After a distinguished career with the Kennel Union spanning thirty-four years, it is not only with great sadness, but also with heartfelt melancholy, that the members of the Federal Council, the members of the Executive Committee, the Management and staff of the Kennel Union and the Members of the Kennel Union bid farewell to the Manager of the Clubs, Shows & Judges’ Department of KUSA, Adele Bastick.

Adele joined the Kennel Union in 1987 as a Senior Typist, reporting to Kathy Walton.  In 1989, Adele was given the responsibility for all matters relating to the Judges’ Section. In March 1990 she went on three months’ maternity leave and on 27 January 2000 she was promoted to the Administrator of the Judges’ Section (Club Affairs).  In March 2005, Adele was appointed Manager of the Clubs, Shows & Judges’ Department with five members of staff reporting to her, a position she held up to her retirement.

Under the able leadership of the former President of the Kennel Union, Mr Greg Eva, Adele acquainted herself with the intricacies of the Kennel Union’s operations and, after Mr Eva’s departure, dedicated herself to adapting to the ever-increasing demands of an organisation which had undergone imperative restructuring. The Federal Council, Executive Committee and the General Manager became heavily reliant on her institutional knowledge of all matters pertaining to Clubs, Shows and Judges.

As we say goodbye to Adele after such a protracted and exemplary term of service, all her KUSA colleagues - those that shared her space in Bree Street, as well as those scattered across the country – wish her only happiness and fulfilment in her retirement and an abundance of pleasurable indulgence and accomplishment during the leisure years that await her. Adele will leave us with her unique mark entrenched in Kennel Union history and countless will be the days that one or other of her colleagues will wish that she was still close at hand.

KENNEL UNION OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

FEDERAL COUNCIL – CHAIRMAN’S REPORT - 2021

My first year in office as Chairman of the Federal Council has brought some disturbing, some interesting and many varied challenges.

During 2021, we continued to deal with the adjusted Alert Levels of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sadly, this affected us all in one way or another and my deepest sympathies go to those KUSA Members who had lost family and friends during the year and who were financially affected by the pandemic. Just when we thought there was some light at the end of the tunnel, we are now further challenged by the new Omicron variant. With infections on the rise, we are bracing ourselves for a 4th wave of infections and with it, no doubt, further restriction as the National State of National Disaster continues unabated. I urge all KUSA Members to give themselves some level of resistance against this virus by supporting the vaccination drive.

It was very heartening to see the revival of some dog shows and events during the past year. Dog training resumed and socialisation of the ‘COVID’ puppies opened up. Thank you, to all the Clubs and Dogsport Committees who persevered and held shows and events under strict protocols and to the competitors who supported these events. The entries were generally encouraging and boded well for the future of the canine activities.

Congratulations to the KUSA COVID-19 Task Team under the leadership of Carol Immelman, who worked tirelessly to assist KUSA and the show-holding Clubs. Their efforts are much appreciated, and we recognise that this was no easy task. I extend my thanks to our KUSA Legal Adviser for keeping us abreast of the ever-changing government regulations. The KUSA Shows Department was put under extreme pressure, dealing with short lead times and the extra workload of checking Show Schedules in accordance with the applicable protocols prior to the issuing of show licences. I thank the KUSA Office most sincerely for coping so well under the pressure.