On Sunday, the Port Pirie Budgerigar Society (PPBS) gathered for its AGM. It was one of those days that feels less like a meeting and more like a quiet marker in the season, where the paperwork gets done, the next year starts taking shape, and the club spirit reminds you why you keep turning up.

Set against the easy charm of Port Broughton on the Yorke Peninsula, the function room on the water couldn’t have suited the occasion better. There’s something about being near the ocean that slows everyone down a touch. The kind of place where conversation lingers a little longer, and you find yourself slipping into stories from “back when” before you even realise it. The turnout was strong, with plenty of familiar faces in the room.

The formalities ran smoothly, with Doug Lange confirmed as President, Jason Longbottom as Secretary, and Ruth Lange taking on Treasurer. The club also locked in some crucial roles for the season ahead, with Tony Van Den Brink generously stepping forward to take on the Show Manager position. Doug and Ruth will also share the Ring Officer duties between them, ensuring that vital side of club operations stays in good hands. The meeting saw Peter Glassenbury step away from his formal committee responsibilities for the first time in a long time, and Peter received a rousing applause for his efforts across the years.

Once the business was ticked off and the last of the formal motions were put to bed, the mood shifted in the best way, straight into a hearty feed from the local pub. Plates arrived, chairs scraped back, and the room loosened into the part everyone secretly comes for: the chatter. Before long, talk turned to the birds, as it always does, and the stories began rolling through the table like they’d been waiting all day to be told.

There were updates on 2025-bred hopefuls, quiet confidence from a few, a bit of laughter over the ones that “looked the goods” and then decided otherwise, and plenty of that familiar optimism that comes when the next show season feels just close enough to reach. The conversation carried an unmistakable edge of excitement too, because the bigger picture is already in sight: the 2026 South Australian team, bound for the ANBC Nationals on the Gold Coast in May. You could feel it in the way people spoke with that mix of pride and possibility as members compared notes, swapped ideas, and looked ahead to what might just come together over the months to follow.

It was, in every sense, a classic club gathering: the roles filled, the work shared, the laughs easy, and the passion for the birds sitting right at the centre of it all. The kind of afternoon that leaves you driving home feeling a little more connected to the hobby, to the people, and to the season ahead.

The meeting carried a clear focus: looking ahead to the State Championships in May, and what needs to be happening right now if birds are going to be at their peak when it counts. Not in theory. Not in “good intentions.” In practical, week-by-week steps — the sort of advice that comes from years of wins, near-misses, and the lessons you only learn when you’ve stood behind a row of show cages watching the judge pause, or worst still, walk straight past.

Club stalwart John Mulley took the floor and, in his usual calm and experienced way, walked members through a full 12-week preparation process designed to give birds the best possible chance on the bench in May. It wasn’t rushed, and it wasn’t complicated for the sake of sounding clever. It was the kind of structured, sensible roadmap that makes you think, “Right — I can actually do this properly this year.”

John began where the smart preparation always starts: twelve weeks out, with strategies around tail management. Anyone who has campaigned young birds knows how quickly a season can unravel when a tail drops or a feather goes wrong at the worst possible time. That early timing isn’t just a suggestion, it’s insurance. It’s the difference between turning up with a bird that’s finished, balanced, and complete and turning up still hoping a primary feather “might come down.”

From there, the conversation shifted into March and the management of moulting. March is that tricky window where nature does what it wants, unless you’ve got a plan. John shared mechanisms and strategies that help guide birds through that period so they’re not caught mid-change when the big shows arrive. Then came April, the month that separates the prepared from the hopefuls. April’s focus is feeding the feather, steady conditioning, and all the quiet, consistent work that doesn’t look like much day-to-day, but adds up to birds on the bench in May looking at home.

John also spent time on the side of show prep that’s easy to overlook until it comes back to haunt you: show cage training. A good bird that won’t perch, sits low, or panics under lights can lose more in a minute than you can fix in a month. With the kind of “been there, done that” detail that members always appreciate, he shared practical tips for getting birds comfortable, confident, and consistent in the show cage. John also shared a few clever ideas to encourage birds to perch properly, so they present their best shape when the judge comes down the line.

By the end of the night, it felt like everyone walked out with a clearer picture of the road ahead. Not just a vague motivation to “get ready”, but a proper timeline — tails, moult, feather, training, presentation and the quiet confidence that comes when you know what needs doing, and when.

It was a classic NEBS night practical, forward-looking, and grounded in experience. The kind of meeting that reminds you that the winners in May aren’t made in May, they’re made on nights like this, in the weeks when the work is still calm, and the best decisions are still available.

But the main point of focus on the night was a practical one, and an important one: clearly defining the date from which rings can be posted out to fanciers. The ANBC ring issue date remains 1 January each year, and while everyone is eager to get organised early, clubs are only permitted to post rings to members from 15 December onwards, not before.

Finally, the BCSA also locked in a venue for its 30th anniversary celebrations in April — a milestone that’s already starting to feel very real. Campbelltown Council has kindly made Max Amber Community Hall in Athelstone available for the festivities, giving the club a great home base to mark the occasion properly. Nic Hayes from Media Stable is now turning his attention to securing some entertainment for the afternoon, and once that’s bedded down, we’ll be in a position to confirm the final booking details.

This Sunday, the North East Budgerigar Society will be getting together for their lunch and aviary visit at the home of Beau Schutz from the Schutz–Tonkin partnership. This is one of those club days that always seems to land at just the right time, when everyone’s keen for a bit of face-to-face chat and a look at what’s happening in the flights.

The much-anticipated Greek-inspired spit has unfortunately been shelved this time around, with the weather forecast sitting at 33 degrees for Sunday. In true NEBS fashion though, the plan has simply shifted rather than stopped. The BBQ will be firing instead, with lamb chops, sausages and onions, alongside Greek salad and rice salad, and a few desserts to finish things off properly. At this stage, 29 people have confirmed they’re coming, a terrific turnout, and it’s still not too late for anyone keen to join in and spend the day with the members.

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