John’s presentation explored the fascinating subject of why green budgerigars are green, explaining the genetics behind how we see colour in our birds. Using an overhead presentation, John demonstrated how different genes, together with the effects of light, influence the colours we see in a budgerigar’s feathers. He also explained the role of melanin in determining feather markings, from black and brown through to the absence of markings altogether, along with how green or blue suffusion can sometimes appear in otherwise yellow or white birds.

John then turned his attention to ‘Understanding the Matrix’, one of the most important sections of the ANBC Standard, particularly for newer exhibitors. He explained how to use the Matrix from the bottom upwards to correctly identify the class in which a bird should be entered at a show. Importantly, John reinforced the correct terminology when describing a bird, placing the variety before the colour, such as Spangle Opaline Cinnamonwing Sky. Some valuable information for our Novices, and probably a useful refresher for a few of the more experienced exhibitors as well!

The evening’s Unbroken Cap Show was judged by Graham Alchin, who took the time to explain his placings and the qualities he considered when assessing the birds. Congratulations to John Mulley, who took out first place with a Recessive Pied, followed by Patrick O’Rourke in second with a Yellow Faced Sky Blue, and Steve Wharton in third with another Yellow Faced Sky Blue. All three placegetters received gift cards and well done to everyone who supported the night show by bringing along their young birds.

The raffle also provided a few happy winners, with Vicki Stanford taking home the meat tray, while Graham Alchin and John Mulley each collected a bottle of wine. A particularly successful night for John, delivering the presentation, collecting first place on the show bench, and picking up a raffle prize!

Members rounded out the evening with supper and plenty of conversation about their birds, breeding programs, and what everyone has been up to in their aviaries.

NEBS President Con Orfanos said, “It was pleasing to see members continuing to support these evenings. The night shows are a great opportunity to get birds on the bench, compare progress in the breeding room, and enjoy some friendly competition. Thanks to everyone who attended, exhibited birds, and supported the raffle.”

A big thank you to John Mulley for sharing his knowledge, Graham Alchin for judging and providing feedback, and everyone who contributed to another enjoyable North East meeting. These evenings are what club life is all about, combining education, friendly competition, and the opportunity to catch up with fellow enthusiasts.

Some pictures of the evening are featured below.

On Monday evening, the Australian National Budgerigar Council (ANBC) met, with four motions considered by delegates representing the seven States & Zones. The meeting delivered one significant change to the future of the ANBC National Championships, while three other proposals failed to gain the necessary support.

The first motion, submitted by North Queensland and seconded by South Australia, proposed moving the annual ring issue date to 1 September, commencing in 2028. Despite receiving four votes in favour and three against, the motion was lost, having failed to achieve the required 75% majority.

The second motion, also from North Queensland and seconded by South Queensland, proposed moving the ANBC National Championships to late July or early August commencing with the South Australian event in 2029. This motion was carried convincingly, with six Zones voting in favour and just one against. This represents a significant change to the timing of our National Championships and will require future host Zones and exhibitors to plan accordingly.

The third motion proposed recognising ANBC judges in the Judges’ Hall of Fame upon reaching seven National judging appointments. With two votes in favour and five against, the motion was lost. It was agreed that nothing prevents a judge from being nominated for the Service Division as it stands (entry does not have to be automatic).

The final motion, submitted by Budgerigar Society of NSW and seconded by North Queensland, sought to introduce a dedicated Normal Olive and Normal Mauve class at the National Championships. The vote was three in favour, three against, with one abstention, resulting in the motion being lost.

Importantly, the first two motions were classified as matters of Major Significance, meaning they required a 75% majority to pass. Under ANBC rules, accepted motions of Major Significance are also subject to a five-year restriction on amendments or variations, providing stability for decisions affecting the ongoing operations of Council.

The key outcome is that the annual ring issue date remains unchanged and will be so for the next 5 years as a minimum, and only then can any potential submission for change be considered at that time, while the ANBC National Championships will move to late July or early August from 2029. This is a significant development for our hobby, with implications for breeding programs, show preparation, and the planning of future National events. It will also impact Auction timing, pre-selection Young Bird shows, and other matters.

Interstate News – Henry George Retires After a Remarkable Judging Career

The South Queensland Budgerigar Judges Association (SQBJA) has announced the retirement of one of Australia’s most respected and long-serving budgerigar judges, Henry George, who will celebrate his 90th birthday in November.

Henry’s judging career spans more than four decades, having commenced his journey in 1979 when he successfully completed his judge’s school with the Sandgate Cage Bird Society. His dedication to the hobby saw him achieve accreditation as an ANBC National Judge in 1991, before receiving his first National Championship judging appointment on the Gold Coast in 1992.

Over the following years, Henry went on to judge at a further five ANBC National Championships, including Victoria in 1997, New South Wales in 2004, Western Australia in 2008, Victoria again in 2012, and New South Wales in 2018. Six National judging appointments is a tremendous achievement, and a reflection of the respect Henry has earned throughout the Australian budgerigar fancy.

His contribution has extended well beyond the judging bench. Henry also served as an examiner for the ANBC Judges Committee, helping educate and assess future judges, while his experience and knowledge saw him undertake international judging appointments at World Budgerigar Organisation (WBO) events.

Henry will officially hang up his judging stick and paddle at this weekend’s ABS Show on Sunday 18 October 2026, bringing to a close a remarkable judging career.

SQBJA Secretary Neale Love paid tribute to Henry’s outstanding contribution, acknowledging his dedication, experience, and the important role he has played in the development of exhibition budgerigar judging over so many years.

On behalf of the South Australian budgerigar community, we extend our congratulations and sincere appreciation to Henry for his many years of service to the hobby. Reaching 90 years of age and still contributing to the judging fraternity is an achievement in itself, let alone having enjoyed such a distinguished career at State, National and International level. We wish Henry all the very best in his retirement and a very happy 90th birthday next month. A wonderful contribution to the budgerigar fancy, and certainly a career worthy of recognition.

International News – New Venue and Date Announced for the 2027 Budgerigar Society Club Show

Exciting news from the United Kingdom, with The Budgerigar Society announcing a significant change to its annual Club Show, confirming a new venue and date for 2027 and beyond.

The 2027 Budgerigar Society Club Show will take place from Friday 11 June through to Sunday 13 June 2027, at the impressive Lilleshall National Sports Centre in Shropshire, England. The announcement marks a new chapter for one of the most prestigious events on the international exhibition budgerigar calendar.

In making the announcement, the Society’s General Council acknowledged the continued support of members and sponsors, recognising that their commitment has been instrumental in securing the new venue and ensuring the future of the Club Show weekend.

The decision follows feedback and constructive discussions with members about the future direction of the event. The General Council has indicated that it has listened carefully to these suggestions and considered how the Club Show can continue to evolve while maintaining its long-standing traditions and significance within the hobby.

The new venue, Lilleshall National Sports Centre, is a nationally recognised sporting and conference facility, offering extensive amenities and infrastructure. The Society believes the facilities are well suited to an event of this standing, providing an opportunity to further enhance the experience for exhibitors, visitors, sponsors, and the wider budgerigar community.

Naturally, a change of this magnitude will raise questions amongst members, and the General Council has committed to providing further information and clarification over the coming weeks as arrangements progress.

For Australian exhibitors and enthusiasts who follow the international budgerigar scene, this is certainly an interesting development. The Budgerigar Society Club Show has long been a major event on the international calendar, and it will be interesting to see how the new location and timing shape the event in the years ahead.

Further details about the venue and its facilities can be found at https://www.lilleshallnsc.co.uk/.

We wish The Budgerigar Society every success as it prepares for this exciting new chapter in the history of its Club Show.

This Sunday, all budgerigar roads lead to Maitland, for the annual pilgrimage to Doug & Ruth Lange’s. The Port Pirie Budgerigar Society will be holding its next meeting, with a Mini Show planned to add a little friendly competition to the afternoon.

Members are encouraged to bring along their birds and support what promises to be an enjoyable event. Each member can enter up to five adult 2026 rung birds and five Unbroken Cap (UBC) birds, providing a great opportunity to put some of this year’s youngsters on the bench and see how they compare.

Entry is just $1 per bird, with the money collected to be distributed amongst the winners, depending on the number of birds entered. A little added incentive to bring along your best birds and have a crack at the prizes!

To assist with staging arrangements, members are asked to let Doug Lange know how many birds they intend to bring along by today (Friday 16th of October). This will help ensure sufficient cages and space are available on the day.

These smaller club shows are a terrific opportunity to assess your breeding progress, enjoy some friendly rivalry, and catch up with fellow enthusiasts. Let’s see a good turnout of birds and members supporting the Port Pirie club this Sunday!

Looking ahead to November, the BSSA and NEBS are preparing for the November 1000 – Interclub 26 Show, scheduled for Sunday 15 November 2026 at the Ascot Park Scout Hall. The show schedule is now available, and exhibitors are encouraged to start planning their entries for what promises to be an enjoyable day of competition between the two clubs.

The show is open exclusively to Green 2026 rung birds, with the schedule aligned to the ANBC Class Schedule. This provides an opportunity for exhibitors to earn valuable status movement points, provided sufficient numbers of exhibitors and entries are benched on the day.

The event will also serve as the annual Interclub competition between the BSSA and NEBS, adding a little friendly rivalry to proceedings. With bragging rights on the line, both clubs will be looking for strong support from their members to ensure a competitive showing.

Of course, the ongoing Bird Flu situation remains a consideration, and organisers will continue to monitor developments, with any necessary adjustments to be made closer to the event. In the meantime, members are encouraged to review the schedule, select their birds, and plan their entries. Hopefully, we will see a strong turnout from both clubs for this important event on the South Australian budgerigar calendar.

BSSA Auction 21 for 2026 is underway, featuring six quality budgerigars from BSSA Life Members Chris Murphy and Marie & Kerry Murphy. It’s an all-Murphy affair this time around, with a selection of popular varieties including Cinnamonwings, Dominant Pieds, Lacewings, Opaline Cinnamonwings, Recessive Pieds and Spangle Opalines. Bidding commenced on Monday 12 October and concludes this Sunday 18 October at 7:00 PM ACDT. Be sure to take a look at the birds on offer and get your bids in before the auction closes!

The NB4 Budgerigar Auction October 2026 is underway, with Nash Beniamin offering another opportunity for breeders and exhibitors to introduce quality birds and new bloodlines into their aviaries. The auction features an interesting selection of varieties, including Clearbodies, Normal Blues, Crested, Dilutes, Yellow Faced Blues and White Caps. Bidding commenced on Monday 12 October and concludes this Sunday 18 October at 9:00 PM AEDT. Be sure to check out the birds on offer and get your bids in before the auction closes!

The North Queensland Budgerigar Breeders Club (NQBBC) October 2026 Auction is underway, featuring budgerigars from a selection of respected breeders, including Trevor Broadbent, Michael Pace, Kev O’Callaghan and Peter Macelroy, along with other participating vendors. There is an interesting range of varieties on offer, including Inos, Australian White Caps, Dominant Pieds, Normal Greens, Normal Greys, Normal Grey Greens, Normal Violets, Opaline Cinnamonwings, Opalines and Yellow Faced Blues. Bidding commenced on Monday 12 October and concludes this Sunday 18 October at 8:00 PM AEDT. Be sure to take a look at the birds on offer and support our fellow enthusiasts in North Queensland!

The South Western NSW Budgerigar Fundraising Auction 2026 is underway, featuring 25 budgerigars generously offered by nine vendors, including Eric Whitton, Steve Barsdell, Dianne Pinney, Mark Chandler, Russell Woods, Tony Butt, Glenn Schiller, Darren Reid and Owen Goldstraw. There is a terrific selection of varieties on offer, including Cinnamonwings, Dominant Pieds, Lutinos, Normal Blues, Normal Greens, Normal Greys, Normal Grey Greens, Opaline AOSVs, Spangle AOSVs, Split Clearbodies, Recessive Pieds, Spangles and Yellow Faced Blues. Importantly, 50% of the proceeds from each bird sold will go directly to the South Western NSW Budgerigar Club, helping fund its annual show and ongoing club activities. Bidding commenced on Tuesday 13 October and concludes on Tuesday 20 October at 8:00 PM AEDT. A great opportunity to pick up some new bloodlines while supporting our fellow enthusiasts in regional NSW, so be sure to take a look at the birds on offer!

The Mid-State October Budgerigar Auction 2026 kicks off this Sunday 18 October, featuring a quality selection of birds generously donated by Glenn & Tanya Sinclair, Kiah Sinclair, Peter Baker, Ian & Kathy Manton, Rob Peffer, Gary Pymont, Perc Anelzark and Steve Draper. There’ s an excellent range of varieties on offer, including Normal Greens, Normal Blues, Normal Grey Greens, Lutinos, Yellow Faced Blues, Spangles, Opalines, Cinnamonwings, Split Fallows, Split Lacewings and Dominant Pieds. Importantly, 100% of the proceeds will go directly to the Mid-State Budgerigar Club, helping support its annual show and ongoing club activities. Bidding commences on Sunday 18 October and concludes on Sunday 25 October at 7:30 PM AEDT. A terrific opportunity to introduce some new bloodlines into your breeding room while supporting a fellow club, so be sure to check out the birds on offer and get behind this worthwhile fundraising auction!

Rate Access Code: EVENTS
Discount Code: BUDCHAMP27

Guests may also call on (02) 6248 5311 or email the hotel reservations@canberrarexhotel.com.au to make a booking. Their guest service agents will be happy to assist you with making a booking.  Discounted rates open for 2 days prior and 2 days post event for those who wish to stay longer. Registration will officially open early next year but if you wish to secure a room at the venue, please take advantage of this discounted offer now as the rooms are all likely to be booked out. We look forward to seeing you there!