Ron and Dianne at Machu Picchu

Dianne and Ron Condon established Shanbrooke Alpaca Stud in 1988, with the purchase of six Chilean alpacas. They soon became totally addicted to these calm intelligent animals and purchased several more six months later. Dianne and Ron have since been involved in the selection of animals from Peru on three occasions.
Shanbrooke is one of the most successful studs in Australia, with their elite stud animals bringing top prices at auctions and privately around the world. Shanbrooke-bred alpacas have been shown around Australia and have taken out Championship ribbons at all major shows.
Dianne is one of the inaugural AAA National Committee Members and AAA Judges, and currently is the longest serving committee member of the AAA. She is one of Australia's most experienced alpaca judges and has traveled the world to enhance her skills and knowledge, and to keep at the fore-front of development.
Dianne is also involved in the training of judges in Australia, and has judged most major shows and Royals including the most prestigious of them all, the AAA National Show which is the largest in Australia.

Over the years both Ron and Dianne have traveled to Peru many times and on one of these occasions Dianne attended the International School of Judging, where she was trained by Julio Sumar and Maggie Krieger, and successfully completed the International Judging course. Dianne has been invited to judge in Germany, New Zealand, America, and England. Some of the most prestigious shows Dianne judged in 2005 were The New Zealand National show and The Royal Melbourne Show. In the near future Dianne will judge Australia’s 2006 National Show, the largest in the country with an expected entry of 500 plus animals, and has also been invited to judge the Auckland Royal in New Zealand. Dianne will also travel to Germany to judge and screen animals in early 2007.

Dianne (third person from the left) judging at the National Show, UK

Ron has traveled both to Peru and Chile in his pursuit to gain top genetics, and over the last ten years has built up real friendships with many of the Peruvians. This year Dianne and Ron were able to give back some of that friendship and hospitality by helping sponsor some of these breeders when they visited Australia to see the Australian industry. Shanbrooke Alpaca Stud, in partnership with three other breeders, also own animals in Germany, Ireland and England. Dianne and Ron believe the future is strong for alpacas, and their fibre.

Enjoying the Lifestyle

Grandson Kynan and daughter Brooke

Dianne and Ron have four children who are also involved in the farm activities. Their eldest son is a vineyard developer and his skills in fencing and tractor work around the farm have been invaluable. Their second son Trent has a keen interest in the alpacas, owning some of his own. He has worked in Germany and Ireland managing the herd of 300 alpacas, and is a great help when it comes to shearing. Their daughter Brooke has a keen interest in the showing aspect of the alpaca business and has been a great help over the years in the showing of alpacas and helping with the classing of fibre at shearing time. She is currently working on the farm learning all aspects of the industry. Their youngest son Tyson is still living at home and helps in the husbandry, feeding and shearing of the animals.

We now have six beautiful grandchildren who all adore the alpacas. They always want to pat the pacca, or feed them some hay. We are looking forward to seeing them experience the lifestyle, that we have enjoyed from breeding alpacas. Who knows, maybe when they are older, you may see them in the show-ring!

Granddaughter Tenaya

Granddaughter Mikayla with one of Society Lass' embryo transplant cria, born only four hours previously.

Granddaughter Codie, sitting on an alpaca rug with our dog Yoshi