Awards & Recognition

Awards and Recognition

• 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 award (inaugurated July 2012).
• Bob McLeod Award “A BOB”: In recognition of our volunteers (inaugurated July 2021).
• Bill Plunkett Memorial Trophy: HUACYA Fleece Competition. (inaugurated April 2007).
• SURI Fleece Competition (inaugurated 2002)
• Service Awards
• AAA Certificate of Appreciation

See below for a full list of award winners and volunteers recognised.
Log in and go to the VER Members Portal for competition policies, guidelines and templates.

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.