about_us

Club Patron Paul Williams
Executive Committee

President................................................................Carolyn Shannon
Vice President.......................................................Ron Kilgour
Vice President.......................................................Ron Hewitt
Vice President.......................................................David Simons
Secretary / Treasurer / Editor...............................Irene Hannan

A SHORT HISTORY OF THE CLUB

The Belgian Bantam Club of Australia was formed on the 9th of October, 1983 by a small group of people who were determined to preserve and improve this very rare breed. At the time Belgian Bantams were relatively unknown in Australia. although they had been bred and exhibited throughout Europe since well before the turn of the century. There is evidence that they were imported into Australia from England by Harry Maude prior to 1930. There were also rumours of them being bred in Victoria. South Australia and Queensland. as well as New South Wales.

What we do know is that their re-appearance and current popularity is entirely due to the perseverance of Gerry Coady of Caringbah (a suburb of Sydney. NSW), and a small number of dedicated breeders who, in the early 1980's were determined to recreate the breed.

The birds were first shown at the Hawkesbury Race Course on 3rd of September, 1983. The Wyandotte Club of Australia played host to the 34 beautiful Belgian Bantams that were on display. All exhibits were shown to perfection and a credit to their owners. The display caused a sensation and their future, judging by the many comments and requests for stock and eggs for setting, was certainly assured.

Over the years since that first show the numbers have increased and now, at the Club's Annual Show, members exhibit both Barbu d'Anvers and Barbu d'Uccle in a wide variety of colours. A third type, the Barbu de Watermael, is also exhibited, although they are not as numerous. At the 1998 Annual Show there were over 300 birds presented for the judge, plus quite a few more that were for sale. The 2001 Annual Show saw a total of 429 birds exhibited, with well over one hundred available in the separate sales section. 2002 will see the venue for the Annual Show changed from Sydney, where it has been held for quite a few years, to a bit further north at Wyong. From humble beginnings back in 1983 the Club membership has also grown steadily over the years and we now have well over 100 members scattered across Australia.

The Club's Annual Show will now be held on the last Sunday in June at Wyong, NSW (on the Central Coast just north of Sydney). The Club's official Victorian Show is held at Bendigo on the third Sunday of August. The Belgian Club also publishes a quarterly Newsletter (posted in February, May, August and November), which enables members from all over Australia to keep in touch. New members are always most welcome.

Belgian Bantam Club Presidents
(1983 to present)

Gerry Coady (Caringbah, NSW) 09/10/1983 to 24/11/1985

Errol Green (Fairy Meadow, NSW) 24/11/1985 to 01/09/1987

Gerry Coady (Caringbah, NSW) 13/09/1987 to 29/07/1990

Brian Dukes (Engadine, NSW) 29/07/1990 to 29/06/1991

Peter Williams (Forester's Beach, NSW) 29/06/1991 to 27/06/1992

Brian Dukes (Engadine, NSW) 27/06/1992 to 09/07/1994

Ms Yvonne Bartle (Pitt Town, NSW) 09/07/1994 to 02/07/1995

Paul Williams (Nundle, NSW) 02/07/1995 to 06/07/1997

Andrew Rathbone (Bathurst, NSW) 06/07/1997 to 05/07/1998

Jeff Reed (Nundle, NSW) 05/07/1998 to 02/07/2000

Khris Abuid (Welshman's Reef, Vic) 02/07/2000 to 30/06/2002

Bill Hyndes (Richmond, Tas) 30/06/2002 to 29/06/2003

Michael Rowe (Taree, NSW) 29/06/2003 to 27/06/2004

Carolyn Shannon (Romsey, Vic) 27/06/2004 to

Belgian Bantam Club Secretaries
(1983 to present)

Guy Fahey (Maroubra, NSW) 09/10/1983 to 14/10/1984

Gary Hart (Caringbah, NSW) 14/10/1984 to 24/11/1985

Gerry Coady (Caringbah, NSW) 24/11/1985 to 13/09/1987

Brian Dukes (Engadine, NSW) 13/09/1987 to 23/07/1989

Mrs Kerry Lindsay (Caringbah, NSW) 23/07/1989 to 29/07/1990

Mrs Margaret Dukes (Engadine, NSW) 29/07/1990 to 29/06/1991

Paul Williams (Forester's Beach, NSW) 29/06/1991 to 02/07/1995

Jeff Reed (Nundle, NSW) 02/07/1995 to 06/07/1997

Mrs Irene Hannan (Caparra, NSW) 06/07/1997 to

First Official Showing of
Belgian Bantams in Australia

As reported by the Judge, Doug McKenzie

It was held at the Hawkesbury Race Course on 3rd September, 1983. The Wyandotte Club of Australia played host to the 34 beautiful Belgian Bantams that were on display. One of the results of this show was the meeting (on 9th October, 1983) at which the Belgian Bantam Club was actually formed. All exhibits were shown to perfection and a credit to their owners. The display caused a sensation and it could be said that they stole the show. Their future, judging by the many comments and requests for stock and eggs for setting, is certainly assured.

Tim Rumble (all the way from Cootamundra), Errol Green, Tommy Mumford, Gary Hart and Frank Catt were very proud to show their birds which they had bred under the guidance of the old master himself, "Sir" Gerry Coady. Errol Green and Tommy Mumford made the long trip up from the south coast. There were eight classes for d'Anvers and two classes for d'Uccle. It was a shame that there was only one d'Uccle shown. This was a cock shown by Frank Catt who is a well known Wyandotte breeder. The bird shown was a credit to his skill.

The Champion d'Anvers and Champion Belgian overall was a Lavender cockerel, also owned by Frank Catt.

Belgian Bantam Club
Annual Show Winners

d'Uccle d'Anvers

1983 Frank Catt - Millefleur Cock 1983 Frank Catt - Lavender ckrl

1984 No records available 1984 No records available

1985 Gerry Coady - Millefleur Hen 1985 Gerry Coady - Blue cock

1986 D. McMahon - Millefleur Cock 1986 Gerry Coady - Quail hen

1987 Gerry Coady - Millefleur Cockerel 1987 Gerry Coady - Quail hen

1988 Gerry Coady - Millefleur 1988 Alex Cheetham - Quail cock

1989 Peter & Paul Williams - Millefleur Cock 1989 Peter & Paul Williams
Lavender cockerel

1990 Gerry Coady - Millefleur Cock 1990 Peter & Paul Williams
Lavender cock

1991 Peter & Paul Williams - Millefleur Cock 1991 Laurie Clout - Quail hen

1992 Peter & Paul Williams - Millefleur Hen 1992 Peter & Paul Williams
Lavender cock

1993 Paul Williams - Millefleur Cock 1993 Paul Williams - Black ckrl

1994 Paul Williams - Millefleur Hen 1994 John Hamilton - Quail hen

1995 Paul Williams - Millefleur Hen 1995 Paul Williams - Lav hen

1996 Paul Williams - Porcelaine Hen 1996 Paul Williams - Black cock

1997 Matthew Old - Millefleur Cock 1997 Paul Williams - Black hen

1998 Paul Williams - Millefleur Cock 1998 Mrs Irene Hannan - Lav hen

1999 Show cancelled due to Newcastle disease outbreak

2000 Paul Williams - Cuckoo cockerel 2000 Paul Williams - Blue Quail

2001 Mrs Carolyn Shannon - Porcelaine hen 2001 Neville Woods - Quail hen

2002 Dale & Skye Baker - Cuckoo pullet                     2002 Liam & Janine Turner
                                                                                                          Quail hen

2003 Carolyn Shannon - Porcelaine hen                     2003 Neville Woods - Quail hen

2004 Neville Woods - Quail hen 2004 M & A Rowe - Quail ckrl

2005 Joan Jenkins - Black Mottled hen 2005 Irene Hannan - Black
Mottled hen

2006 Neville Woods - Porcelaine hen 2006 Neville Woods Black cock

de Watermael

1992 J Wallace - pullet 2000 Mrs Laurie Porter - Blue Quail hen

1993 John Hamilton - Black cock 2001 Jeff Reed - Quail pullet

1994 Gerry Coady - pullet 2002 Mrs Laurie Porter - Quail hen

1995 Yvonne Bartle - hen 2003 Mrs Laurie Porter - Quail hen

1996 Gerry Coady - cockerel 2004 Ron Hewitt - Lav Quail hen

1997 None shown 2005 Ron Hewitt - Lav Quail hen

1998 Jeff Reed - Black hen 2006 Ron Hewitt - Quail hen

1999 Show cancelled (Newcastle disease)

Belgian Bantam Club Annual Shows
List of Judges

1983   Doug McKenzie (Condell Park, NSW)
1984   Alex Cheetham (Ingleburn, NSW)
1985   No records available
1986   Keith Dubber
1987   Max Atkins
1988   Ron Cameron (Auburn, NSW)
1989   Ken Bergin (Summer Hill, NSW)
1990   Ken Spratt (Braemar, NSW)
1991   Stuart Fraser (Berrima, NSW)
1992   Wilf Wingett (Motto Farm, NSW)
1993   Alex Cheetham (Ingleburn, NSW)
1994   Ken Bergin (Summer Hill, NSW)
1995   Gary Hart (Caringbah, NSW)
1996   Alex Cheetham (Ingleburn, NSW)
1997   Brian Dukes (Engadine, NSW) and Scott Hayhoe (Tharwa, ACT)
1998   Gavin Woods (Kadina, SA)
1999   Show cancelled (Newcastle disease)
2000   Stuart Fraser (Berrima, NSW)
2001   Bruce Raines (d'Uccle) (Rossmore, NSW) and Graham Finlay (d'Anvers)
            (Gunnedah)
2002   David Simons (d'Uccle) (Caboolture, Qld) and Scott Hayhoe (d'Anvers)
            (Tharwa, ACT)
2003   Grahame Sharpe (d'Anvers) and Brendan Sharpe (d'Uccle) (Uralla, NSW)
2004   Robert Hunt (d'Uccle) and Brian Tiyce (d'Anvers) (Goulburn, NSW)
2005   Paul Williams (d'Anvers & de Watermael) (Conondale, Qld) and Wayne
            Rigby (d'Uccle) (Old Bar, NSW)
2006   Paul Williams (d'Uccle) (Conondale, Qld) and John Graveur (d'Anvers) (The
            Oaks, NSW) and Jeff Reed (de Watermael) (Conondale, Qld)

   Web design, graphic art and manufacture by
   Stephen Miller.

Said the first little chick, with a wiggle and a squirm,

I wish I had a nice fat worm.

Said the second little chick, with a giggle and a squeal.

I wish I had some fine yellow meal.

Said the old mother hen, from the green cabbage patch,

If you really want it, then get out and scratch!

WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT

A chicken crossing your path will bring you bad luck

A hen set on Sunday, provided the wind is in the north, will hatch all her eggs

Eggs will not hatch if they are carried over water

Having a rooster crow before midnight is unlucky

If a woman enters your house first on New Years Day your chickens will be pullets; if a man enters first they will be roosters

If eggs are set to hatch in the new moon the chickens will be healthy

To avoid bad luck when you find a soft shelled egg throw it over the house

The first broody hen of the season should be set on a Monday for good luck

Unexpected news will soon be heard if a rooster crows at dusk

Set a hen at sunrise in the light of the moon and all her eggs will hatch

To raise roosters set the hen after the sun has gone down

Two old women will come to your house if you see two hens fighting

You will have good luck with the eggs if you set a hen in the morning

Bad luck may be expected if a grey chicken scratches under your window

Candle an egg and if the air space is on the side it will hatch a hen

Hens will not lay near a potato patch

A chicken hatched early in the spring will lay every second day

If you boil the egg a pullet lays she will not go broody

Someone new is entering the family if a rooster looks directly at your front door and crows

If you set long pointy eggs they will hatch rooster; shorter round eggs will hatch hens

Scatter ashes in your house on Ash Wednesday before sunrise and your chickens will never have any lice

The best time to set a hen if you want a good hatch is exactly at noon

COLOURS SHOWN OVER THE YEARS AT
THE BELGIAN CLUB ANNUAL SHOWS

d'Uccle

Millefleur
Porcelaine
Lavender
Quail
Blue Quail
Silver Millefleur
Black Mottled
Lavender Mottled Black Mottled
Blue Mottled Cuckoo
Lavender Cuckoo
Black
White
Blue
Splashed
Cream Mottled
Citroen Millefleur
Buff Columbian
Blue Tail Buff Columbian

d'Anvers

Millefleur
Porcelaine
Lavender
Black
Quail
Blue Quail
Lavender Quail
Silver Quail
White Quail
White
Blue
Cuckoo
Lavender Cuckoo
Lavender Mottled
Black Mottled
Blue Mottled

de Watermael

Black
Quail
Blue Quail
Buff Columbian
Lavender Quail
Porcelaine
White Quail

HANDBOOK OF THE BELGIAN BANTAM CLUB OF AUSTRALIA

The Club has published a comprehensive Handbook
of the breed. It has 180 pages and is a B5 (258 x l84mm) (10" x 7.25") sized book. Sixteen of these pages contain
full colour photographs of our Australian birds as well
as some from overseas.

The text section has almost 100 B&W photos and illustrations. The Handbook consists of a full history
of the birds. both overseas and here in Australia, plus
a full Australian Standard.

There are also comprehensive chapters dealing with housing, management, hatching & rearing chickens, breeding & genetics, feeding, exhibiting and diseases. Copies are available from the Club Secretary for $49-50
(plus $3-00 postage and packaging within Australia).

The prices are in Australian dollars and the postage rate is for within Australia only.

Please direct inquires to the Secretary: (Mrs) Irene Hannan
"Mountain View", 930 Caparra Road,
Caparra, via Wingham, NSW 2429
Telephone: (02) 65507295 Email: channan@tpgi.com.au

The contents of these pages will always remain the property of the Belgian Bantam Club of Australia. The material may be used for the purposes of private study, research, or to further pass on this information as
permitted under copyright legislation, but only if the source is fully credited at all times. No part may be reproduced or re-used for any commercial purpose without the written permission of the Belgian Bantam Club of Australia. Further no modification to any of the information may be made without prior written consent.

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