A pleasing turnout of 23 members attended the meeting, which featured an excellent Unbroken Cap and Juvenile Bird Show. Congratulations to Graham McCallum, who enjoyed a particularly successful day on the show bench, taking out both Best Unbroken Cap and Best Juvenile Bird in Show. A terrific achievement, and well done to everyone who supported the competition by bringing along their birds. A special thank you goes to John Mulley, who generously gave his time to judge the birds, providing members with the benefit of his knowledge and experience, and some great explanations of the top birds in each section.

Away from the show bench, Angela Van Den Brink and Sue Adams were kept busy looking after the BBQ, ensuring everyone was well fed throughout the day. A big thank you also goes to Ruth Lange, whose efforts in bringing the event together helped make the day such an enjoyable occasion for all involved.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss several important developments within the hobby. Members were taken through the outcomes of the recent ANBC motions, along with the proposed format of meetings for 2027, providing an opportunity to look ahead to the coming year. A vote of thanks was also extended to Malcolm Loveridge, recognising his outstanding contribution to the hobby following his recent retirement from judging. Malcolm’s many decades of service and dedication to the show bench have left a lasting impression on the budgerigar fancy.

One of the more intriguing moments of the day came when Tony Van Den Brink presented a bird displaying what may be the Blackface mutation. The possibility generated considerable excitement and discussion amongst those in attendance, with members keen to learn more about the bird and its unusual appearance. It will certainly be interesting to see how this develops.

All in all, it was a wonderful day for the Port Pirie Budgerigar Society, combining quality birds, informative discussions, great hospitality, and the camaraderie that makes our hobby so enjoyable. Congratulations to all involved, and particularly to those who contributed their time and effort to making the October meeting such a success!

This week, the BSSA will kick things off with their belated monthly committee meeting on Monday evening, providing an opportunity to discuss upcoming activities, club matters and plans for the remainder of the year. On Tuesday night, the ANBC Events Management Group will come together to continue preparations and discussions surrounding future National Championships and associated events in Canberra and leading into Western Australia in 2028. Following on, Wednesday evening will see the North East committee come together to finalise their 2026 plans through to mid-2027.

Interstate, attention turns to Victoria this Sunday, where the BCV will host their annual Unbroken Cap Shield in Rowville. The event promises to be an enjoyable day of competition, with breeders showcasing some of their youngest birds and gaining an early indication of their potential on the show bench. We wish all exhibitors and organisers the very best for a successful event.

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.

The Mid-State October Budgerigar Auction 2026 kicked off 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 commenced 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!

The Rare Budgerigar Club of WA is pleased to present its 2026 Auction, to be held on Saturday, 7 November 2026, at the Drill Hall in Bayswater. With 54 lots on offer, this year’s catalogue features an exciting selection of exhibition budgerigars from established breeders. The auction provides an excellent opportunity for breeders to introduce new bloodlines and strengthen their studs, with a wide range of varieties represented, including Normals, Spangles, Cinnamonwings, Dominant Pieds, Opalines, Clearbodies, Recessive Pieds, Lutinos, Fallows, Golden Faced, Black-Eyed Selfs and Lacewings.

The auction features an impressive line-up of breeders, including Andre Ozoux and Craig Buckingham from New South Wales; J&W Weidenhofer, Ken & Janet Harris, Trevor Goodenough, Schutz & Tonkin, Jensen, Darcie & Jane Kelb, Paul Wilton, Patrick O’Rourke and Chris Murphy from South Australia; and Norm Wheatley from Western Australia.

With quality birds from a diverse range of established studs, the event promises to be a fantastic opportunity for fanciers looking to enhance their breeding programs and support the Rare Budgerigar Club of WA.

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!