1988, Tasmania

The year is 1988, and the Championships moved to Tasmania for the first time. Excellent convention with the Tasmanians justly proud of their efforts.

The Council met and finally agreed on a standard for a National Show Cage.  This cage was an updated version of the composite cage first produced in Victoria.  The new cage was manufactured by Mr. Trass from Brisbane and was presented by John Glynn.  The Council accepted this cage design to be taken by the delegate to their State or Zone for general approval.

The Council decided to approve two standards for Dominant Pied, one for the Australian mutation and one to cover all other Dominant Pied’s.  The latter to be called variegated Pied.  The Council discussed ways of creating a national judges panel.  Each member body is to nominate a person to go to next years National to form a Steering Committee with aim of creating a National Judges Panel.

A class for birds unable to make The Australian Championships on a regular base (ie Olives, Violets) was discussed and rejected.

An unfortunate incident clouded the otherwise perfect convention, when six birds were stolen from the Holding Aviaries and Police were called in to investigate but were unable to obtain any convictions.  This incident has of course improved security and a lesson learnt the hard way is always a lesson learnt.

Final Scores:

• New South Wales          306
• Victoria                          288
• South Australia              255
• South Queensland         248
• Tasmania                        211
• North Queensland         167
• Western Australia            97

Ron Hunt, 1988
ANBC Historian