Both Michael and Georgina have had a lifelong passion for nature in general and animals in particular.

An only child, she'd been surrounded by a multitude of pets and had been a fascinated breeder of a variety of birds, some of which she exhibited, with varying success. Their first major purchase, as newlyweds, was a pedigreed bull terrier bitch. They changed breeds, in 1973, with the acquisition of a German Shorthaired Pointer, and a lifetime's love affair had begun.

A move to a new property led to the name "Burnbrook", and this became the registered prefix, first for dogs and much later, for llamas.

The first "Burnbrook" litter was born in April, 1976. Fifty Champions in four countries have followed. The latest litter was seven generations on both sides, from the original pair.

Another of her passions has been craftwork, particularly fibre-based. In 1976, a move from suburbia to a six-acre property saw the purchase of a few coloured sheep with a view to producing wool suitable for handspinners. Some of the descendants of those old originals are still with us, and one of those is convinced she's a llama, but that's another story...

He has always been passionate about research and education (in his day job he's a Consultant Oncologist), and the dogs, in particular gave him much scope for this. In 1977 he embarked on a course of dog-judging and she followed a year later. By 1989, both were All-breeds judges, with Australia-wide and overseas experience.

In her previous employment she'd been a teacher of both English and Art, so she put both occupations to work in her 10-year book publishing project. In 1991, her breed book Der Deutsch-Kurzhaar: the German Shorthaired Pointer won the top award given by the American Dog Writers' Association and in 1995, they travelled to both Britain and the USA where she judged the National Breed Shows for their breed (the only overseas person to have done so).

What does this have to do with llamas?

The principles of selective breeding, exhibiting, judging and learning about any living thing can be applied to any other.

The German Shorthair is a practical breed of dog, in which sound conformation and good temperament we believe to be absolutely essential. It is regarded as one of the world's most versatile hunting dogs, but is just as practical in the family backyard as in the field or forest. Beauty in the breed is a bonus, though one which for which we strive.

The Llama is also a multi-purpose breed with the same essentials of soundness in mind and body to be aimed for by breeders and awarded by judges.

Our dog breeding, exhibiting and judging experiences have been a great help in assessing individual llamas, in making comparisons between individuals and types of llamas and in setting goals for the latest Byrne (ing) passion—the breeding of llamas. At our time of life, a little fast-tracking has been required. We know what we're after, and we think we're getting there. The last few years have certainly been labour intensive, but a labour of love it's been and continues to be for us both.