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This week was a relatively quiet one in budgerigars across South Australia, as club activities start to wind down in the lead up to Christmas and many members turn their attention to family, holidays, and the breeding room. While the show calendar is easing, there is still plenty happening behind the scenes as we look ahead to the next few years of National events and club activities.
On Monday evening, the ANBC Working Group came together to discuss the 2026 and 2027 National Shows, which will be hosted on the Gold Coast and in Canberra, respectively. The meeting focused on a range of operational matters, including sponsorship opportunities, budget planning, and the logistics that go into running events of this scale. A key topic of conversation was how to transition more of the onus of the National Show back to the Working Group, ensuring a consistent framework that can support future host states and zones. In particular, there was an emphasis on paving the way for Western Australia’s hosting responsibilities in 2028, with the Working Group looking at how best to share knowledge, documentation, and planning tools. The group also confirmed plans for future meetings to review and finalise Hall of Famers Service Award banner photos, making sure the presentation of these honours remains fitting for the calibre of the recipients.
Close Coded Club Rings were also posted out on Monday, and many of you will have received them by now. Hopefully a few of you have already managed to ring some 2026 chicks, making the most of the early hatch dates. Getting those early youngsters rung and on the perch now will help maximise their age and development before their eligible Nationals in Canberra in 2027. For those still waiting on the next round of eggs to hatch, now is a good time to update breeding records, and plan which pairings you hope will produce your future show team.
On Wednesday evening, the North East committee came together for an electronic meeting – their final gathering for 2025. While it wasn’t a face-to-face catch-up, the online format allowed for the tie up of any loose ends, and finalise activities for Club meetings for the first half of 2026. These end-of-year meetings are a great chance to reflect on successes, identify areas to improve, and acknowledge the work of volunteers who keep meetings, shows, and auctions running smoothly.
Port Pirie has also announced that, due to a date clash, they will be moving their AGM to 18 January. One of the key priorities for Port Pirie heading into 2026 is identifying a new Show Manager to support their events. The role of Show Manager is vital in coordinating schedules, liaising with judges, managing entries, and ensuring show days run to time and in line with welfare and show standards. Members who are organised, enjoy working with people, and want to give something back to the hobby are strongly encouraged to consider putting their hand up or have a conversation with the committee. With the quieter weeks of December upon us, it’s an ideal time to think about how you might contribute in 2026, whether that’s on the committee, helping on show day, mentoring newer exhibitors, or simply being more involved at club level. |
