This week, the North East Budgerigar Society (NEBS) held their annual Christmas party at the hotel Windsor. The event was very well attended, with 24 members and guests present. BCSA delegate Nigel Tonkin was in attendance, and had this to offer:

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the NEBS committee for hosting such a wonderful Christmas Function at the Windsor Hotel.  The evening was not only well attended and well organised, but also a great initiative with the motto “we are giving back to the members” by having the NEBS generously covering the evening meal for members along with the many Kris Kringle presents. Over twenty members with partners joined in the celebration, and I found myself seated at what could be called the head — or perhaps the tail — of the table, with Kelwyn Kakoschke and Ken Harris on either side of me. The conversations flowed, not so much about budgerigars this time, but about Asian cuisine and the joys of setting up nest boxes in the Adelaide Hills attracting Adelaide Rosellas, Eastern Rosellas, and the ever-present Rainbow Lorikeets to breed around our respective properties. Kelwyn, who was instrumental in the establishment of the NEBS Society 50 years ago, could not believe that that 50-year milestone was met this year, show wise. Catching up with past members along the lines of Budgie Bill + Kate  Davis and Ian Marshall then meeting new members and partners was in itself a bonus.  Don’t ask me to recall their names, not my best skill. Con offered a sincere overview of the committee’s vision of giving back to the membership, made possible by the healthy returns from this year’s online auctions. He sees this generosity as an opportunity to strengthen and grow the Society by supporting those who, in turn, support it.

For our hard copy Chatter subscribers, we hope Australia Post has successfully delivered your magazine this week, despite the flurry of Christmas cards and last-minute parcels moving through the system in the lead-up to the big day.

Looking ahead, keep an eye out for your 2026 rings, which will be available for postage or collection from Monday 15 December. It’s the perfect time to start planning your pairings for the New Year and make sure you’re well set up for the coming breeding season.

Our next formal gathering from one of the Club’s will be the North East, with a Sunday afternoon lunch and aviary tour at the home of Beau and Kate Schutz in Cherry Gardens on Sunday 11 January. This will be a great opportunity to catch up after the Christmas and New Year rush, enjoy some hospitality, and see a successful stud in full swing. Beau is in a breeding partnership with Nigel Tonkin, and the Tonkin–Schutz birds will be on show, giving members a chance to view the type and style they are developing and to ask questions about their approach. January will also see the Port Pirie Club hold its AGM at the Port Broughton Hotel, providing members with a chance to reflect on the year that’s been and set the direction for the year ahead.

The BCSA understands that the BSSA will be holding their final auction for 2025 next week, rounding out the year on a strong note.

It is also recommended that all attendees consider making their general accommodation and travel bookings at this time to avoid disappointment.