Background

I was raised on a beef and sheep farm in the Manawatu in central North Island. As a child I had a menagerie of animals - cats, horses lambs, hens, ducks, calves and injured birds to care for and still have a similar menagerie.

My major degree was at Canterbury University and I went on to teach English. I retired from teaching after reaching Principal status. Education has been a passion and I continued to do management and administrative diplomas which lead to several overseas trips as a New Zealand representative.

I still am involved on a casual basis and support my maths teaching husband Rob. We live on a lifestyle block near Hamilton and other than raising Burmese kittens we enjoy the outdoors, gardening, music, theatre and food with great wine. Our adult sons and our grandchildren live in Tennessee and Invercargill which means we don’t have much contact, but thank goodness for social media.

Judging

I have been involved with the Cat Fancy since buying my first real pedigree Burmese cat in 1980s. Domestic moggies, Burmillas and Siamese have also lived with us. I started judging Short hair cats in 2004 and completed Long hair training in 2010.
To date my judging has been with both NZCF and Catz Inc in New Zealand and in Australian for CCFA, ANCATS, CCCofA, FCCWA, GCCF in Ireland and I have observed cat shows in the UK and the USA on two occasions.

Role in NZCF

Appointed to NZCF Judges Council, a Tutor Judge, delegate and Show Secretary for Mid Island Cat Club where I am a Life Member.

I love meeting people and cats and always feel privileged to judge beautiful, healthy cats whose owners love and care for them as they would their own family.