A little About Us
We provide advice, mentoring, meetings and shows for our members who have an interest in Budgerigars.
Meetings of the NEBS are held at the Kilburn Community Hall, 49 Le hunte St., Kilburn, on the second Wednesday of each month at 7.30pm. At these meetings guest speakers keep members up to date with the latest developments in the budgerigar fancy and provide advice on the care and breeding of all the different colours and varieties. At some of these meetings a night show competition is held with the aim of showing and preparing birds for Major Shows. Two monthly meetings are devoted to Mini Shows, one devoted to a sale of birds and our December meeting is devoted to members enjoying a Christmas celebration function at an offsite location.
Several major shows are held on Saturdays during the year and the objectives of these shows are to promote the hobby and the improvement of birds amongst our members.
All shows held during the year are open to any person who is a member of the NEBS or any other club affiliated with the Budgerigar Council of South Australia Inc (BCSA).
Our History
The North East Budgerigar Society was founded in 1974 by Mr. Bob Hancock, Mr. Alf Harrison, Mr. Kelwyn Kakoschke and Mr. Gordon Lowe. There were 28 Foundation members. The club held their first general meeting in April 1974 in the Para Hills Community Hall, and monthly thereafter. Their first Executive Committee of 12 members met in May 1974 with Mr. Bob Hancock as President. By July 1974, the number of members had grown to 52 and meetings had to be moved to the Para Hills Kindergarten. Some 2,100 rings were purchased by members in that first year.
Meeting venues changed somewhat during the early years. The club moved to Tea Tree Gulley Institute in February 1975, the Druids Hall, Collinswood in May 1975, the Northern Masonic Hall, Broadview, in March 1978 and the Kilburn Hall, Kilburn, in April 1981. The Society has held its general meetings at the Kilburn Community Hall, 49 Le Hunte St, Kilburn ever since.
Fundraising began in the early 1980’s at Trash and Treasure Markets. From 1985 for almost a decade participation at the Junction Market firmed up the Society’s finances through the efforts of the ladies making and selling cakes. Breeders sold birds at the Junction Market with 10% commission to the club. Bird sales shifted to the Brickworks Market in the mid-1990’s for a short time. After that fundraising consisted for a time with regular sausage sizzles as opportunities arose.
Since its inception, the Society has mainly catered for budgerigar breeders residing in the inner and outer northern areas and this has continued through to today. During this time, other clubs in the northern area folded with many of their members then joining the North East Budgerigar Society. Membership has fluctuated over the years and in recent years hovers around 60, with around 3,500 rings sold each year.
General meetings have provided and continue to provide members with the opportunity to learn from experienced breeders regarding all aspects of breeding exhibition budgerigars. This includes colours and varieties, genetics, and standards as well as the opportunity for social interaction between members. Small night shows are regularly held at the general meetings.
Annual Adult and Young Bird Shows have been a regular feature over the years and are eagerly looked forward to by members as has the annual State Show where birds are selected to represent the State at the annual National Show. Members of the Society have been strong supporters of the State and National events.
