CLUB COMMITTEE
The Committee of the Finnish Lapphund Club of Victoria exists to represent members interests, and manage the general running of the Club and its activities. All Committee positions are open for election on an annual basis at the FLCV Annual General Meeting, as per the FLCV Rules.
If you have interest in one day running for a position on Committee, please contact the Secretary who can explain to you the process of election and the general commitment required.
The 2024 committee has now been elected. Read on to learn more about each committee member.
President – Jacqualine Lincoln
Jacq is a founding member of the FLCV, starting as its inaugural President, a role she continued for 10 years, before taking a break in 2019. She returned to the Committee as Working Dog Coordinator in 2020, a role that is dear to her heart as her origins in the dog world are in obedience and other sports. In 2021 she takes up the President mantle again.
She has owned Finnish Lapphunds for over 18 years. She has bred under the Armahani prefix since 2007 and shows regularly. She has titled two Supreme Champions (and bred a third), three Grand Champions (and bred a fourth and fifth), one CIB (International Champion) and a raft of both Australian Champions and Australian Neuter Champions. She competes with her own dogs in several sports, having trained and trialled with the highest titled Herding Lappie and Rally-O Lappie to date (the famous Louis). Several of her breeding are regularly seen out in rings with their owners and have the highest number of performance titles in the breed, across the widest range of sports.
Jacq is currently owned by Louis, who is 14 and now retired, and Baby, who at 7 is training in obedience, rally-o, agility, and tricks, and is also titled in endurance and lure coursing.
EMAIL: [email protected]
Vice President – Shareen Chouffot
After first discovering Finnish Lapphunds in 2007, it took Shareen two years to welcome home her first and second Lappies: Mischa and Dolce. She is unashamedly addicted and now has four Lappies living at home, and has been breeding under the ‘Caleebra’ prefix since 2013.
Her canine interests include Conformation, Obedience, Tricks, Rally-O and Agility, though she only competes in Shows, Rally and Lure Coursing as she’s too clumsy for the rest. Frequently moving across states, Shareen has served on the committee of the FLCV whenever she is in Victoria and has been a member of the Lapphund Club of Finland since 2011.
She passionately believes dogs are happiest when working and spending time with you and thoroughly enjoys the bond and the thrill of achieving those milestone / light bulb moments in training.
Shareen looks forward to serving the Lapphund Community through her continued involvement with the FLCV.
EMAIL: [email protected]
Secretary – Cherelle Latta
Cherelle has been a member of the Lappie community in Australia for 16 years and was a regular attendee at the Lappie Picnics which preceded the FLCV.
She began her Lappie journey in 2005 with Willoughby from Setareh Kennels and currently shares her home with Taija (affectionately known as Woozy), now retired from the show ring and Mr Darcy, both from Armahani Kennels.
While Cherelle does often accompany her dogs to shows, she prefers to hand the lead to their breeder, so you will usually find Cherelle on the outside of the ring.
Having spent her non dog career as an administrator working with corporate Boards, Cherelle joins the FLCV Committee as Secretary.
EMAIL: [email protected]
Treasurer – Katherine Vanyai
Katherine is a relative newcomer to the Lappie community having discovering the breed while researching for a first family pet. After much consideration and planning she finally brought Pretzel home in early 2023. (His litter announcement was easily the best Christmas present of 2022!)
You’ll spot Katherine by her rainbow hair, supporting Pretzel’s conformation appearances from the sidelines. She’s hoping to get into the ring with him herself one day for tricks and agility. If Pretzel’s love of chase games is anything to go by she might have to make time for lure coursing one day too.
Show Secretary – Simone Dillon
Simone became a Lappie owner in early 2014 and hasn’t looked back since! Simone shares her life with three beautiful Lappies – Taavi, Piper and their kid Gerti. Simone enjoys showing her Lappies, and is also interested in lure coursing, herding and other dog sports.
An active contributor to the administrative side of the Victorian dog show scene with other clubs, Simone now steps back into the role of Show Secretary for the club – thank you to the outgoing Show Secretary Caroline Anderson for all your hard work and dedication to the FLCV!
Simone looks forward to working with the rest of the committee to produce the very best experience for all judges, exhibitors and visitors for future club shows.
EMAIL: [email protected]
Digital & Communications Coordinator – Charlie O’Neill
Charlotte, also know as Charlie, has always been an avid dog lover, evidenced by the 10,444 photos of dogs saved on her phone. Having been grown up with her beloved GSD, Tess, Charlie and her husband Dan attended the Dog Lovers Show in Melbourne in 2018, where they encountered Finnish Lapphunds, falling in love immediately. What followed was a year of intense research, play dates, and visits to dog shows. Her borderline obsession paid off when she decided on a Zuleika lappie and they welcomed their cream boy, Earl (named after the Scandinavian title of nobility). With his silly antics and immense love, Earl quickly became the joy of their life, cementing their decision to get a second little floof.
Four years later, Charlie and Dan expanded their furry family with Esmé, a spirited little female brown and tan teddy bear of lappie from Zuleika and Armahani’s collaboration kennel, Aetøzee. Charlie and Esmé share a special bond, especially through their adventures in learning the ropes of conformation showing. They have become regulars at Melbourne-based Championship Shows and are eagerly looking forward to participating in regional and interstate events.
EMAIL: [email protected]
Education & Welfare Coordinator – Kira Sergiacomi
From a young age, Kira had a fondness and knack for training working dogs. Determined to have her own working line Border Collie, Kira’s dog plans were upended when she was accepted in to the military. It wasn’t until 2009 and as if by chance that she stumbled on a picture of a Finnish Lapphund (fluffy border collie!), and so began her long process of research, making connections and waiting, finally welcoming her first Lappie Heidi. She never looked back.
Involved in the breed for almost 15 years, and a combined total of 22 years military service between them, Kira along with her partner Curtis and their three Lappies (Ryker almost 11, Vader 8.5, Diaz 1.5 years), form the Ehana prefix.
They actively compete across the country in conformation shows, tricks, lure coursing and backpacking and train in agility, scent work, herding and rally to make sure their dogs are always having fun and are fulfilled. They have bred dogs who excel across a number of disciplines and hope to be an encouraging hand for people wanting to try something new.
Kira has a passion for researching all things canine, from nutrition to health, training to breeding, and strives to continue bettering her education. Along with holding memberships to a number of dog related clubs, she is a self confessed crazy dog lady. She is excited to continue contributing to the club through her role as Education and Welfare Coordinator and hopes to get people as addicted to the breed as she is.
EMAIL: [email protected]
Fundraising Coordiantor – Leah Benakovic
Having fallen for Finnish Lapphunds in early 2018, Leah along with her husband Mladen were over the moon when they found a little six month old looking for a home. And it’s been no looking back since.
That little ball of fluff, called Korra, is two years old and loves to steal socks and the hearts of anyone she meets.
In 2019, both Leah and Korra get acquainted with the show ring and 2020 was meant to add more dog sports. However, looks like at home training will have to do for the moment.
Leah is continuing her time on the FLCV Committee this year in her new role as Fundraising Officer. She looks forward to getting into all this role has to offer and connecting more with members.
EMAIL: [email protected]
General Committee Member – Caitlin Wintaur
Caitlin fell in love with Finnish Lapphunds after a trip to Finland in 2014. After meeting some more Lappies at the Melbourne Dog Lovers Show in 2015, the decision was made to bring one into her home.
Maddi, a 4 year old mature Lappie from Theldaroy Kennels, arrived in August 2015. One Lappie isn’t enough of course, and Helvi the puppy joined the family in January 2019. Caitlin shows Helvi as a bitch in many Victorian shows, and sometimes brings Maddi out of retirement to show as a neuter.
When not showing, Maddi and Helvi can be found sleeping in the sunshine, playing with their German Shepherd sister Vega, hassling their little human brother Oscar, or exploring their neighbourhood.
General Committee Member – Teisha Mason
Having always been torn between wanting the intensity of working dogs such as a Border Collie or Aussie or the stunning smiles and personality of the spitz Samoyed, Teisha fell in love with Finnish Lapphunds who seemed the perfect balance of all of the above. This love was first ignited in 2014 when her friend brought their new Finnish Lapphund puppy, Finch, through the Puppy School she was running.
Four years later, in 2018, her dreams were realised when she brought home Asgard, bred by Varulv Kennels. Of course, who can stop at just one and in 2022, she brought home Seidr from Armahani Finnish Lapphunds.
Teisha enjoys as many activities as she can with her dogs including agility, tricks training, confirmation showing and relaxed trips out to markets and cafes.
As a professional dog trainer, she is passionate about promoting positive relationships between people and their dogs and is excited to contribute to the Finnish Lapphund community as part of the FLCV general committee.
General Committee Member – Caroline Anderson
Caroline has been a lifelong dog lover. After years of following the breed, the stars aligned and Caroline welcomed her heart dog Loki (born 2018) soon followed by Salla (born 2019). Caroline became immersed in the dog world, and enjoys conformation showing and various performance disciplines. Caroline also enjoys combining her career and passion in mental health with dogs, and has trained/bred a number of therapy dogs.
Caroline became a breeder under the prefix Aamurusko in 2022, and welcomed a litter later that year, from which she kept her third Finnish Lapphund, Sanna. She has travelled to Finland and Scandinavia a number of times, and on the most recent trip welcomed her fourth Lapphund, Oscar.
General Committee Member – Melissa Griffiths-Horvath
Mel had been interested in the breed for quite some time and got her first Finnish Lapphund Nanook in 2020! She loved the breed so much that she welcomed a second Finnish Lapphund, Meya in 2022!
Mel has competed in conformation shows and trick training. She is looking to advance in her trick training as well as compete in Rally in the near future. Nanook and Meya are also both therapy dogs, with Meya being a regular at our local hospital, visiting patients and making an enormous impact on their wellbeing.
When Mel is not training, she’s going on exciting day trips with the girls, they’re always on the look out for adventure or something fun to do (this includes snack hunting!).
Mel is looking forward to an exciting year with the club!