Southern Rhodesian Visits Fur Plant
Southern Rhodesian Visits Fur Plant
Courtesy Madera Daily Tribune
Thurs, May 23, 1968
Page 3
OAKHURST (TNS)-Guesting the Loyd Sullivans of Oakhurst while on a busman's holiday in the United States, has been a visitor from another continent-Douglas Frank Gillingham, chinchilla rancher of Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia.
A native of the British Isles, with more than six years of active duty with the Royal Navy in the Atlantic, Pacific, Middle and Far East theaters during WW II, he migrated with his family to the South African area some 20 years ago.
"It was not until 1954," Gillingham said, "That I started in chinchilla ranching, after a visit to Rhodesia by Clement J. DeChant of your Ahwahnee." "Actually," he added, "my first batch of animals was purchased from DeChant, who was the first chinchilla breeder to come down to our country, and information furnished him relative to the raising and breeding of the little animals was invaluable."
The Rhodesian, whose chinchilla herd numbers 1,000, mostly of the standard types, with a few mutations, also is a research and special services consultant with the minister of agriculture.
Gillingham, and Sullivan, who is owner and operator of the Sullivan Fur Dressing plant in Oakhurst, became aquainted when the latter toured Southern Rhodesian chinchilla installations in 1964.
"When I decided to holiday in your country" Gillingham said, "I scheduled a 'must' on my agenda-a visit to the Oakhurst chinchilla pelt production processing plant-one of the foremost globally, and which is the recipient of the major portion of Rhodesian-produced skins."
"And," he commented, "time spent here has been most beneficial in respect to the chinchillas, as I have learned so much from Sullivan, who, as is well known, is probably the world's leading pelt specialist and pelt show judge."
The South African rancher, who was accompanied on the Oakhurst safari by Miss Francis Prewett, daughter of Fred Prewett of Watsonville, an official of the United Chinchilla Association, and a widely-known chinchilla show judge and breeder, will visit installations in southern California, Illinois, Indiana, and New York, before returning to Rhodesia.
"My trip throughout, has enhanced my knowledge of the chinchilla, very educational," Gillingham said. "Too, I am impressed tremendously with the hospitality shown by you Americans, and I shall look forward to another visit to these shores, particularly, the west coast."