HONORS ROLL

RRCQ CLUB PATRON

LATE MICHAEL (MJ) CAVE

1946 – 2023

Mike was often seen around the show ring at Durack. He enjoyed going to Durack not just to watch the dogs, but he loved talking with people. He would walk around and there was never a shortage of people who would stop for a chat with him, or you would hear friendly greetings, “Hi Mike, how are you?”

Mike had a great appreciation and love of all dogs. He bred Bull Terriers, and owned Bull Terriers, a Greyhound, and Basenjis.

After senior high school Mike went to Queensland University and studied to be a vet, however when it came to using a microscope it was discovered he had a rare eye condition that prevented him clearly seeing through a microscope, so he reluctantly gave up on his dream to become a vet. Despite his rare eye condition, Mike had 20/20 vision.

After university he worked for the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) for many years. When he wasn’t breeding Bull Terriers, his other passion was rally cars. He owned a rally car, but he didn’t drive them in races, but he did participate in many races with his cars. He retired from the ABS in his mid-fifties and then bought a taxi and drove for himself with another driver.

When Mike wasn’t at the show ring he loved to play cards every week and played a sharp game of 500. Mike was Patron of the Rhodesian Ridgeback Club for many years, and also a Patron and Vice-President for Basenji Breed Network Queensland Club. Mike was also a Hounds, Terriers, and Working Dogs judge.

In 2019 Mike along with Louise Marsden, Ethel Blair, and David Havig became Founding Board Directors of the RainShine Foundation Australia (USA and Democratic Republic of Congo). This charity’s mission is working in Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) in community rural development. He became involved in this charity all because of a dog – the Basenji. The Basenji breed originated in northern DR Congo and Southern Sudan and is connected to the Azande people.

Throughout 2022 Mike was championing a RainShine project to build an airstrip in a very remote area of DR Congo to improve access to several villages so they could receive medical and emergency equipment. Another project that Mike was passionate about was to improve the provisioning of medical care to the people living in remote areas of DR Congo.

Sadly, Mike passed away shortly before the 2023 National and in honur of Mike, the ring was named after him.

LIFE MEMBERS

• Anne Ifield

• Cyndy Burton