AAA Member Update October 2020The AAA monthly update is our way of communicating with our members. Board Announcement!Following from the nomination process for AAA President and Director Positions, we are happy to announce that effective from the AGM in November, the new AAA President will be Brett Fallon. The officially appointed Board Directors are Carolyn Austin, Cathi McMullen, Mick Williams and Sarah Wheeler (with Trevor Parry and Prue Walduck whose positions were not up for nomination this year). . As the number of vacant positions matched the nominations, not election was necessary. Reminder that the AGM is scheduled for 28 November - further information coming soon. AAA Incoming President Brett Fallon From the Incoming PresidentJust like me, I will keep this short and sweet!! I am privileged to be stepping into the role of President as of the AGM next month. Firstly, I would like to thank the current Board members for their support in taking on this responsibility and for their commitment with re-nominating to continue the good work. They are a great team, passionate about fair representation for all facets of our industry, and we have achieved some real positive steps forward for the Association in the last few months. It is always difficult to understand from the sideline the commitment that Directors make on behalf of us all, so I’d like to express how lucky we all are to have these volunteers. I joined the AAA in my last year of school at 17 years of age, 19 years on, I have great confidence in the Association’s future and look forward to working with all members for the prosperity of the alpaca industry as a whole. From the Interim PresidentCongratulations to my fellow Board Directors who nominated, and have been elected unopposed for a further term on the AAA Board – ensuring continuity in our strategies to further develop our industry and meet the challenges thrown at us by COVID-19. It has been a privilege to be the Interim President for the past few months. I did not nominate for the Presidency as I was not in a position to commit to a full 3 year term,. I thank Carolyn, Mick, Brett, Cathi, Sarah, Trevor and Amanda for their support whilst IP. I feel very positive about Brett being our next President. He has my full support. In the past few months since joining the Board, I have found Brett to be objective, passionate and very focussed on developing our industry. Dare I say, being a “tad” younger, he brings a fresh, energetic approach, sometimes looking through a different prism. Without meaning to sound like a “polly” – “it is time” we have a generational change in our leadership. Read more AAA Interim President Prue Walduck How important is the “Guaranteed Australian Alpaca” logo to you?? Currently, the AAA licenses the use of a “Guaranteed Australian Alpaca” logo for products that contain alpaca from Australia, are completely made in Australia ( i.e. fleece, hide or meat has not left Australia) and are in a form which is considered a commercial product (i.e. not bales of fleece). The Australian alpaca fibre industry has significantly matured since the inception of the “Guaranteed Australian Alpaca – Swing Tag”. Is it time to overhaul the qualifying criteria? Members are invited/encouraged to participate in a discussion forum to debate the potential to alter the parameters surrounding the use of our “Guaranteed Australian Alpaca – Swing Tags”. If you would like to participate in this forum please register your interest to mick@alpaca.asn.au. Biosecurity update The Biosecurity Working Group have over the past year undertaken a review of Q Alpaca. An EOI was put out to appropriate consultants and the AAA was in the fortunate position of having four potential candidates. After review by the BWG, the Board is pleased to announce that the successful candidate is Herd Health Pty Ltd. Herd Health will start their review of Q Alpaca in the next few weeks. Do you have a great idea for research that you'd like the AAA to invest in? A template for project proposals is available on the AAA website. Market Access and Trade Update The MATC is continuing to focus on trying to open export pathways into Europe – being the target market for Australia’s premium stud stock. A recent review conducted by the MATC highlighted how our entire membership can benefit either directly or indirectly if we can open export borders. There is a positive cascading effect on animal sales and prices at all levels in our industry when we are able to export. It is for these reasons that the Board, through the MATC, is continuing to work with the Australian Department of Agriculture Water and Environment (DAWE) to reopen trade pathways and capitalise on new market opportunities. Learn more Member services The membership services committee continues to be focussed on improving the service proposition. This includes bolstering the content of the "Member's Portal" of the AAA website. Alpaca care and welfare information is available to the general public. This is an important service to members and all facets of the alpaca industry, as members can now redirect all alpaca owners to the website for critical alpaca health and welfare information. The website is currently being developed further to include AAA Partners page. This includes independent businesses that offer discounts or services to AAA members, in addition to corporates that have direct partnerships with the AAA. If you would like to recommend a business to be included in this listing, please contact the AAA. IAR rules are being reviewed and member input will be considered - if you have any suggestions for revisions to the IAR rules, please contact Amanda Olthof before 28/10 YouthFAQ for Youth Groups has now been completed and is available on youth area of the AAA website. Fee Amnesty For animal registrations of 24 months and over, there is a fee amnesty until 31/12/2020 where the fee is reduced to $23 per alpaca. The fee will increase in line with the fee schedule as of 1/1/2. Office opening hours A quick reminder that our office hours are 9am to 1pm Canberra time. If you call outside these hours, you may get the answering machine. The office will close over Christmas from COB 24 December and reopen on Monday January 18 2021. Education portfolio update The recent webinar with Dr Kylie Munyard walked us through colour genetic research about inheritance patterns and molecular causes of all colours and patterns in alpacas. We had over 60 attendees (including an overseas contingent), and the AAA made a donation to Foundation for Alpaca Genetic Research at Curtin University. If you missed the webinar and you would like a catch-up option find out more. The DNA tests now available on coat colour testing can be organised through the AAA office either individually or in conjunction with male certification. Contact AAA We have a webinar on practical alpaca nutrition with Dr Jane Vaughan covering basic nutrition, Vitamin D supplementation, and nutrition in pregnancy and lactation. Monday 26 October 7.30pm AEDT. Click here for further details and bookings On November Monday 16 7.30 pm AEDT Rob Harborne – agronomist and NSW alpaca breeder will present his perspectives on “Pastures to Profit” which will include basics such as farm analysis, soil nutrition, and future pasture goals. Free for AAA members! Click here for further details and bookings Richard Dixon Scholarship In recognition of services to the alpaca industry by the late Dr Richard Dixon, the AAA offers a scholarship to senior veterinary students. The development scholarship honours the late Richard Dixon who is widely recognised for his vision and commitment to improving alpaca health and for establishing so many of the founding veterinary practices in Australian alpaca industry including Q-Alpaca. Submissions close 20 October 2020. For more information please see the AAA website Interested in biosecurity and EAD and would like to learn more? If you wish to gain an understanding of Australia’s Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) preparedness and response plans, you can enrol in the EAD Foundation online course. The online course provides livestock producers, veterinarians, veterinary students, government personnel and emergency workers with foundation knowledge for further training in the Emergency Animal Disease Training Program. For further information and enrollment details, please contact communications@alpaca.asn.au Want to help protect our environment, our plants and animals from invasive pests and weeds? The Biosecurity Centre of Excellence is running a fully accredited introductory online course which has been fully funded through Commonwealth Supported Places. To find out more and enrol go to: course web page Course starts on 2 November for 13 weeks. Regional Updates WA recently held their ARM and we congratulate the new Committee:
WA will be holding a "Mock Show" / show workshop on 17 October. It will incorporate a “Mock Show” with a workshop on the “how to” of organising, setting up and convening a halter show. It will also include a section where members can go into the ring and “judge” a class with the support of international judge Jenny Jackson. Following on from that will be the WA Fleece Show with international judge Ron Reid. The top placed exhibits will be given the opportunity to be included in group transport sponsored by the WA Region, to the AAA Fleece Challenge. In January 2021 we will be having our first Youth Camp to be held in Albany. We are hoping for a big turnout and a fun time of learning about alpacas for our WA youth Our new Committee elected in July has been focused on establishing needs of the members in a regionally diverse state:
Sadly, Nicole will be leaving us early next year as she relocates to WA (our loss and WA’s gain). That will leave an already small Committee somewhat smaller – so we are looking for members that are interested in joining our meetings, either formally or informally, so that we maximise the input of a range of members in our planning. We have a number of initiatives about to launch or in planning, and the coming newsletter will have much more detail in it, so keep an eye out for it. With regard to shows, we are working and planning on the basis that they will happen (in some form or another). SA Committee Update SA ARM is this Sunday, 18 October at 4:30pm at Woodside Hall. The new Committee will work on events for post-Covid as restrictions are eased further. VER Update The VER Alpaca 101 Workshop cancelled earlier in the year has been rescheduled to meet Victorian Covid Restrictions. The sessions will be held over the 5th and 6th December. More info SQNNSW UpdateThe ever-changing rules regarding gatherings and the border restrictions between QLD and NSW have been a challenge for the SQNNSW Region Committee in terms of planning face to face events during 2020. Our usual presence at agricultural shows and field days has been curtailed, however we have resumed our regular spot at the Beaudesert markets. Our Facebook page has been an important tool for us to communicate and share information, including basic information about alpacas, seasonal considerations (eg paralysis ticks, snakes, local disease alerts), upcoming events (unfortunately impacted by COVID), and the availability of alpaca merchandise. We have a monthly educational email to all regional members, focusing on a relevant or seasonal topic (eg shearing) and includes links to relevant resources such as the AAA website. Our monthly news update covers the same topic in slightly less detail and both messages include a notice of upcoming events. Our Annual Regional Meeting will be held via Zoom on 8 November 2020. While this won’t provide the same level of interaction that members usually enjoy at our meetings, the committee hope that it will be well attended, with the different format enabling more people to participate. In the AAA Shop - Alpaca Fleece Classing – Code of Practice 2016-2021The industry standard for the preparation of Australian alpaca fleece. The 2016-2018 Code of Pratcice has been extended out under agreement with AWEX to cover until 2021! This book will be valuable for #Shearing2020 The Code of Practice has been produced to enable a standardised and quality assured product to be offered for sale to both domestic and international buyers. Buy it here for $25 Contact the AAA Board
Advertise with us!Would you like to advertise in this newsletter or on the AAA website to get an audience with every AAA member? We have very special prices for website advertising available to AAA members. Contact communications@alpaca.asn.au. |