2006, Caloundra, QLD

It was 2006 and South Queensland Budgerigar Breeders Associations turn to host the ANBC Championships this year. The venue was Rydge’s Resort Caloundra. Centrally located, large and able to accommodate all functions, very efficiently. The downside was the size of the Judging viewing auditorium and the lighting, over the exhibits as they were being judged.

Caloundra is located in a very beautiful part of the country, the tropic weather, the very well supported, and from all reports, thoroughly enjoyed day trips and extra evenings of entertainment made this national a most popular event. The aviary excursion proved very popular and was well patronised. Everybody enjoyed their time and appreciated the effort of the South Queensland Budgerigar Breeders Association in organising the week’s events.

These Championship Shows are going from strength to strength in popularity and are testimony to the effort of all associated with the event.

The A.N.B.C. Elections were held at the Delegates meeting on the Monday with the following results:

PRESIDENT.                       Nigel Tonkin.   S.A.

SECRETARY.                      Bob Bourke.      N.S.W.

PUBLIC OFFICIER.           David Butters.   A.C.T.

HISTORIAN.                       Leigh Downey.  Vic.

Dave Ganzer ( Sth. Qld.) is the third person on the Executive for the ensuing year.

COLOUR & STANDARDS CO-ORDINATOR  Rob Hugo.  W.A. Reelected.

A.B.A. Delegate is Bruce Bradford.  N.S.W.

I have taken over as the Historian from Ron Hunt, so I hope I can follow as well in his footsteps, and I thank Ron for his time and commitment as our Historian.

The ANBC Championship Trophy’s awarded for the first year of the six-year time frame were very well received.

This show is historically the beginning of a new concept, after 31 years, was a first with an International Judge officiating. We were delighted to witness the Judging performance of the highly credentialed Jeff Attwood from the U.K.

As a polished raconteur, his lectures were immensely popular and as always very entertaining, and highly educational in the art of the Budgerigar hobby.

The major motion passed at the Council meeting (4 for, 3 against) was the moving forward of the ring issue date to the 1st. September of the previous year. 2007 young birds, for ring issue 2008. This allows for three months extra growing time for the young birds for the 2009 National Championship Challenge Show. Some other motions that seem to appear with regular monotony, again failed. Good.

This weekend show was back to the two-day format and was adequately spaced time wise to allow all the other activities to be accommodated at a relaxed pace. Which was pleasing.

The viewing of the birds after Judging will always be a crowded affair as soon as they are opened at the availability of the classes, but with a bit of patience everyone managed to see every bird.

The officiating judges were:

  1. Jeff Attwood, United Kingdom,
  2. Alan Rowe, Victoria,
  3. Gary Gazzard, New South Wales, and
  4. Neville Spencer, South Queensland.

Tasmania’s Graeme & Marlene Tuthill retired from Exhibiting Budgerigars this year and went out on a high being successful and winning three classes. Congratulations on a magnificent year and also a magnificent career in the hobby.

New South Wales won again to be three in a row with a magnificent team of perfectly presented budgerigars. Winning eleven classes a great effort.

Final Results:

  1. New South Wales. 484
  2. 418.
  3. South Queensland.
  4. 318.
  5. Western Australia.
  6. South Australia.
  7. North & Central Queensland. 213.

Another area of interest is the ongoing dialogue with the BSNZ who may well in the near future apply to affiliate with the ANBC and to nominate candidates to sit the ANBC National Judges’ Accreditation Examination.  There is continuing dialogue between the ANBC and the BSNZ to foster co-operation across the Tasman between the two organizations.  The very welcome NZ contingent is growing from year to year and adding to the spirit of this wonderful annual event.

 

Leigh A. Downey, 2006
Historian A.N.B.C.