| Dear Members,
As I reflect on the period since our last Annual General Meeting, I think 2025–2026 will be remembered as one of the more significant periods in the recent history of the Budgerigar Council of South Australia. It has been a period of growth, change, celebration and achievement, but also one that has finished with some challenges that have reminded us of our responsibility not only to promote the hobby, but also to protect it.
At an organisational level, one of the most important steps taken during the year was the introduction of the BCSA’s modernised Constitution, which became operative on 3 August 2025. The previous Constitution had served the Council for more than 30 years, but the hobby and the governance requirements surrounding incorporated associations have changed substantially over that period. The updated Constitution has provided the BCSA with a more contemporary framework from which to move forward.
Our Annual Auction in August 2025 was another major success. The catalogue featured 189 lots, including 76 birds from 13 interstate vendors. The representation of leading breeders, National winners and Hall of Fame exhibitors demonstrated the standing the BCSA auction has developed nationally and the willingness of breeders from around Australia to support the South Australian fancy.
That momentum continued into Budgie Fest 2025. In only its third year, more than 1,000 people came through the doors, making it our largest Budgie Fest to that point. Queen Fredricka was crowned Australia’s Ultimate Pet Budgie, Beau Schutz achieved his maiden Grand Champion as part of the Tonkin & Schutz partnership, and the BSSA completed a tremendous day by winning both the Tri Club Cup and the Interclub Trophy. Perhaps most importantly, Budgie Fest again demonstrated what is possible when we take budgerigars outside our traditional exhibition environment and present the hobby to the wider community. Media coverage surrounding the event reached well beyond South Australia, and throughout the year we continued to look for opportunities through radio, community events and bird expos to place budgerigars in front of people who may never otherwise come across our hobby.
Our publications have continued to play a significant role in that communication. In January, the Budgie Bulletin reached its 100th edition. What began as a way of keeping members informed has developed into a weekly record of our hobby, promoting our clubs, celebrating our members, sharing results, advertising events and auctions, and increasingly connecting South Australian fanciers with what is happening nationally. Chatter Magazine has complemented that communication by continuing to provide longer-form educational and historical content. Over the past year we have featured some remarkable fanciers, explored genetics, varieties, breeding, judging and exhibition, provided material aimed specifically at Novices and pet owners, and continued to record what is happening throughout our affiliated clubs.
We also recognised our leading exhibitors from the 2025 season, with the Holmes Family named Open Exhibitors of the Year, Michael Smith Intermediate Exhibitor of the Year and the Longbottom Family Novice Exhibitors of the Year. Congratulations again to each of them.
One of the most enjoyable occasions of the past year was undoubtedly the celebration of the BCSA’s 30th Anniversary in April. It provided an opportunity not simply to celebrate 30 years, but to recognise the enormous contribution made by those who built the Council before us. Original minute books, old club publications and historical material helped tell that story, while Nic Hayes and Graeme Goodings took us back through many of the significant moments in the Council’s history, including the National Championships hosted by South Australia.
As part of the celebration we created a time capsule to be opened at the BCSA’s 50th Anniversary in 2046. Members recorded messages reflecting on what the hobby means to them, what they hope it will become, and what they hope never changes. Again and again, the same theme emerged: the birds may bring people into the hobby, but it is often the friendships that keep them here.
As we moved into the 2026 show season, there was a genuine feeling of momentum across South Australia. Our clubs continued to provide an enormous variety of activities including exhibitions, education nights, aviary visits, workshops, tender sales, auctions and Come & Try events. At the Lower Murray Bird Expo alone, the efforts of North East volunteers resulted in eight new members joining both the Club and Council. It was a small example of what can happen when we actively take the hobby to the public rather than expecting the public to find us.
There was also continued investment in our judging structure. The annual Judges Meeting again focused on consistency, education and professionalism, with the panel unanimously supporting an updated judges’ uniform, generously sponsored by Trill™, while continuing the structured development program being led by our Judges Coordinator, John Mulley.
Then came the Logan Shield. The 2026 State Selection Show attracted 458 birds, a 29 per cent increase on the 355 entered in 2025. In fact, we reached the rather welcome problem of running short of staging for our Major Award birds. For me, however, one of the most encouraging aspects of the Logan Shield was three of our 29 classes being won by Novice exhibitors in Paul Wilton, Peter Brumby and Pauline Lampre, while the Longbottom Family also recorded a class win from the Intermediate ranks. That is important, because if we want this hobby to have a future, then success cannot be confined to the same handful of established breeders year after year. We need people coming through our Novice and Intermediate ranks believing that they can compete, improve and eventually win at the highest level, which these four did.
The Logan Shield ultimately selected 87 birds from 17 exhibitors to represent South Australia at the 50th Annual Trill™ Expert ANBC National Championships on the Gold Coast. What happened next was undoubtedly the competitive highlight of our year. South Australia finished third overall with 474 points. It was our first National podium finish since 2014 and the highest points total South Australia has ever recorded at an ANBC National Championship. We finished 10 points ahead of the home state, South Queensland. Congratulations to Jason and Wayne Weidenhofer on winning the Normal Violet class and to Graham McCallum on winning the Normal Grey class.
What was impressive was the depth of the entire team. South Australia placed 47 birds in the Top 10 and 15 birds in the Top 3. We finished third because breeders across numerous varieties produced birds capable of consistently scoring points for their State. The increased participation at Logan Shield, the preparation workshops, the willingness of members to make birds available, the work of our carers and the depth produced across our clubs all contributed to that result.
We also saw progress through our status system during the year. Congratulations to Peter Brumby, Dave Miller and Paul Wilton on earning promotion to Intermediate, and to the Holmes Family and Jason & Wayne Weidenhofer on achieving Champion Exhibitor status during 2026.
The momentum continued into August with another outstanding BCSA Annual Auction. With birds sourced from breeders across five states and close to 190 lots available, the auction again attracted significant interstate interest. Most importantly, the final result established a new South Australian record for auction revenue. That is a remarkable achievement and a testament to our vendors, buyers, auction team and the volunteers who put an enormous amount of work into delivering the event.
Unfortunately, the final part of our reporting period has also presented us with one of the more difficult challenges Council has faced in recent years. The emergence of H5 avian influenza in South Australia forced all of us to reconsider activities that we would normally take for granted. After reviewing the situation, listening to member feedback and considering the potential consequences for our birds and aviaries, Council made the difficult decision to cancel all BCSA bird shows and exhibitions for the remainder of 2026, including Budgie Fest and the Tri Club Cup.
Nobody wanted to make that decision. Shows, exhibitions and Budgie Fest are at the heart of what we do. However, Council has a responsibility to place bird welfare and the long-term interests of our members ahead of any individual event. Our Biosecurity Policy has subsequently been updated to provide for event-specific risk assessments, giving Council a more structured framework through which future events can be considered.
While it has been disappointing to finish what had otherwise been such a positive year in this way, I think the response has also demonstrated something important about our organisation. A strong Council is not measured only by the events it runs or the trophies its members win. It is also measured by whether it is prepared to make difficult decisions when circumstances demand them.
Looking back across the year, there is a great deal of which South Australia can be proud. We modernised our governance. We celebrated 30 years of the BCSA. We reached 100 editions of the Budgie Bulletin. We attracted more than 1,000 people to Budgie Fest. We continued producing Chatter and promoting the hobby through traditional media, digital platforms and community events. We saw new exhibitors progress through the ranks. We increased Logan Shield entries by 29 per cent. We recorded our highest-ever National points score and returned South Australia to the podium for the first time in 12 years. And we finished the year with a record-breaking BCSA Auction.
These result are thanks to our affiliated clubs, delegates, committee members, judges, show managers, stewards, bird carers, auction volunteers, ticket writers, photographers, sponsors, exhibitors and the many people who simply turn up and lend a hand when something needs to be done. They’re also made possible thanks to our sponsors, in Mars Birdcare (Trill™), Worrell & Co Accountants, MGA Insurance, Cruise Advisors, Hentley Farm Wines, and Media Stable.
I also want to thank the Budgerigar Society of South Australia, the North East Budgerigar Society and the Port Pirie Budgerigar Society. Council can provide a framework, but ultimately the strength of the South Australian fancy is built in our clubs at monthly meetings, shows, aviary visits and around tables where knowledge and stories are shared. Underpinning that are my fellow Council delegates and office bearers, whose support and willingness to debate the issues that affect our hobby make all of this possible. We will not always agree on every issue, nor should we, but our responsibility is to make decisions that we believe will best serve the South Australian fancy.
Finally, thank you to every BCSA member.
Our challenge now is not simply to celebrate what has been achieved, but to build on it. When we eventually return to a normal show calendar, we need to bring the same enthusiasm with us. We need to continue supporting our clubs, mentoring new exhibitors, encouraging participation across every variety and continuing to present this hobby to the broader public.
Third place at the Nationals showed us what is possible. The 458 birds at Logan Shield showed us the depth that exists. More than 1,000 people at Budgie Fest showed us that there remains enormous public affection for the quintessential Aussie budgerigar. And the friendships celebrated at our 30th Anniversary reminded us why this Council exists in the first place. Thank you for your support during 2025–2026, and I look forward to what we can achieve together in the year ahead.
Troy Holmes
BCSA President |
