- Reprinted
with kind permission from Tonya Syme & Julie
Stein-Reeves.
- ©
Copy Right Article is not to be printed in part or whole without the
express permission of Tonya Syme or Julie
Stein-Reeves.
A
Brief History of the early Alaskan Malamutes in Australia
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The
first Alaskan Malamute was introduced to Australia in early 1978, from the South
Island of New Zealand, into South Australia. Mrs Irene Gates was the owner.
Although shown sparingly, this animal developed severe hip dysplasia, and
was wisely euthanized.
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Later in
1978, Tony and Merilyn Syme (Kennel prefix “Meryton”) of Victoria, imported
an Alaskan Malamute Male. “New
Zealand & Australian Champion Hot’s Buran (Imp USA)" (pet name Buran).
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Tony
& Merilyn Syme had first seen this dog “Buran”, being shown in England
at the Windsor Championship show in 1975. Tony later had the pleasure judging
Buran in New Zealand in 1977.
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Buran
was one of only a couple of Malamutes in the Southern Hemisphere.
Tony & Merilyn were so taken with this particular specimen of the
breed, that Merilyn arranged to lease Buran in co-ownership, with a good friend
of the time - Mick Mooney, then of Victoria.
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Mick
Mooney & Tonya Syme were Buran’s main show handlers. Buran’s first dog
show in Australia was Cranbourne Dog Club Championship Show and the judge was a
respected American Mr Herman Felton. Buran was short listed for Best In Group.
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Buran
obtained his Australian Championship title within five (5) Championship shows,
obtaining Best Exhibit In-Group 4 times in a row.
As a very new and rare breed in Australia, Buran was on his way to
creating Australian Malamute history.
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In
1980 Buran won Best Opposite Sex In-Group
(now known as Runner Up In-Group) at the prestigious Sydney Easter Royal Show.
And back then Non- Sporting was combination of the present Group 6 &
7
-
AUST
& NZ CHAMPION HOT’S BURAN (IMP USA), went on to inspire the birth of a new
breed in Australia. Buran passed away on 27th August
1984 aged 10 years.
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Tony
& Merilyn Syme soon imported an Alaskan Malamute bitch in 1981 – “AUST
& NZ CHAMPION CHIMO SILVER MOON (IMP UK)” who’s pedigree was all
American lines. “Jane”, as she
was affectionately became named, attained her New Zealand title while in New
Zealand for her quarantine period.
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Jane
was mated to Buran, and they produced “the first
Alaskan Malamute”
litter whelped in
Australia. The puppies were born on 18 May 1981, and registered under the Kennel
prefix “Meryton”
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This
litter consisted of six males and two females, four of which were shown, and all
four gained their Australian Championships.
The names of these 4 exhibited puppies were:
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Aust Ch Meryton Atasuk Chimo
(Owned by Tony & Merilyn Syme)
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Aust Ch Meryton Atasuk Amarok
(Owned by Eric & Olive Singer)
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Aust
Ch Meryton Atasuk Sedna
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Aust Ch Meryton Atasuk Nanokaput (who made up his Australian Champion
Title by being shown predominately only at Royal Melbourne shows )
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Jane although
shown only sparingly due to her litters, seasons; coat loss etc. also achieved
her Australian Championship title with relative ease.
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Jane
obtained several big wins on the way, including a Best Opposite Sex in Show.
(Now known as Runner Up in Show) this win was at an All Breed Championship Show.
As you can imagine this was a huge win for such a rare breed, which made
the win extra special.
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In March 1983, F M Wortman of the Gold Coast, Queensland, imported three Malamutes: a dog named MISKIMOS BLACK JACK (IMP USA)
and two bitches named BAR-B-R’S SUGAR BABE (IMP USA) and ROGARDS SHADY LADY (IMP USA).
ROGARDS
SHADY LADY whelped a litter of (7) seven puppies while still in
Australian quarantine. It
was with these animals that formed the “Beverwijk” line.
The
“Meryton” & “Beverwijk” and lines can be found behind many
Alaskan Malamutes Pedigrees in Australia today.
The
first litter bred from Buran to Jane produced the previously mentioned “AUST
CHAMPION MERYTON ATASUK CHIMO”. “Chimo”
as she was affectionately known, was the first Malamute in the Southern
Hemisphere to win the ever sought after prestigious " Best In Show at an
All Breeds Chanpionship Show".
Among
many other In Show and In-Group wins, Chimo was also awarded "Best Puppy in
Show at the Sydney Royal in 1982"
and this occurred only two years after her sire’s (Buran) big win at
the Sydney Royal.
Once
again a rare breed was making its presence well known.
A
photograph of a young Chimo was reproduced in the Alaskan Malamute Australian
breed standard “The Complete
Australian Dog Book”, printed in the mid 1980’s by the then Kennel Control
Council, Victoria.
Another
early major winner of our breed was AUST
& NZ CHAMPION ESKIMO JANE OF THE NORTH (IMP NZ)
(who was another Buran daughter), Eskimo Jane,
was owned by Eric and Olive Singer, then of Warrandyte, Victoria.
Shown regularly, Eskimo Jane was also a very consistent All Breeds In
Show and In-Group winner. Probably her most outstanding win was "Best
Opposite Sex in the Utility Group at the 1985 Melbourne Royal Show".
Displaying
part of the true versatility of the Alaskan Malamute, were a brother and sister
from the (2nd) second litter to be whelped on 20 Oct 1982 in
Australia. These two malamutes gained their dual Show & Obedience
titles.
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AUST CHAMPION
MERYTON MAKLUK TENAKEE CDX,
owned and trained by Neil Linton, then of Cranbourne, Victoria, was the first to
gain an obedience title, doing so at the young age of eleven (11) months of age.
Tenakee, was also the first dual Show & Obedience titled Alaskan
Malamute in this country. He had gained two passes towards his UD title before
being taken by cancer.
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AUST CHAMPION
MERYTON MAKLUK PANDA CDX
(living in Tasmania) quickly followed in her brother’s footsteps and was dual
titled.
Early in the 1980’s two
Malamutes were soon to be seen giving the breed National advertising coverage
early in the breed’s history. A
head study of Hot’s Buran was used in the promotion of Tucker Box dog food.
Then, in 1987, a grandson of
Hot’s Buran, “AUST CHAMPION INUK NUTARA
KADLUK” (Tsar) owned by
the Stein family of Gladstone Park, Victoria, starred in a television commercial
for the National Mutual Insurance Company. In this, commercial he portrayed a
Wolf, which meant he was required to have his tail tied between his legs for
authenticity. Apparently many phone calls were placed to the TV stations
inquiring what a beautiful dog he was, but what breed is he?
During 1987, MERYTON
WSEWOLOD, better known as “Jock” a son of “Tsar” -AUST
CHAMPION INUK NUTARA KADLUK, became famous as the first purebred Malamute
to be taken to work in the Antarctic for Australia.
Channel 10 News, Melbourne, featured a story of Jock’s journey south
and the arrival. In conjunction with his sledding duties, Jock, was used to
introduce new lines to the Mawson Huskies and so improve the breeding program.
He sired numerous litters. However, his life was cut short when he was
unfortunately lost during a blizzard.
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As
many of you are aware, among the various colours and shadings allowable in the
Alaskan Malamute breed is the RED .
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This
colour is recessive, however from a repeat mating between AUST CHAMPION NANOOK OF
THE NORTH (IMP NZ) and AUST & NZ CHAMPION CHIMO SILVER MOON (IMP UK),
two red and white bitches were produced in a litter of five puppies.
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“AUST
CHAMPION MERYTON PINASUK PEPPER”
was the first ever Australian Championship Titled Red colour in this country.
Both her sire and dam carried the red gene, but neither produced this
colour again – (their first litter together consisting only of black and
whites and grey and whites). The first Red dog to gain his Australian
Championship was AUST
CHAMPION MERYTON RED INDIAN.
Apart
from the imported Malamutes I have already mentioned, other notable early
imports included:
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AUST CHAMPION
SNOW EAGLE OF HIGHNOONS (IMP UK)
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HIGHNOONS
MESCALERO APACHE (IMP UK)
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HIGHNOONS
LAUGHING WATER (IMP UK)
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Numerous
WAKONS
Malamutes (Imp USA)Owned by Mrs Wendy Newton, of
“Chuk Chi” Kennels in Victoria
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AMERINDS BELLCHYM WOLFSONG (IMP USA)
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SEACOURT FIRE
FINCH (IMP UK)
(Owned by R & Mrs D Wells, Southern River, WA
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NOATAKS
RAJAH (IMP USA)
(Owned by Mr & Mrs T Syme
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BERCHTENBRIETER
KODIAK (IMP CAN)
Owned
by Mr & Mrs L Bennett, Victoria
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TIGARA
SEA VOYAGEUR (IMP UK)
Owned
by Mrs I Gates, Croydon, South Australia
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AM & CAN
CHAMPION STORM KLOUD QQUANEE SONG (IMP CAN)
Owned by Mrs D Sullivan, Victoria
The Alaskan
Malamute Club of Victoria Inc, is the
first club for the breed in Australia. The
Alaskan Malamute Club was formed in July, 1986, originally as a social club, and
was affiliated with the Victorian Canine Association (then the Kennel Control
Council) in January, 1989, and is an incorporated body. By March, 1991, Club
members numbered over 200 people from all over Australia, and by 1992 the
numbers had grown to over 400.
Their
inaugural Championship Show was held in 1991.
And
there was no looking back for the Alaskan Malamute breed in Australia!
- Reprinted
with kind permission from Tonya Syme & Julie
Stein-Reeves.
- ©
Copy Right Article is not to be printed in part or whole without the express
permission of Tonya Syme or Julie
Stein-Reeves.
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ALASKAN
MALAMUTE CLUB