It is some time since I penned a few notes for Feathered World so the arrival of our favourite magazine has reminded me to sit down at the keyboard to impart some of the news from this remote part of the world. Showing is just starting down under and the months of May, June and July are the hectic months with barely a free weekend.
I think of England in May and June - the early summer shows which are being overshadowed by the threat of Avian Flu. Down here it is much less of a threat owing to our extreme geographical isolation, but one never knows.
I have attended two shows so far. The first entailed a long day indeed and the long bus journey up to the Twin Cities show on the border of Victoria and New South Wales. Some of the Melbourne Club organise a bus and trailer so all in all we enjoy a social occasion as well as the show. It entailed a 3am start and a late night finish but showing should be all about these occasions. Local Birmingham Roller and Australian Performing Tumbler fancier Geoff Nelson collected me so early and took me to the bus and between us we won our various breeds on the day. The second show was the Southern Young Bird Pageant in Melbourne which attracted over 600 young birds. As always at the Australian shows there was a huge classification and far fewer birds than classes - but that is how it is done here. At least I had some good competition in the Dragoon classes and was fortunate to win best with a young grizzle cock.
Wherever the Show Racers appear they are admired although as yet I have found little by way of competition. I believe that there will be a better entry at the National in July so here's hoping that there will be a good turn-out.
I have taken on the secretaryship of ANPA. It was an honour to be asked as a newcomer to this country and at first I suggested to the President, Bob Grant, that he found a younger Australian. However, there were few young Australians willing to take on what has been in the past a 'can of worms' so I find myself trying to do my bit for pigeon showing over here.
