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About our Region
Welcome to the website of the Victorian Eastern Region of the Australian Alpaca Association (VER).
The region’s boundaries start at Albury/Wodonga, then down the Hume Highway to Benalla, south on the Midland Highway to Mansfield, picks up the Maroondah Highway to Merton, Healesville, Lilydale and on to Melbourne, then follows the coastline to Mallacoota.
The VER covers a geographically diverse area from the vineyards of the Yarra Valley and the Mornington Peninsula, to the rich soil farming districts of Gippsland, the coastal extension from Port Phillip to Mallacoota and the grandeur of the Great Dividing Range.
Within the Victorian Eastern Region there are over 100 registered alpaca breeders, several with larger studs in excess of 100 alpacas to others with only a few. Many members also promote and sell alpaca products.
Our Committee
Contact details for our hardworking Committee Members.
Local Sub groups
Within the VER region, there are three sub-groups that operate to help cover a geographically diverse area by providing support in that locality.
Awards and Recognition
Trophies and Service Awards:
Lyla Fisher Memorial Trophy: Alpaca of the Year, HUACAYA (inaugurated May 2002).
Keith Turner Memorial Trophy: Alpaca of the Year, SURI (inaugurated April 2010).
Dianne Condon Memorial Trophy: Best New Breeder (inaugurated July 2012).
Bob McLeod Award “A BOB”: In Recognition of our Volunteers (inaugurated July 2021).
Bill Plunkett Memorial Trophy: HUACAYA Fleece Competition (inaugurated April 2007).
SURI Fleece Competition (inaugurated 2002)
Service Awards
AAA Certificate of Appreciation
CONGRATULATIONS to all those recipients of the prestigious VER awards.
THANK-YOU to all our volunteers who have made significant contributions to the VER.
For a full list of award winners, service recognition recipients, history of our trophies and competition policies and guidelines go to Learn more
Open Alpaca Farms
There are a number of local farms who open their properties and alpacas to the public. Each offer a different experience
Our Smart Future
Our Smart Future was produced in 2014 as a celebration of 25 years of the Australian alpaca.
Our History
Lyla Fisher Memorial Trophy – Alpaca of the Year Huacaya
Inaugurated in May 2002.
Lyla was a foundation member of the Region and from the early ʻ90s to her untimely passing in 2002, was totally committed to the Region and to the Alpaca Industry, serving the Region in every possible capacity – a highly reputed alpaca breeder; show organiser and programmer; a dedicated committee member, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-President and President. Her legacy lives on with us, through this award.
Keith Turner Memorial Trophy – Alpaca of the Year Suri
Inaugurated in April 2010.
Keith, a product of Dookie College, with cattle and dairy farm origins that began in South Gippsland, traversed into Queensland and returned to South Gippsland where he and his wife Glenda established Mawbanna Alpacas. Keithʼs animal husbandry background together with Glendaʼs alpaca fibre processing skills created a successful venture into quality Suri breeding. Together the couple travelled Australia to learn of the processing of alpaca fleece and further develop their involvement in specialised alpaca handcrafts.
An outdoors man, an ambassador for the alpaca industry, Keith passed away in 2009.
Bill Plunkett Memorial Trophy – Champion Fleece
Inaugurated in April 2007.
Affectionately known as “The Godfather”, Bill passed away in 2006. A long serving committeeman, a Vice- President and President of the Region and Chairman of the Regional Showing Sub-committee, Bill was the force behind the Show rules and protocols we adhere to today. The consumate Chief Steward, his workshops throughout Australia and NZ stand as testimony to his skill. His unique love of natural fIbres lives on through this award.
Dianne Condon Memorial Trophy – Best New Breeder
Inaugurated July 2012
Dianne loved alpacas and the Industry with a passion.
A long standing member of the Region, Dianne served extensively at both regional and national committee level. In co-ownership with her husband Ron, their highly successful Shanbrooke Alpaca Stud gained early world-wide recognition. A national and international Show judge, Dianne was accorded an AAA Life Membership for her service to the Industry. Dianne, who passed away on 12th January 2012, is remembered with great affection.
Introductory dates of the trophies are:
1995 : (The Region’s 1st Gala Dinner)
Alpaca of the Year (Huacaya)
Champion Fleece (Huacaya)
2002:
Alpaca of the Year (Huacaya), first awarded in 1995, re-constituted as the
Lyla Fisher Memorial Trophy.
2004:
Alpaca of the Year (Suri)
2007:
Champion Fleece (Huacaya), first awarded in 1995, re-constituted as the
Bill Plunkett Memorial Trophy.
2008:
Champion Fleece (Suri)
2010:
Alpaca of the Year (Suri), first awarded in 2004, re-constituted as the
Keith Turner Memorial Trophy.
2012:
Best New Breeder Award,
Dianne Condon Memorial Trophy.
Our sincere thanks and gratitude to David Daddo (Pitchingga Ridge Alpacas) for collating the information on the VER Perpetual Trophies.
The VER’s connection with Farm World started in 1998 and alpacas have made a significant contribution to the Farm World displays ever since, click History of VER Farm World here to read more
Held annually the Fleece Competition has been a strong presence in the VER’s history. Click here to read more.