We held six shows this year all held at the Waramanga Scout Hall, Badimara Street, Waramanga. Two of the shows (28 April and 15 September) were held in conjunction with the NSW Cavy Club Southern Regional Branch. I've only put the top awards per show. Full details are in back issues of the newsletter. This year Sue Sowden designed a new entry form which includes the rabbit's name among other details. It and the show schedule are now on A4 sheets stapled together, rather than A2 folded in half and I think you'll agree that it all looks much neater.

10 March Judge Leonie Kelly (NSW). Best in Show Petite Stud 01X05556 Red-Eyed White Netherland Dwarf ; Reserve Best in Show Bonreiki Stud 00K06793 Mini Lop Shaded; Best Adult in Show Petite Stud Red-Eyed White Netherland Dwarf 01X05556; Reserve Best Adult in Show Bonreiki Stud 00K06793 Mini Lop Shaded; Best Junior in Show Bella Stud 01X07711 Netherland Dwarf Self; Reserve Best Junior in Show Bella Stud 01X07731 Netherland Dwarf Agouti Pattern; Best Kitten in Show Alpine Stud 01X05110 Netherland Dwarf Shaded; Reserve Best Kitten Petite Stud 01X0556 Netherland Dwarf Red-Eyed White; Best Fancy in Show Petite Stud 01X05556 Red-Eyed White Netherland Dwarf; Reserve Best Fancy Bonreiki Stud 00K06793 Mini Lop Shaded; Best Fur Petite Stud 01E00592 Satin Ivory; Reserve Best Fur Reguli Stud 01E02428 Satin Agouti Pattern; Best Rex Alpine Stud 01B008427 Mini Rex AOC; Reserve Best Rex Reguli Stud 01B005579 Mini Rex AOC

28 April (in conjunction with the NSW Cavy Club Southern Regional Branch) Judge John Mann (NSW). Best in Show Rojeana Stud 01E02441 Rex Agouti; Reserve Best in Show Petite Stud 01X05556 Netherland Dwarf REW; Best Adult in Show 01E02441 Rex Agouti; Reserve Best Adult in Show Petite Stud 01X05556 Netherland Dwarf REW; Best Junior in Show Petite Stud 01E02439; Reserve Best Junior Bella Stud 01X07711 Netherland Dwarf Self; Best Kitten in Show Brialea Stud 02C00602 Dwarf Lop AOC; Reserve Best Kitten Alpine 02B00925 Mini Rex Shaded; Best Fancy in Show Petite Stud 01X05556 Netherland Dwarf REW; Reserve Best Fancy Bella Stud 01X07711 Netherland Dwarf Self; Best Fur in Show Rojeana Stud 01E06174 Satin Self; Reserve Best Fur Rojeana Stud 01E06176 Satin Ivory; Best Rex Rojeana Stud 01E02441 Rex Agouti; Reserve Best Rex Bella Stud 01B08293 Mini Rex AOC

16 June Judge Greg Irwin (NSW). Best in Show: Satin Self Rojeana Stud 01E06175; Reserve Best in Show: Mini Cashmere AOC Bonreiki Stud 01C05522; Best Adult: Satin Self Rojeana Stud 01E06175; Reserve Best Adult: Mini Cashmere AOC Bonreiki Stud 01C0552; Best Junior: Netherland Dwarf Petite Stud 02X01096; Reserve Best Junior: Mini Lop Bonreiki Stud 02K00647; Best Kitten: English Angora AOC 02E00686; Reserve Best Kitten: British Giant Brialea Stud 02H00361; Best Fancy Mini Cashmere AOC Bonreiki Stud 01C05522; Reserve Best Fancy Netherland Dwarf Agouti Petite Stud 00X04294; Best Fur: Satin Self Rojeana Stud 01E06175; Reserve Best Fur: British Giant Petite 01H01766; Best Rex: Rex Agouti Pattern Rojeana Stud (Chinchilla) 01E02441; Reserve Best Rex: Mini Rex AOC Bella Stud 01B08293

28 July Judge Vija Hone (Vic.). Best in Show: Rex tan pattern (Orange) Reguli Stud 00E5446; Reserve Best in Show AOV Fur (British Giant) Petite Stud 01H01766; Best Adult: Rex tan pattern (Orange) Reguli Stud 00E5446; Reserve Best Adult AOV Fur (British Giant) Petite Stud 01H01766; Best Junior Dwarf Lop Self (Blue) Petite 02C00588; Reserve Best Junior Satin Ivory Lotza Bunnies Stud 02E00534; Best Kitten Lotza Bunnies Stud Satin Ivory 02E04523; Reserve Best Kitten Mini Lop Self (Black) Parra Stud 02K02300; Best Fancy Netherland Dwarf tan patter (Black Otter) Elfin Stud 99X00826; Reserve Best Fancy Netherland Dwarf AOC (Himalayan) Petite Stud 02X01096; Best Fur AOV Fur (British Giant) Petite Stud 01H01766; Reserve Best Fur Satin Ivory Lotza Bunnies Stud 02E00534; Bext Rex Rex tan pattern (Orange) Reguli Stud 00E5446; Reserve Best Rex Mini Rex AOC Bella Stud 01B08293; Best Lop Dwarf Lop tan pattern (Black Otter) Bugsys Stud 01C01968

15 September (in conjunction with the NSW Cavy Club Southern Regional Branch): Rabbit Judge: Jacqui Wood (ACT) Best in Show, Best Adult in Show, Best Rex: Mini Rex Agouti pattern (Chinchilla) Bella Stud 02B00432; Reserve Best in Show, Reserve Best Adult, Best Fur: Satin Ivory Petite Stud 02E02439; Best Junior in Show: Satin Self (Blue) Reguli Stud 02E05632; Reserve Best Junior in Show: Mini Lop Shaded (Seal-point) Bugsy's Stud 02K0418; Best Kitten, Reserve Best Fancy: Mini Lop REW Bonreiki Stud 02K04448; Best Fancy in Show: Mini Lop Self (Black) Bonreiki Sutd 01K01068; Reserve Best Fur AOV Fur (British Giant) Bella Stud 01H02905; Reserve Best Rex in Show: Rex tan pattern (Orange) Reguli Stud 00E5446

10 November. Judge: Christine Carter (ACT) Best in Show, Best Adult, Best Fur, AOV Fur British Giant Petite Stud 02H00359; Reserve Best in Show, Best Fancy, Reserve Best Adult Dwarf Lop REW Bella Stud 01C03309; Best Junior in Show, Reserve Best Fancy, Netherland Dwarf REW Petite Stud 02X06331; Reserve Best Junior Satin Shaded (sooty fawn) Reguli Stud 02E05143; Best Kitten in Show Satin Self (black) Petite 02E06889; Best Rex in Show Tan Pattern (orange) Reguli Stud 00E05446; Reserve Best Rex Mini Rex Agouti Beau Stud 02B00930

Club members also attended a number of other rabbit clubs' shows as judges (John Sowden and Christine Carter) or as exhibitors. Ye ed was also a steward at the Royal Easter Show rabbit show run by the Rabbit Breeders Association of NSW.

Seven newsletters were published during the year, usually two weeks before each show. A copy is sent to the National Library on Legal Deposit (a requirement of the Copyright Act 1968) and a copy to our sponsor Peter's Pet Foods. There are 69 copies in the print run currently as membership has increased considerably since last year and there is a higher retention rate. This year, thanks to the suggestion on one of the rabbit lists, the various clubs in Australia have begun exchanging newsletters. The CRCI currently has exchange agreements with NSW Rabbit Association, Rabbit Exhibitors and Breeders Society, Rabbit Fanciers Society of NSW, Rabbit Breeders of Tasmania, South Australian Rabbit Association and West Australian Rabbit Council Inc. These newsletters are kept in folders in the club library and can be borrowed by members.

I would like to thank Christine Carter for providing some informative and thoughtful articles on aspects of rabbit breeding and keeping and Sue Sowden for her hard work in compiling and providing already photocopied show results for each issue.

This year I introduced a new feature, Rabbitry on Parade wherein members write in about how they keep their rabbits, origin of stud name, what breeds they have, how long they have had rabbits, what they feed them on and so on, based on a questionnaire (which I'll include again in this issue). I would like to thank those who have already responded (Vanessa Madeley, Susan Batho, the Conroys and Christine Carter) and encourage others to submit theirs as it seems to be a popular feature.

The contents of this year's Rabbit Droppings are as follows. Unless otherwise stated and except for the breed standards, all items were written by me.

No. 16 (Feb. 2002) CRCI Library list--Australia Day in the Park display--Playmate of the Month: Angora

No. 17 (April 2002) Homeopathy for pets--Lionhead standard--Standard for Chocolate Tortoiseshell Mini Lop--Standard for Broken Pattern Mini Rex--Royal Canberra Show display--Yass Show display--Royal Easter Show stewarding

No. 18 (May 2002) Cyberbunny (Australian online rabbit lists)--Rabbit bones by Deborah of Dynasty Stud--Rabbitry on Parade: Madlee Stud by Vanessa Madeley--Playmate of the Month: Argenté

No. 19 (July 2002) Toilet training?--Wet 'n windy bunnies--Book reviews: Getting to Know Your Rabbit by Gill Page, Small Pet Handbook by David Taylor--Display at Rosary Outside School Hours Care 9 July--Rabbitry on Parade: Reguli Stud--Playmate of the Month: English--Have bunny will travel by Christine Carter

No. 20 (Sept. 2002) Stock feed merchants in the region--Playmate of the Month: Swiss Fox

No. 21 (Oct. 2002) CRCI Champion points system--Playmate of the Month: Californian--Rabbitry on Parade: Beau Stud by Susan Batho--Rabbitry on Parade by the Conroys--Rabbitry on Parade: Bonreiki Stud by Christine Carter--Photo gallery of winners in 2002 by Christine Carter

No. 22 (Nov. 2002) When is a Flemish Giant not a Flemish Giant--Pet Expo 1-3 Nov. 2002--CRCI Annual report--Summer bunnies by Christine Carter

As a result of discussion on Australian Show Rabbit electronic list, a project has begun this year to photograph the many different breeds and colours of rabbits available in this country. Christine has been busy taking photos of rabbits at shows throughout the year as examples of breed and/or colour. I have put these on the club website under Rabbit Breeds and Colours. They are arranged alphabetically by breed and again alphabetically by colour under each breed. Each rabbit is listed by its colour then its name, sex and owner, no stud names are given. Besides Christine, non-member Rebecca Russell has sent in photos of her rabbits which include breeds or colours we don't have up yet. Also new this year is the online classified section, free to members.

There have been some additions to the Library during the year such as a donation from Christine Carter of some New Zealand rabbit club magazines and the Sowden family's donation of photocopies of English rabbit books mentioned on p. 3. This year not so many people have borrowed from the library. This may be because we have only been having regular meetings since the second half of the year, or maybe people have just forgotten. I would like to see more people making use of the library. A complete list of what's in it will appear in the Feb. issue. Meantime, this list is available online on the club website under Canberra Rabbit Club Library. The library is brought to each club meeting I attend and books can be borrowed then. However, they should be brought back at the following meeting or arrangements made to return them to me either by dropping them off in person at my home or by posting them to me.

This year meetings were moved from Saturday afternoons to Wednesday evenings. This was to accommodate committee members who have to work weekends, especially as most of last year and the first half of this year hardly anyone attended the meetings and we got to the point where we often didn't bother having them. Since August we have had them two weeks before a show on a Wednesday at 7 pm at different member's homes. This seems to be working well.

Again I put all the clubs shows in this year's community calendar on the ACT Government website. The Club was mentioned in Ian Warden's article on the April rabbit show (or rather Spartacus) which appeared in the Canberra Times of 29 April.

As happened last year, the Club was asked to mount a number of displays during the year, chiefly by Jane Southwell of FARM. These were as follows: Australia Day in the Park (26 Jan. Commonwealth Park - Angela and Lyn Nicoli, Nikki White); Royal Canberra Show Animal Nursery (22-24 February, Mallee Pavilion, Exhibition Park - Jean and Ron Hill, Leanne and Ben Roberts, Gail Lincoln, the Sowdens, the Milligans, Christine Carter, Angela and Lyn Nicoli, and Nikki White); Yass Show (9-10 March, Yass Showground - Nikki White); Rosary Outside School Care (9 July, Watson, ACT - Nikki White); Murrumbateman Field Days (19-20 Oct., Murrumbateman Showground - Leanne and Ben Roberts, Nikki White and the Sowdens); Canberra Pet Expo (1-3 Nov., Fitzroy Pavilion, Exhibition Park - Christine Carter, Sarah Read, Dita Kruze, Angela Nicoli, Nikki White and the Sowdens