1979, Rosebay RSL, New South Wales

Looking to 1979, the venue, Rosebay RSL Sydney, stands as the first actual budgerigar convention.  Arrangements were made to hold lectures, special group meetings, dinners and slide shows all planned ahead with fanciers wishing to attend asked to register.  The dates for this convention were from the 19th to 21st May and set the trend for future nationals.  The editor of the English magazine (Cage and Avery Birds) was our guest, and his lectures were attended by many fanciers.  His comments on Australian budgerigars were both jolting and eye opening and his coloured slides were able to support his comments.  Recordings on audio cassettes were made of all speakers and sold to fanciers from all states.

Ten classes for the varieties and one for hens were still the classes for competition.  Victoria won seven of the ten classes.   The judges for this were Kevin Kelly, Fred Cardona and Neville Seage and for the first time stewards were used who had graduated through a stewards school.  Queensland competed for the first time and amongst their team members was a man who became well known in budgerigar circles, a young Brian West.  Two other guests were Trevor Watkins and Burnie O’Dea from New Zealand, the first of many New Zealanders to visit our National Show.  A vote was taken to allow Queensland to compete as two zones at future shows.

Final scores were:-

• Victoria                          181
• New South Wales          157
• South Australia              138
• Queensland                      91
• Western Australia            28

Ron Hunt, 1979
ANBC Historian