Welcome to This Week’s Budgie Bulletin!
There was a wonderful quote from our Premier Peter Malinauskas yesterday, which really encompasses so many things about South Australia at the moment. “There is a feeling of confidence that South Australia is an exciting, thriving place to be. Second-year blues come when people take their foot off the pedal. We’ve done the exact opposite. We are pretty confident about back-to-back premierships here.” Thankfully, Premier Malinauskas was talking about the State as a whole, and not the plight of one or more of our local football teams. The interest and enthusiasm we’d have for Budgie Fest 2.0 has been really heartwarming, and it promises to deliver an exciting event for South Australia. From all accounts, the team behind Budgie Fest are going to deliver something that is bigger and better than our inaugural event in 2023, so we too are “pretty confident about back-to-back premierships” here. In the coming weeks, we’ll begin to introduce you to the companies who have partnered with purpose with the BCSA in supporting Budgie Fest 2024.
Looking around this great State, on Tuesday evening, the BSSA conducted their monthly event, featuring a presentation by Dr. Marijke Mellor from the Unusual Pet Vets. Dr. Mellor discussed parasites in budgerigars, focusing on mites and worms. The session included practical, hands-on inspections of the attendees’ birds, offering valuable insights into monitoring and maintaining the health of their own flocks. The event was highly successful, attracting a significant number of enthusiasts, including several new members, indicating a strong community interest and engagement in avian health.
This weekend will likely be all feathers and football: where the AFL Gather Round meets the flutter round, as the Budgerigar Show Season kicks off with the Murphy Classic Future Champions Show. This show is for our Novice and Intermediate breeders only and promises to be a great day out with some excellent prize money on offer. From all reports, over 200 birds have been entered for Major Awards judge Wayne Weidenhofer to cast his eye over and choose the future champions.
Next week, on April 10th, the North East Budgerigar Society are hosting their 50th birthday celebrations. Wood fired pizza will be served from 6 PM, and official festivities will kick off at 7:30 PM. Iconic South Australian media identity, Graeme Goodings, will take the audience on a nostalgic journey through what’s happened in South Australia over the 50 years that NEBS has been in existence, for what promises to be a brilliant event. A 50-year almanac has been developed, detailing much of the NEBS history – get along to this event for your only access to a FREE copy. The Club is encouraging everyone to bring along their partners and are asking for participation from the entire South Australian budgerigar community – it will be a night not to be missed.
Moving our attention interstate, there wasn’t a lot of activity on the show scene, with most fanciers taking stock over the Easter Long Weekend. April is a month typically reserved for budgerigars shedding feathers and moulting, as they move between the warmth of summer, in preparation for the impending winter. For this reason, Australia wide, our show schedule is fairly sparse, with the BSSA Future Champions Show, the Toowoomba Show in QLD the following weekend, and the Wollongong Avi Society Show in NSW rounding out April. This is of course before mad-May, where budgerigar shows are on at multiple venues, in multiple states, in the lead up to the National titles on May 25th and 26th in Launceston.
Looking even further abroad, the Budgerigar Society in the UK made an announcement on our Wednesday that the BS General Council, in conjunction with the BS Club Show Committee, has taken the decision to postpone the 2024 BS Club Show. It is intended to combine the next Club Show with the 100th Anniversary event in 2025. Further details, including date and venue, will follow once the arrangements have been made.
Bringing our gaze back to domestic shores, and to pets in general here in Australia, a reminder that the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy is being developed. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has commenced public consultation on the renewing of the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy (AAWS). The objective is providing a framework for a national approach to animal welfare in Australia. The AAWS will include nearly all animals. It will be released in chapters, each dedicated to one of 6 animal groups, with the final strategy expected in 2027. More information is available using the link below:
|
|
| As detailed last week, as valued stakeholders (budgerigar keepers), you are invited to share your views and insights on the challenges and opportunities for animal welfare in Australia through a series of survey questions on the departments Have Your Say platform using the link below. The Have Your Say Survey closes AEST 4pm Monday 20 May 2024. |
|
| In other news, we’ve peeked some of your interest in the new BCSA polos. Our hope is to be able to show you these at the Logan Shield in May, as our bird carers will wear these official tops representing South Australia at the ANBC National Titles in Launceston.
If you like what you see, send us an expression of interest using the link below. |
|
 |
| Proposed 2024 Bird Carer’s Shirts |
|
|
Moving our focus to Auctions, the BSSA are back this week with Auction 9 for 2024. In addition, the Hunter Valley Budgerigar Society are running an online auction, and this Saturday will see the live Wynnum Showcase Auction held in Queensland.
|
|
|
This week highlights two notable online events, culminating in the much-anticipated Wynnum Redlands Showcase Live Auction next weekend. The online lineup includes BSSA Auction 9, and the Hunter Valley Budgerigar Society (HVBS) Auction 9.
|
|
BSSA Auction 9: Currently underway and set to conclude on April 7th, BSSA Auction 9 for 2024 showcases 18 exquisite lots of budgies. To that end, breeders like Jane Kelb, Marie & Kerry Murphy, Wayne Cachia, Ken & Janet Harris, and Doug Lange are making birds available. Additionally, BSSA Auction 9 for 2024 features a diverse array of varieties, including White caps, Spangles, Spangle Double Factors, Recessive Pied’s, Cinnamon’s, Opaline’s, Greywing’s, Normals, and Dominant Pied’s.
To check out the birds on offer, use the link below:
|
|
Hunter Valley Budgerigar Society (HVBS) Sale: Currently, this auction, Hunter Budgerigar Auction 9, is showcasing an exquisite selection of budgerigars. To that end, it features Cobalts, Dominant Pieds, Opaline Cinnamons, Lacewings, Spangles, Normals, and Yellowfaces. Moreover, HVBS are thrilled to offer a special item for bird enthusiasts: a copy of Rob Marshall’s esteemed book, “The Budgerigar.” Esteemed vendors for this event include notable breeders Craig Barnett, Wally Capper, Trent, and Kelly Hill.
To check out the birds on offer, use the link below:
|
|
Wynnum Redlands Showcase Live Auction: One of, if not the, best auctions in the top half of the country, Wynnum always attracts quality budgerigars, and 2024 will be no exception. The event will happen live on Saturday, April 6th, 2024 at the Assembly Hall on Smith St, Cleveland. Birds from 24 different vendors will be on offer, across 164 lots. For inquiries, please reach out to Trevor Broadbent at 0407 323 622 or Bill & Pat Sedgwick at 07 3396 8732 or 0413 960 396, or via email at [email protected].
A link to the catalogue is provided below:
|
|
|
Club events for the month of April are underway, with the Murphy Classic Future Champions Show, and 50th Anniversary of the North East Budgerigar Society up next.
|
|
BSSA Murphy Future Champions Show: Join the BSSA for the Novice and Intermediate Show for 2024. Great prize money on offer, and lots of fun to be had. Over 200 birds on show – open to the public from 11:30 AM to 1 PM, Sunday April 7th @ Goodwood Memorial Hall, 388 Goodwood Road, Westbourne Park.
More details available on the link below.
|
|
North East Monthly Meeting:
Mark your calendars for Wednesday April 10th, as the North East celebrates 50 years! Plans are now in place and the 50-year anniversary booklet reviewing the club’s history. All current members, past members, and members of other clubs are welcome. Wood fired pizza will be served from 6.00pm onwards. Meeting will be opened at 7.30pm, Kelwyn Kakoschke as a Co-Founder of NEBS will speak on the early days. The night will feature media identity Graeme Goodings, who will present a nostalgic look at South Australia between 1974 and 2024, covering the 50 years that NEBS has existed. There is something of interest for partners of breeders as well, and supper will follow. The North East would love to see the entire South Australian budgerigar community there to celebrate.
|
|
North East Fundraising – Lucky Squares:
In order to help fund the 50th Birthday celebrations, the North East Budgerigar Society are delighted to offer this Dominant Pied Opaline Grey Hen bred by Troy Holmes as their Lucky Squares Prize, as part of their 50th Anniversary celebrations. She is Ring Number HOL 23/096, and a maiden hen, born in the later half of 2023. She is a half sister to some of Troy’s very best birds, including numerous National representatives. Her siblings will from an important part of the 2024 Show Team. For those who know Troy’s birds, the sire is a Super Opaline Grey split Lacewing Cock. Similarly, those who know Troy may also know that had he provided this description, a small forest may have been sacrificed in paper. In fact, earlier this year, the Colac catalogue may have been 3 pages shorter, had Troy not provided a short novel on the background of each bird.
Moving on, tickets can be bought by contacting Ian Wise either through Facebook Messenger, emailing [email protected] or texting 0437 591843. The tickets are $10 each and payments can be made by transferring to North East Budgerigar Society BSB 105146 Account number 547328040 and use your surname as the Reference to be able to reconcile your payment. The prize will be drawn at the NEBS 50th Celebration meeting on Wed 10th April 2024.
The link below will take you to a direct email to Ian.
|
|
North East Lloyd Edwards Breeder Show
The Lloyd Edwards Breeder Show was named in recognition of its Life Member and President over twenty-three continuous years from 1994-2017. Lloyd was also the NEBS inaugural delegate to the BCSA when it formed in 1996. His tireless promotion of the exhibition budgerigar extended to regional areas where for many years he convened the budgerigar events at the Gawler and Clare Agricultural Shows. Sadly, Lloyd passed away early in 2024.
The Lloyd Edwards breeder show details for 2024 have been released and are available on the BCSA website by following the link below.
|
|
Budgerigar Council of Tasmania Updates:
Tomorrow marks 7 weeks until the National titles kick off in Launceston, and 6 weeks on Sunday until the Logan Shield. The ANBC Nationals are set to take place at the Country Club Resort, Launceston, Tasmania, from May 24th to 27th, 2024. Book your stay at the Country Club Resort or the nearby Villas. Book online or by phone at 1800 635 344, quoting the Group National Budgerigar Show 2024. For those flying in, Launceston Airport to the venue is approximately 15 km or a 13-minute drive. For those coming across on the Spirit Of Tasmania Terminal, from the Devonport Airport to the venue is 96 km, or roughly a 1-hour drive.
|
|
BCT Nationals Lucky Squares Fundraising:
Thanks to those supporting the BCT fundraising raffles. The current raffle features a pair of birds from South Australia’s own Beau Schutz and Nigel Tonkin. Tickets are $10, available by contacting Dale Ward at 0488 400 369 or [email protected]. For raffle payments, use the BCT account details (BSB 067024, Account Number: 1010 7552) and follow the specific narration instructions for ticket purchase confirmation. Prize collection or transport will be arranged with the donors.
|
|
This weekend will likely be all feathers and football: where the AFL Gather Round meets the flutter round, as the Show Season kicks off. We’re very excited at the prospect of seeing so many of you over the weekend at the Murphy Classic Future Champions Show, and on Wednesday night at the North East 50th celebrations.
Until next week.
|
|
- Sunday, 7 April 2024, BSSA Murphy Classic, Westbourne Park Community Centre – 388 Goodwood Road Westbourne Park
May
- Sunday, 5 May 2024, BSSA Stan Watson Breeder’s Show, Westbourne Park Community Centre – 388 Goodwood Road Westbourne Park
- Saturday, 11 May 2024, NEBS Lloyd Edwards Breeder Show,49 LeHunte St, Kilburn
- Sunday, 12 May 2024, PPBS Harry Johnson Young Bird Show, Crystal Brook Council Hall
- Sunday, 19 May 2024, BCSA Logan Shield Interbranch, Enfield Community Centre, Regency Road, Enfield
- Saturday, 25 May 2024, ANBC National Titles, Launceston, Tasmania
- Sunday, 26 May 2024, ANBC National Titles, Launceston, Tasmania
June
- Saturday, 22 June 2024, NEBS Fisher Annual Show, 49 LeHunte St, Kilburn
- Sunday, 30 June 2024, PPBS Hutchinson’s Annual Show, Crystal Brook Council Hall
July
- Sunday, 7 July 2024, BSSA Ron Norman Show, Westbourne Park Community Centre –388 Goodwood Road Westbourne Park
- Saturday, 20 July 2024, BCSA Auction & AGM, Enfield Community Centre, Regency Road, Enfield
October
- Saturday, 26 October 2024 – Budgie Fest
- Sunday, 10 November 2024 – BSSA/NEBS Interclub 2024, Westbourne Park Community Centre –388 Goodwood Road Westbourne Park
|
|
|
|
|
