riki

Each morning I walk past the place
Where you guard the cattery way
I whisper softly, Good morning Riki,
Your violets are out today.

Sometimes still I see you
Throw yourself before my feet
I pause to stoop and scratch you;
Then check myself, as I remember.

In my mind I hear your soft brrp, brrp
And see your loving look,
The same soft voice, and bright eyes
With which you said goodbye.

You lay in my arms, your trust undimmed
Even the vets eyes were not dry,
After four sad days, you grew sleepier still,
We knew. You were ready to go.

Farewell my Riki, Farewell
Rest now in the lap of friends and lovers
Whisper to them the joys of earth
Share with them now your loving look.

I thought I was ready to share with you my memories to this most fabulous cat, it is just over a year since I wrote the above words, words which I spoke over his grave at the Aussie Mist annual Christmas party and presentation of Awards while all his friends filed by and cast a single flower onto his grave. But my eyes are still full of tears that are dripping onto the keyboard as I write.

So I will just share a little bit about him.
Awatea Kohu Ariki was born on Boxing Day, 1989, to Gold Double Grand Champion Nintu Tamarisk, and Double Grand Champion Nintu Jerrin. Anne Burrows, his breeder, immediately saw his potential, and offered him to me as a gift. I was a bit reluctant, but she persisted, and after she had shown him to the age of six months, he came to live with me. Never a cat to like other cats, he just loved people, was the greatest of showmen, suffered from 'crumple leg' - wouldn't stand on the table to be judged, but insisted on sinking down and rolling on his back. He invoked in one judge probably the silliest response I have ever seen in a judge - she bent down and kissed his tummy - her trust was well placed, and he just purred. He was a show winner, several Best in Shows, and many many Pet Awards (judged solely on purrsonality), he was well travelled, we flew and drove to shows in South Australia, Victoria and Queensland, he travelled to Western Australia to live for a time with Jeanette Perkins. He appeared on TV shows several times - including a couple of live-to-air interviews, where he behaved with purrfect decorum, and probably most amazing (at least it was to my Mum's friends), the two of us hopped out of the car to be photographed together standing under a Nothofagus tree (my thesis was on the Ecology of Nothofagus cunninghamii) on the Black Spur on our way home from the first CCCA show in Victoria. This photograph was specially planned to appear on the back of 'Breeding Cats .... a Practical Guide.' Mother's friends all said ' Weren't you afraid he'd escape' - I must say I never even considered it!
Riki's full title was
GOLD DB GD CH SAPPHIRE GD CH (WA) AWATEA KOHU ARIKI
You can see probably the best pictures ever taken of him above.

As I loved him so much, I decided to initiate the Riki Memorial Award, a personal Award given as and when I think one of the friends of the breed has made a particular contribution, or reached a particular milestone in the breed. The award is one of the bronze/silver 'SPOT ON' medallions, engraved with the person's name, and individually numbered and dated on the reverse - and a citation printed on a page size copy of that picture of Riki and I.

PRESENTED BY
TRUDA M STRAEDE
IN LOVING MEMORY
OF
GLDBGDCH SPGDCH(WA)
AWATEA KOHU ARIKI

AWARDED TO MRS ANNE BURROWS
IN RECOGNITION OF HER TIRELESS WORK IN PROMOTING THE AUSTRALIAN MIST, IN GRATITUDE FOR HER SHARING THE ROUGH AND SMOOTH OF BREEDING, BUT MOST OF ALL, IN THANKS FOR THE GIFT OF RIKI, WHO WON THE HEARTS OF EXHIBITORS, JUDGES AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ALIKE.

PRESENTED BY
TRUDA M STRAEDE
IN LOVING MEMORY
OF
GLDBGDCH SPGDCH(WA)
AWATEA KOHU ARIKI

AWARDED TO MRS MHAIRE HIGGINS
IN RECOGNITION OF BECOMING THE FIRST EXHIBITOR TO GAIN A PLACE IN THE RASCC INC CAT OF THE YEAR AWARDS WITH
GL DBGDCH NINTU ESSENTIAL HELPER
WHO IS FOURTH BEST NEUTER CAT IN THE 1998 TOP 5

PRESENTED BY
TRUDA M STRAEDE
IN LOVING MEMORY
OF
GOLD DBGDCH SP GDCH(WA)
AWATEA KOHU ARIKI

AWARDED TO DR VALERIE HAMILTON
IN RECOGNITION OF HER PIONEERING PROMOTION OF THE AUSTRALIAN MIST TO PUBLIC
AND CAT FANCY ALIKE IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA; AND IN THANKS FOR HER PERSONAL CONTRIBUTION TO AND SHARING OF
THE QUEST FOR GREATER KNOWLEDGE OF ALL ASPECTS OF OUR BREED.

in loving memory of
Gld Db Gd Ch
Sp Gd Ch ( WA)
Awatea Kohu Ariki

Awarded to Kelly Fletcher {Kelmots (Tas) }
in recognition of her valuable contribution
to exhibiting and promoting the Australian Mist.

Like Riki, she is a great ambassador for the Breed and I am confident that outstanding young members like
Kelly ensure a strong and secure future for the Australian Mist.

AUSTRALIAN MIST
RIKI MEMORIAL AWARD
FIVE
2002
PRESENTED BY
TRUDA M STRAEDE
IN LOVING MEMORY
OF
GOLD DBGDCH SP GDCH(WA)
AWATEA KOHU ARIKI
AWARDED TO MRS WENDY SHERBORNE
FOR HER ENTHUSIASTIC PROMOTION OF AUSTRALIAN MIST, THROUGH BREEDING AND
EXHIBITING, IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY, WHERE THE BREED WAS PREVIOUSLY LITTLE KNOWN.

AWARDED TO MRS PATRICIA BEECH
IN RECOGNITION OF HER SUPPORT FOR THE WELFARE OF BOTH
BREEDERS OF AND AUSTRALIAN MIST CATS THEMSELVES, THROUGH HER CARE FOR MANY OLD CATS,
AND ASSISTANCE IN TIMES OF TROUBLE.
HER LOVE FOR AUSTRALIAN MIST, AND FOR ALL CATS LUCKY ENOUGH TO COME HER WAY IS EXEMPLIFIED
BY THE CARE WITH WHICH SHE REARS HER KITTENS - ALL OF THEM, PERFECT OR NOT, BEING OF EQUAL
VALUE IN HER EYES, AND GIVEN AN EQUAL CHANCE TO LIVE AND THRIVES OF AND AUSTRALIAN MIST CATS THEMSELVES, THROUGH HER CARE FOR MANY OLD CATS, AND ASSISTANCE IN TIMES OF TROUBLE.
HER LOVE FOR AUSTRALIAN MIST, AND FOR ALL CATS LUCKY ENOUGH TO COME HER WAY IS EXEMPLIFIED
BY THE CARE WITH WHICH SHE REARS HER KITTENS - ALL OF THEM, PERFECT OR NOT, BEING OF EQUAL
VALUE IN HER EYES, AND GIVEN AN EQUAL CHANCE TO LIVE AND THRIVE.

AUSTRALIAN MIST
RIKI MEMORIAL AWARD

SEVEN
2008

PRESENTED BY
TRUDA M STRAEDE
IN LOVING MEMORY
OF
GOLD DBGDCH SP GDCH(WA)
AWATEA KOHU ARIKI

AWARDED TO CAROL HIGGINS
IN RECOGNITION OF HER WORKMANLIKE APPROACH TO ASSEMBLING A GOOD
REPRESENTATION OF AUSTRALIAN MIST BREEDING STOCK. HER SUPPORT FOR THE WELFARE OF AUSTRALIAN MIST
CATS THROUGH HER WILLINGNESS TO PURCHASE BREEDING STOCK, IN NEED OF REHOMING, WHETHER
OR NOT OF DIRECT BENEFIT TO HER OWN BREEDING PROGRAMME AND TO ‘HAVE A GO’ WITH AND THEN REHOME,
A DIVERSITY OF ‘READY TO RETIRE’ BREEDING STOCK UNDERLINES
HER DEDICATION TO BOTH THE INDIVIDUAL CATS, AND THE BREED.

AUSTRALIAN MIST
RIKI MEMORIALAWARD

EIGHT
2008

PRESENTED BY
TRUDA M STRAEDE, LINDA MUMBY
& CAROL HIGGINS
IN LOVING MEMORY
OF
GOLD DBGDCH SP GDCH(WA)
AWATEA KOHU ARIKI

AWARDED TO MARY STUART

IN RETROSPECT, IN RECOGNITION OF HER COURAGE AND PATIENCE IN ‘TAKING THE PLUNGE’ TO IMPORT THE FIRST BREEDING COLONY OF AUSTRALIAN MIST TO THE UNITED KINGDOM. AND IN PROSPECT, OF THE LONG AND PATIENT PROCESS OF PUBLICISING THE AUSTRALIAN MIST, GAINING OFFICIAL RECOGNITION OF THE AUSTRALIAN MIST,
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST,
OF RECRUITING AN ENTHUSIASTIC BAND OF BREEDERS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MIST IN THE UK AND BEYOND.

AUSTRALIAN MIST
RIKI MEMORIAL AWARD

NINE
2008

PRESENTED BY
TRUDA M STRAEDE & VALERIE HAMILTON
IN LOVING MEMORY
OF
GOLD DBGDCH SP GDCH(WA)
AWATEA KOHU ARIKI

AWARDED TO JEANETTE PERKINS
ON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIRING AS THE FOUNDATION TREASURER OF THE AMCFA,
WHICH ASSOCIATION SHE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN FOUNDING.
IN RECOGNITION OF HER PERFORMING THIS THANKLESS ROLE WITH QUIET EFFICIENCY
AND PROMPTNESS. ALSO IN RECOGNITION OF HER PIONEERING SPIRIT IN INTRODUCING THE FIRST BREEDING COLONY OF
AUSTRALIAN MIST TO WESTERN AUSTRALIA & FOR PUBLICISING
& POPULARISING THEM THERE.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, TO THANK HER FOR HER QUIET LOYALTY AND SUPPORT THROUGH
THE GOOD & THE BAD TIMES FOR THE BREED & BREEDERS.

AUSTRALIAN MIST
RIKI MEMORIAL AWARD
Presented on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of Australian Mist Breed recognition

TEN
2011

PRESENTED BY
TRUDA M STRAEDE & AMCFA
IN LOVING MEMORY
OF
GOLD DBGDCH SP GDCH(WA)
AWATEA KOHU ARIKI

AWARDED TO RHONDDA WATSON
IN RECOGNITION OF HER UNFAILING SUPPORT OF THE AUSTRALIAN MIST AND THE BREED FOUNDER OVER MANY YEARS, THROUGH THE EXCITEMENT OF THE EARLY DAYS WHEN WE WERE ALL DISCOVERING THE BREED TOGETHER, THROUGH THE SADNESS OF BREEDING AND BREEDER PROBLEMS, THE TRIUMPH OF REACHING FULL REGISTER, AND THE FOUNDING OF THE AMCFA Inc OF WHICH SHE HAS BEEN THE LOYAL PATRON, AND PROMOTER OF THE AUSTRALIAN MIST THROUGH HER ROLE AS AN ALL BREEDS JUDGE.
THANKYOU RHONDDA FROM ALL OF US

AUSTRALIAN MIST
RIKI MEMORIAL AWARD
ELEVEN
2013
PRESENTED BY TRUDA M. STRAEDE, AMCFA, & AMCCA
IN LOVING MEMORY
OF
GOLD DBGDCH SP GDCH(WA) AWATEA KOHU ARIKI

AWARDED TO JUDITH WELCH WEGNER
IN RECOGNITION OF HER LOVE OF AND DEDICATION TO THE AUSTRALIAN MISTS AND HER DETERMINATION AND SUCCESS IN ESTABLISHING THE PRESENCE OF THE BREED IN NORTH AMERICA AND TO PUT THE MISTS ON THE WORLD STAGE.
THANK YOU JUDITH FROM ALL OF US

Presented at a Breed Seminar on the Australian Mist given by the Breed Founder
during the TICA Annual, San Diego, 2016
celebrating the first year of TICA Championship status

AUSTRALIAN MIST
RIKI MEMORIAL AWARD

TWELVE
2016

PRESENTED BY
TRUDA M STRAEDE
IN LOVING MEMORY
OF
GOLD DBGDCH SP GDCH(WA)
AWATEA KOHU ARIKI

AWARDED TO KAY HANVEY

ON THE OCCASION OF THE 2016 TICA ANNUAL, WHERE THE FIRST FULL YEAR OF AUSTRALIAN MIST AS CHAMPIONS WAS CELEBRATED.

ARRIVAL AT THIS POINT WAS ABLY AND INDEFATIGABLY PURSUED BY KAY, THROUGH HER OWN BREEDING AND EXHIBITING AND HER PERSISTENT PURSUIT AND ORGANISATION OF STATISTICS WHILE CAJOLING THE BREEDERS SHE HAD GATHERED AROUND HER TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ENDEAVOUR.

A HEARTY THANKYOU TO KAY FOR HER ONGOING EFFORTS.