Alpaca Isabella and baby

Question: “Why do alpacas hum?” Answer: “Because they don’t know the words.” That and many other riddles were answered yesterday during the week’s most unusual morning tea, held  at the Montessori Pre-School Red Hill, where  mild-mannered Mother alpaca Isabella, from Lualto Alpacas in Yass,  brought her six-week-old unnamed cria (baby boy) to meet the children.

With a chocolate cake inscribed with a picture of an alpaca and lots of alpaca apparel on show, it was a way of introducing the Alpaca Expo in Canberra, coming to EPIC in May.

Alpaca breeder Greg Crease, convenor of the Expo, was on hand with  TV vet  Michael  Archinal to answer searching question from the press and children about alpacas, distantly related to the camel but much better-natured, as was evident from all the patting and sympathetic humming by the children.

The Expo is aimed at adults and children, and is for amateurs and professional breeders. There will be more than 200 alpacas for sale, exhibited by more than 30 alpaca studs from NSW and Victoria. But a warning for eager parents and children – don’t buy an alpaca for a pet unless you have serious acreage.

Located under one roof at the Fitzroy Pavilion will be  will be  demonstrations, information sessions, shearing,  fleece classing,  felting and spinning displays, fashions, home wares,  yarns and fleeces For serious prospective alpaca raisers there will also be an opportunity to speak with the most experienced alpaca breeders in the country.

Apart from all the serious exhibits, it will be fun, with  a  nursery for mother and baby alpacas, a colouring-in competition and a “name the baby alpaca” contest, with alpaca products as prizes. I’m too old to enter, but, considering Spanish history,  I’d call the baby “Ferdinand.” The children at Montessori were opting for “Oliver.”

The Alpaca Expo in Canberra, Fitzroy Pavilion,  Exhibition Park, May 19-20, 10am-4pm, admission free. All information at  www.southernalpaca.com.au