The VSPF apologises for any inconvenience to any fancier this change may have caused.

However, the team will ensure you will enjoy another excellent event and you can be assured that the return to LaTrobe is in the best interests of all Fanciers.

In addition, we are able to again offer the comfortable all day menu dining under the same roof and between the Show Halls in a very congenial atmosphere. With a wide menu selection is available at very reasonable prices.

 The Presentation Dinner will again be in the Eagle Room at LaTrobe where those who attended last time will attest to an excellent quality menu and Bar with friendly staff.  Be sure to book with your entries so you don’t miss out.

Due to the venue change we will also need to use closer accommodation, and will again use the preferred hotel from 2007, since then the hotel has had a full refurbishment. To 4 ½ star

Prices starting at $149. Budget 3 ½ star rooms are also available starting at $89 twin share.

 Note: If you have already booked at Rydges North Melbourne you will need to cancel that booking.

 Accommodation bookings:

Rydges Bell City (previously known as Rydges on the Bell)

Contact, (03) 9485 0048 (must quote LaTrobe for discount)

Website to book online this link must be used to get the discount www.rydges.com/cwp/latrobe

Address:  215 Bell St, Preston.

In a PFS of NSW newsletter this month John Hanson inserted a paid advertisement nominating for the ANPA committee in NSW. He also made a number of statements about the current ANPA committee which can’t go without comment.

Mr Hanson’s letter is in plain type and my responses in bold type.

Paid Advertisement

By John Hanson standing for ANPA committee of NSW

These are my personal views and opinions, and they are not the expressions/views of the PFS, committee or its members.

I have been on many occasions judged and criticised by the current executive and committee of ANPA for expressing my opinions. I know that many will say that I am only stirring up trouble, but I want to set my views straight. This is not hearsay, these are the facts e.g.: The Pigeon Fanciers of N.S.W. Inc has 250 members and there are only 60 members in ANPA in the whole of N.S.W. A number of these are not PFS members.

Mr Hanson is welcome to voice his opinion and has done so often, he hasn’t been ‘judged and criticised’, his contentions have merely been addressed by ‘current executive and committee’. The opinions of one are not always the view of the majority, and if an opinion is expressed without bluster it will be dealt with fairly.

Facts: ANPA has always published its membership list, I don’t know if PFS does. The reason for a disproportionate rate of membership in Sydney Metro is open to conjecture, it might be that (as in this communication) ANPA is not portrayed fairly, and only one view is publicised. Another fact in relation to Mr Hanson’s comparison; PFS ring sales (purchases) have dropped from 11,000 in 1999 to 7,000  in 2009, while the other NSW clubs have increased proportionately.

ANPA needs to grow and prosper and with its current executive and committee this wil not happen. I feel that ANPA has become stagnant and that its time for a change. How do we help our members instead of building a bigger bank balance? Why do we need $50,000 in the bank? what for??? What about juniors? What are we do for them? Nothing.

Mr Hanson has answered his own question, but he is well aware that a Junior Award programme is in place. Annually ANPA awards 2 free memberships and $50 cash for EACH state as Junior encouragement. In NSW 2009 (at the meeting of ANPA members at Kemps Creek) a free membership + $25 + a book (donated by Allan Makin) was made to both the PFS and HVS. A judge training and accreditation programme was initiated and distributed to all affiliated clubs, most clubs have taken on that programme .

ANPA needs to give back more to its members by running a show in its own right. A question that must be asked, why this? Being a national body, they should be leaving up the front and not the rear, by understanding today’s cost, and what is involved in running a show and not living in the realms of fantasy. We need to bring back prestige to a national body show: raising the bar. They seem to be lowering the bar and never raising it. A good question to be asked of the president and the current ANPA committee and executive is how many of the present body have been involved in the staging, setting up, and running of a large pigeon show, for from start up to finish. I have been overseas to many shows, and the national body should take a leaf out of overseas club shows. The Australia ANPA group haven’t got a clue, that is why they prostitute themselves on clubs. They like to get all the accolades and all the pats on the back, whilst someone else does all the hard work. There is only a few in the current ANPA group that dictates to the group, and no one else wants to stand up to them as they are attacked and torn to pieces like mongrel dogs.

The question of ANPA staging an independent show has been addressed before, in short; ANPA allocates $2000 towards the running of the National, the Host Club/Group of clubs stages the show and with entries of 3000+ from 180 exhibitors, the Host Club/Group of clubs makes a profit and can use that income to establish local hardware. That income is rightly used for the fanciers in each state and shows are best set-up by the locals within the host area. Many on this committee have been involved in show set-up.

A motion was also passed (at the Kemps Creek meeting) to investigate the feasibility of running a National in NSW  by  ANPA “in its own right”, and expenditure from that bank account can be used to provide NSW fanciers with a National show. 

No one on this group dictates and certainly no one “is torn to pieces like mongrel dogs”.  Beautiful expression, but who passes this view to Mr Hanson? A few on this group do a little more work than others,   but again each HAS AN EQUAL VOTE. I suspect some might be afraid to speak up on some matters because their comment might be misrepresented to others outside the committee by those who like to cause trouble.

Committees are a wonderful thing, but they should keep members more informed, instead of making personal decisions behind closed doors. When you speak up, or disagree with the changes that have been made you are labeled as a trouble maker or whinger. The committee needs to be run for the members and membership and not for a select few/group who can manipulate the strings of the club’s runnings. Everyone is entitled to an opinion.

Have an open forum and not kept as a closed shop., Regular meetings should be held in a central meeting place, not just for the committee and held somewhere central with public transport available, not like Kemps creek, which was that far out, it was a joke.

With the advances in technology, committee meetings could be run by phone hook-up or with a webcam, instead of paying for airfare’s and travel expenses, I am sure that members funds could have been used more appropriately.

Also, why is the ANPA president and its committee sucking up to the RAS of N.S.W., The RAS, when running a show, only rent everything, including its facilities. I have seen the paperwork and quotes for hiring out a venue at Homebush, I am quite willing to supply this paperwork to anybody who wants it. It is quite good to have good repour with the RAS Society but that will not help them get a discount on hiring a venue. is ANPA going to support Australia wide every RAS show, example Brisbane and Western Australia. They really need the support, not Sydney. The current executive should have considered this when making this decision; to sponsor the Sydney Royal Show. What about the Brisbane Royal, Adelaide Royal, Melbourne Royal etc. I am talking to and about the president, publicity officer, etc.  

Again: The meeting in 2009 was held at Kemps Creek because we got a free/comfortable venue, it is 5 minutes from the M7 (30 mins to anywhere in the Metropolitan area) and accessible by country members. It was voted that this year it be held in Hunter Valley district and will be rotated so that country members will have their chance to attend.

Methods of committee meeting have been discussed at length, the committee email group is open to all members and committee are welcome to report fairly/honestly back to membership. On one occasion only an extraordinary meeting was necessary to clear a backlog in the agenda, and members who went to Melbourne paid half their fares, and when necessary accommodation, out of their own pockets. And many judged at the VSPF show on the Sunday. All committee members endorsed that meeting, it’s on record, it could have been discussed at the AGM in 2009 if there had been any concern.

No one is “sucking up’ to the RAS, THEY ASKED FOR OUR HELP, maybe they thought they were stagnating under their previous arrangement. We have helped by canvassing exhibitors for judge selection, by assisting with class re-allocation and by donation of awards (by ANPA members not from ANPA funds).

I will ask the RAS coordinator to confirm to those present on April 1, that he approached me, not the other way around. Members in Queensland are addressing issues with the RAS there to help rebuild entry numbers.  

Hopefully those in attendance in Sydney on April 1 can pass on that confirmation to dispel the rumours that have been initiated.

There is a link to the online entry forms on this site, see the post on the Royal Schedule.

For those organising trophies for events  , I would personally recommend Ina of Langwarrin, you might remember she did the trophies for the 2007 National. She is efficient in communication and nothing is too much trouble to help the fussy customer.  The work speaks for itself . Trophies have been donated for each group of fancy pigeons.

Their contact details are: Langwarrin Trophies, 62 Turner Rd, Langwarrin Vic, 3910. Ph 03 97893446. email sales@langwarrintrophies.com.au.

Bob Grant, President, ANPA.

The Schedule is now available for exhibitors to download.

 To view the Schedule please

click here.

Some of the links on the RAS site link to an obsolete schedule, but this link will direct you to the updated schedule, which has the breeds arranged in their specific groupings, such as “Asian breeds , Colour Pigeons, etc”.

Correct classes read 1001 to 1338 .

If you wish to print the schedule pages 22 onwards apply, you might also wish to view the “Art Competition” after the Pigeon Section.

The Judges’ List and other information can be viewed on the RAS Homepage

There is a discount for lodging entries online,this linkwill take you to that process .

Or else you can print an entry form for posting here

ANPA NSW Vice-President Uncle Allan Makin has kindly initiated a NSW ANPA Members trophy fund to perpetuate donated awards for the Sydney Royal.

 He will be contacting NSW members for support in that sponsorship .

Remember that this is the NSW event where our hobby will gain the most exposure , to the general public and potential fanciers , please do your best to support with entries , there is also a procedure for “Sales of Exhibits” .

Bob GRANT, ANPA President.

April 17: Queensland Pigeon Fanciers Society Autumn Lawn Show, venue Caboolture Showgrounds. Contact: Werner Zimmer wernerz@netspace.net.au

May 1: Twin Cities Fancy Pigeon Club Show Albury Showgrounds. Contact: Bill Vost 0417 990 010

May 1-2: Summerland Pigeon Club Annual Show (NSW) Lismore Showgrounds.Contact Ricky Maslen (02) 6629 3159.

May 8: Canberra and Goulburn Annual Show at Goulburn, NSW.

May 8: Meander Valley Pigeon Society Show (Tasmania). Contact kelvin.jacobs@hotmail.com

May 15: Riverina Pigeon Society Annual at Wagga Wagga, NSW.

May 16: South Australian Canary and Pigeon Society Young Bird Classic Contact: Richie Darling (08) 8584 1268

May 29-30: Pigeon Fanciers Society of NSW Premier Young Bird Show at Fairfield Showgrounds. Contact: Steven Cummins 0437 163 145 or (02) 4730 4996.

May 29-30: Queensland State Show hosted by the Ipswich Pigeon Specialist Club at Ipswich Showgrounds. Contact: John Wiseman 07 54643784 or john224@bigpond.com  Includes Northern Modena Classic (judge David Lewis, SA). Contact: Warren Osborne 07 3355 9921 or warrenosborne@optusnet.com.au

May 30: Dandenong Fancy Pigeon Society Show, Dandenong, Vic. Contact: Doug Evans 0412122582

May 30: Fancy and Utility Pigeon Society (WA) Open Show, Exhibition Centre, Cnr Brand and Brae Rds, High Wycombe. Contact: 08 9352 8993.

June 6: VSPF Southern Young Bird Pageant, hosted by the Geelong and Districts All Breeds Pigeon Club. Venue is Geelong Showgrounds. Contacts: Stephen Ferry ferryfamily@iprimus.com.au; Michael Spadoni spudxy@bigpond.com Mobile: 0402 078 695.

June 13: The Australian Pouter and Cropper Club Annual Show Fairfield Showgrounds, Sydney. Contact: Mark Wilson 02 9570 5863 mkkewil@tpg.com.au

June 13-14: First Australian Modena show (IMC Affiliated) Fairfield Showgrounds, Sydney. Judges: Rick Barker (USA) and Brent Marshall (NZ). Contact: Warren Osborne 07 3355 9921 or warrenosborne@optusnet.com.au

June 19: Meander Valley Pigeon Society Show (Tasmania). Contact kelvin.jacobs@hotmail.com

June 19-20: Hunter Valley All Variety Pigeon Society Annual Show, at Maitland Showgrounds, NSW. Contact: Allan Haigh 02 4952 7108.

June 19-20: South Australian Canary and Pigeon Society Young Bird Show (incorporating SA Modena Club Show) at Wayville Showgrounds, Adelaide. Contact: Richie Darling (08) 8584 1268

June 26-27: Pigeon Fanciers Society of NSW Eastern Classic at Fairfield Showgrounds. Contact: Catherine Weekes (02) 9628 1081 mweekes@bigpond.net.au

June 27: Fancy and Utility Pigeon Society (WA) Championship Show, Exhibition Centre, Cnr Brand and Brae Rds, High Wycombe. Contact: 08 9352 8993.

July 4: Geelong and Districts All Breeds Pigeon Club Annual Show at Geelong Showgrounds. Contact: Stephen Ferry ferryfamily@iprimus.com.au

July 4: Ipswich Pigeon Specialist Club 70th Annual Show at Ipswich Showgrounds. Contact: John Wiseman 07 54643784 or john224@bigpond.com  Includes Modena Club of Queensland Annual Show. Contact: Warren Osborne 07 3355 9921 or warrenosborne@optusnet.com.au

July 16-18: ANPA 28th National Show, hosted by the Victorian Show Pigeon Federation, venue LaTrobe University. Contact: Michael Spadoni spudxy@bigpond.com Mobile: 0402 078 695.

July 31: QPFS Annual Show at Caboolture Showgrounds. Contact: Werner Zimmer wernerz@netspace.net.au

August 14: Meander Valley Pigeon Society Show (Tasmania). Contact kelvin.jacobs@hotmail.com

August 22: Fancy and Utility Pigeon Society (WA) Young Bird Classic, Exhibition Centre, Cnr Brand and Brae Rds, High Wycombe. Contact: 08 9352 8993.

Applications for the inclusion of new breed standards or the amendment to existing standards will be received and dealt with according to the following procedures. Only breeds included in the Australian National Pigeon Standards book will be eligible for exhibition at National shows and ANPA sanctioned shows.

 Clubs are also encouraged to adhere to this policy as it protects the fancy from accusations of smuggling of pigeons etc. Legally Imported New Breeds. It is not ANPA’s intention to make it difficult for legally imported new breed to be recognised. Those who have imported new breeds of recent shipment should simply forward a request for recognition of the breed and the standard they recommend for adoption to the National Standards Co-ordinator.

Adoption should normally be a formality. It is considered that those who go to the trouble of importing a new breed should have the right to nominate the standard, by which that breed will be judged. The standard should normally be one recognized elsewhere in the world. Where two or more importers import a new breed simultaneously, agreement should be reached on the standard and a joint application submitted.

Approval will be given by the Standards Committee, The breed will be included in the National Schedule and a supplement to the National Standards book will be prepared. These decisions will then be ratified at the AGM. For new breeds to be included in the National schedule requests for recognition should be received by the Standards Coordinator by 1 March in any year.

 Newly Developed Breeds Applications for the recognition of new breeds developed in Australia must meet the following conditions to be approved.

 • The new breed must be significantly different from existing breeds.

 • The application must be able to supply proof of the stages of development. eg photos

 • Proof must be supplied that the new breed breeds true to type. (e.g. Photos, breeding records etc)

• The new breed must have a number of breeders around the country or be popular in a significant regional hotspot.

 • The application must be submitted by at least 3 ANPA members in agreement or an affiliated major all breeds club.

 • The proposed new standard must be included.

The application will then be considered by the Standards Committee, who will publish the standard of the new breed for comment and subsequently bring a recommendation to an AGM for approval. The Standards Committee will endeavor to complete this process for applications received by 1 March for submission to that year’s AGM.

The newly approved breed will then be included in the National Schedule for the following year and a supplement to the National Standards book will be prepared.

Amendments to Existing Standards Applications for amendments to standards in the existing Book of Australian National Pigeon Standards will be received only from

• Affiliated relevant specialist clubs;

• Affiliated major all breeds clubs; and

• The resolution of the ANPA AGM

Individuals wishing to have an existing standard changed who cannot have the application submitted by an affiliated specialist club or affiliated major all breeds club may seek the approval of the AGM for their request to be considered by the Standards Committee. Once a request has been received from one of these three sources comment will be sought from relevant affiliated specialist clubs and affiliated major all breeds clubs.

 The proposed amended standard will be published for comment and subsequently a recommendation will be brought to an AGM for approval. The Standards Committee will endeavor to complete this process for applications received by 1 March for submission to that year’s AGM. A supplement to the National Standards book containing the newly approved standard will be prepared.

 Applications under any of the above categories should be forwarded to

 Colin Seymour, National Standards Coordinator

101 Pindari Avenue, Camden NSW 2570

Phone (02) 46555058 Mobile 0408201973

 Email friartuck@swiftdsl.com.au

.  It had to be delayed while discussions over the venue for the Melbourne National were resolved.

If anyone does not receive the newsletter, and is certain they are financial, please post a comment at the bottom of this message.

The next newsletter will be in May, so if you have any reports or information you would like to see included, please let me know ASAP and by April 23 at the very latest.

Advertisers are ALWAYS welcome, with the cost $120 for a full page, $60 for a half page and $30 for a quarter page.

Please contact Brad Turner for help in having your advertisement ready for publication. The newsletter will be in full colour so it is a great chance to publicise your club or breed.

The ANPA Newsletter is published each February, May, August and November.

ANPA President Bob Grant received a letter from Kerry Pearce, Coordinator of the Poultry and Pigeon Section, to submit a list of judges and stewards for the show, and to advise about the classes in the existing show schedule.

Bob has responded with enthusiasm on behalf of ANPA, and sent the following message to committee members.

“I have had a call from Kerry Pearce of the Sydney Royal , he has requested that I provide nominations for  judges and stewards for the 2010 Sydney Royal Easter Show.  He advised that their committee saw a need for change in their selection process in hope of boosting the Pigeon Section , he was impressed with our website and further requested that they might use our published membership list for their promotion . I have committed that ANPA will assist in promotion of the 2010 show through our website and N/L , and further that we will attempt to promote increased entries.

“It is hoped that a relationship with the RAS might allow us to lobby for assistance with our plans to stage a Sydney National.”

Bob formally responded to Kerry today with an official letter and the following email:

“Hi Kerry ,

I have attached a formal response and we are glad to be involved .

I realise that you must be busy at this time , but once we have finalised our nominations and  if they are acceptable I would like to communicate on some further points :

1)   We would endeavour to donate awards to section winners .

2)   Also to provide a Junior Encouragement award .

3)   Protocol for orderly selection of Group and Major awards .

4)   Some ‘Admin Desk’ space for distribution of our promotional pamphlets .

5)   I would like to  include a nomination of a position for our Publicity Officer for photography and script for our website and Newsletter.”

Bob believes the association between ANPA and the RAS will be of great benefit to both parties and hopes the relationship will result in a significant step forward for the ANPA members working towards hosting a National in Sydney in 2012 or 2013.

She says, “I have wanted to paint pigeon portraits for a long time now and each time the Royal Adelaide Show opens I check out the birds and take photos with the thought that ‘one day I’ll get these birds down on canvas. So I’ve finally done it. I have portrayed them as mug shots, as the bars of their cages seemed to suit this. The titles/numbers of the paintings are police numbers from famous people. They are 450 x 450mm. Acrylic on Canvas. Price $620 each or $1200 for a pair.”

Titles of Paintings (some are  in the August ANPA Newsletter):

‘66185BSRB: British Show Racer (Blue)

‘80351FTR: Felegyhauser Tumbler (Black)

‘79254KMR: Koningsburg Moorhead (Red)

‘42799LFTBT: Long-Faced Tumbler (Black Teager)

‘105519SFTRA: Long-Faced Tumbler (Red Agate)

‘21238LFTW: Long-Faced Tumbler (White)

‘563873LFTM: Long-Faced Tumbler Muffed (Black, baldhead)

‘91108SSY: Stargard Shaker (Yellow)

To contact Melanie -: Mobile  0431 951 299; Fax 08 8346 5316.  PO Box 362, Welland SA 5007. email: melanieterrett@adam.com.au

Brad Turner