For 30 years, Rachel Sydenham has been a rat keeper and breeder, and now she serves as judge for the rat entries at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. The event, run by the NSW Fancy Rodent Society, brings together a dedicated community of rodent enthusiasts.
Sydenham carefully examines each rat, looking for 'happy, healthy, functional and friendly' animals. She observes their physical appearance and temperament, and if comfortable, she will handle them to see how they interact. 'Working with rats is a bit like working with children … They're jokesters,' she says.
Among the entrants is Sam Dittmer, who has bred mice for 15 years and currently owns about 75. His mouse, Twisted Whiskaz Xero, was crowned grand champion mouse after placing first in the patchwork mouse category. Twisted Whiskaz Megan Fox, exhibited by Hollie Winter, came second overall as champion.
The grand champion rat title went to nine-month-old Lucy Lou Ragamuffin, exhibited by Sandra McLean. McLean, 79, started the hobby after finding three baby rats in her shed. 'I just fell in love with rats,' she says. 'You can interact with a rat and they'll interact with you … Who couldn't fall in love with that face?'
McLean now has about 40 rats at home and has been competing since 2013. She notes that while rats may not have long lives, they bring great joy. Sydenham, who has at least 30 rats, says they are addictive: 'They're like Pokémon. You've got to catch them all.'
