1962) who later became an Australian Champion. Mrs Williams’ ‘Blizzard’ prefix as an exhibitor and breeder having won many top awards and you will find Blizzard Maltese in many Australian Maltese pedigrees.
In 1962, Mr W T Johnston imported a male Maltese from Mrs I C Brierly (UK) as a gift for his nephew - Bill Dalziel and his wife Hilda Dalziel. ‘Leckhampton Moonraker’ arrived at the age of 10 months via a long sea journey from the United Kingdom. It was only a very short time after Leckhampton Moonraker's arrival that he was taking top awards in the show ring and being used at stud and producing some excellent progeny at that time and many breeders retained his progeny as foundation breeding stock.
Mrs Hilda Dalziel exhibited and bred under the prefix – ‘Valwyn’.
Mrs Joan O'Connor purchased Maltese from NSW and was one of the consistent exhibitors and breeders in that era and bred under the prefix – ‘Moswyn’.
Mrs Eunice Cooper purchased her show and breeding stock from NSW and also imported a dog and a bitch from Mrs R White (UK) ‘Vicbrita’ they were ‘Vicbrita Issa’ (1962) and ‘Vicbrita Speculator’ (1963). Mrs Cooper exhibited and bred under the ‘Shenamere’ prefix.
Mrs Wilma Harrison purchased her first foundation bitch ‘Polkadot Selina’ in 1962 from Mrs G Stapely and was a consistent exhibitor/breeder and promoter of the breed and was involved with club activities for many years and won many top awards and bred under the 'Walingay’ prefix. Mrs Harrison’s daughter, Lynette (Harrison) Renn accompanied her mother and later Lyn established her own 'Wintamist’ prefix and also was a consistent winner of top awards and breeder.
The late Mr Jack Little and his wife Patti and Patti's mother Mrs V G Anderson had Maltese in these early years. They were active in the show ring and a staunch supporter always to the club. Jack became the Patron to the club until his death in 1986. His love of Maltese was unsurpassed.
Mrs Trudy Pamment became interested in the breed in 1964, when quite by mistaken identity of either a Sealyham Terrier or West Highland White Terrier and being told it was a Maltese, went of in search of this dog purchasing her first Maltese ‘Polkadot Silver King’ from Mrs G Stapely. Mrs Pamment then purchased a female ‘Blizzard Snowsheen’ which she exhibited to top show awards from 1966 to early 1970's. Mrs Pamment exhibited and bred under the 'Snowsheen’ prefix.