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GENERAL INFORMATION
Three varieties of Belgian Bantams are available in Australia, the Barbu d'Anvers (Bearded Antwerp), the Barbu d'Uccle (Bearded Uccle) and the Barbu de Watermael (Bearded Watermael). These long established true bantams have no large counterpart. They are bred extensively in Europe, America and England. There are many colour varieties, some very intricately marked and representing an engrossing challenge for the bantam breeder.
There are also three other
types, the Barbu d'Everberg (Rumpless d'Uccle), the Barbu du Grubbe (Rumpless d'Anvers) and the Bosvoorde (Rumpless de Watermael) which are not currently being bred in Australia.
Quail de Watermael
cock
Pair of White d'Uccle
The Belgian Bantams have a tiny stature with a pert, upright carriage and whiskery owl-like faces. They are also unusual in that their plumage doesn't reach it's full potential until after the first moult, and the quality is then maintained for many years.
In recent years
they have become popular with many show exhibitors as the complex colour varieties offer a special appeal. Breeding for exhibition quality is a challenge,
not only with regard to plumage colour, but also in maintaining the type.
Their small size and docile nature ensures easy handling and the d'Uccle feather legged variety does very little damage if kept
in a back yard or garden. There is a difference in temperament between the two main types, with the
d'Anvers being a bit more active and mischievous, while the d'Uccle
are more placid.
Black d'Anvers
cock
Black Mottled d'Uccle hen
The d'Anvers is always rose combed and clean legged, the d'Uccle is always single combed and feather legged and the de Watermael always has a crest, rose comb and clean legs.
Their colours include Millefleur, Porcelaine, Silver Porcelaine, Quail, Silver Quail, Blue Quail, Lavender Quail, Lavender, Lavender Mottled, Blue, Black, Black Mottled, White, Silver Millefleur, Cuckoo, Cream, Ermine, and many, many more.
Belgian Bantams should be as small as possible.
The following
maximum weights serve as a general guide.
Original
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!
Barbu
d'Anvers
Male
700 - 800g
(25 - 28 oz)
Female
600 - 700g (21
- 25 oz)
Barbu
d'Uccle
Male
800 - 900g (28 - 32 oz)
Female
700 - 800g (25
- 28 oz)
Barbu
de Watermael
Male
600 - 700g (21 - 25 oz)
Female
500 - 600g (18
- 21 oz)
Left: Millefleur d'Uccle Right: Blue d'Anvers
These two pictures are details
from 1941 paintings by Rene Delin
CONSTITUTION
AND RULES OF CONDUCT OF
THE BELGIAN BANTAM CLUB OF AUSTRALIA
Name
The club is called “The Belgian Bantam Club of Australia”,
hereinafter called the “Club”.
Purpose
The aims of the Club are to encourage the breeding and
exhibiting of Belgian Bantams in Australia according to the
Standard as laid down by the Belgian Bantam Club of Australia and
printed in the “Handbook of the Belgian Bantam Club of
Australia”. This
statement also includes any further amendments made to the
Standard by the Club at any time in the future.
Membership
An application must
be made in writing on the “Application for Membership” form
and lodged with the Club Secretary and be accompanied by the
appropriate membership fee. As
soon as practicable after receipt of the application form, the
Secretary must notify the nominee, in writing, that they have been
accepted and welcome them to the Club.
The Secretary must then enter the member’s name and
details in the register of members.
The Club membership year runs from 1st July to the 30th
June. All fees are
due on or before the 1st July.
(a) Grades of membership
(1) Full membership.
This may be a single person, a couple, a family or a
designated group (eg a school).
One membership entitles the member/s to one Newsletter each
quarter and to one vote per membership at the Annual General
Meeting.
(2) Junior membership.
This is any person up to and including 16 years of age at
the date of joining or renewing Club membership, with the same
entitlements as full members as listed above.
(3) Honorary life membership – no fee payable.
Any Club member to receive this honour must be nominated by
three full Club members, each with a minimum of two years
continuous membership.
This nomination must then be voted upon at the next Annual
General Meeting of the Club, unless the nomination is withdrawn
beforehand.
As set from time to time by a vote of the members at the
Annual General Meeting by majority decision.
Such changes will not be effective immediately but date
from the start of the following membership year.
Each year a copy of the Membership Renewal Form shall be
sent to each member with the May Newsletter.
All members are required to complete the membership renewal
form and post it, with their yearly subscription, to the Club
Secretary before the 1st July each year.
Any member not complying will receive one further notice,
to be sent to that member with the August Newsletter.
If their subscription is not received within thirty days
from the date of postage of the August Newsletter they will be
deemed to have resigned from the Club and all their details will
be removed from the current membership list forthwith.
A person ceases to be a member of the Club if the person
dies, resigns membership, or is expelled from the Club.
A member of the Club who has paid all amounts due by the
member to the Club may resign from membership of the Club at any
time by notifying the Secretary in writing of the intention to
resign. The Secretary
must make an appropriate entry in the register of members.
No refund of the yearly subscription will be given to any
member at any time.
The Club Secretary must establish and maintain a register
of Club members specifying the name and address, contact details
and the date on which the person became a member.
This register will also contain details of all types and
colours of Belgian Bantams owned by the member, plus information
about other breeds of poultry kept, as per details contained in
the membership application or subsequent renewal forms.
However, members do have the right to ask that some or all
of their contact details be withheld from the published list. This register of members must be kept up-to-date by the Club
Secretary and a copy made available at any time to any Club member
requesting it.
(f)
Resolution of internal disputes
Disputes between individual Club members or between
members and officers of the Club are to be referred to the Club
Secretary for resolution by the Club Committee. Written depositions from all parties in dispute are to be
sent to all the Committee members for comment and advice on how to
resolve the dispute. The Committee, if required, may also appoint
one or more mediators to deal with the dispute. Any dispute not
resolved in this manner must then be put before the Annual General
Meeting of the Club, either in person or by written deposition.
A complaint may be made to the Committee by any person
that a member of the Club:
(a) Has persistently refused or neglected to comply with
provisions contained in this Constitution.
(b) Has persistently and wilfully acted in a manner
prejudicial to the interests of the Club.
On receiving such
a complaint, the Committee:
(a) Must cause notice of the complaint to be served on the
member concerned.
(b) Must give the member twenty one days from the time the
notice is served within which to make submissions to the Committee
in connection with the complaint.
(c) Must take into consideration any submissions made by the
member in connection with the complaint.
The Committee is to be called the “Committee of The
Belgian Bantam Club of Australia”, and
(a) Is to control and manage the affairs of the Club.
(b) Will carry out such functions as may be set out in this
Constitution.
(c) Has the power to perform all such acts and do all such
things as appear to the Committee to be necessary or desirable for
the proper management of the affairs of the Club.
The Committee
shall consist of:
(1) President.
(2) Vice Presidents (up to three).
(3) Secretary
(4) Treasurer
(5) Editor
(6) Annual Show Secretary
Election of Committee members
Nominations of candidates for election as Committee
Members of the Club
(a) Should preferably be made in writing, signed by two current
Club members and accompanied by the written consent of the
candidate (which may be endorsed on the form of the nomination).
(b) Should be delivered to the Secretary of the Club
before the date fixed for the holding of the Annual General
Meeting at which the election is to take place.
(c) Should this not occur the Club Secretary will accept written
or oral nominations on the day of the Annual General Meeting up
until the time of the actual election being held for the relevant
position.
The President shall preside at all meetings, and conduct
them according to the Constitution and rules of the Club. He or
she shall enforce due observance of this Constitution, decide all
questions of order and perform all other duties pertaining to the
office of President. The
President may also be eligible to be nominated for the position of
Assistant Annual Show Secretary (one or more as required), Annual
Show Merchandising Officer, Annual Show Sales Section Supervisor
or Secretary of the Club’s Victorian Show.
The Senior Vice-President shall assume all the duties of
the President in his or her absence.
In addition, he or she shall assist in the organisation of
Club activities and advance the Club interests in any manner
decided by the Committee. Any
one person nominated for the position of Vice President may also
be eligible to be nominated for the position of Annual Show
Secretary, Assistant Annual Show Secretary (one or more as
required), Annual Show Merchandising Officer, Annual Show Sales
Section Supervisor or Secretary of the Club’s Victorian Show.
(c)
Secretary
The Secretary of the Club must, as soon as practicable
after being appointed as Secretary, lodge notice with all
appropriate authorities details of his or her address and any
change in any of the Committee positions of the Club.
The Secretary is also responsible for the day-to-day
running of the Club, including the receipt and despatch of mail. A log of mail received and sent must be maintained at all
times. The Secretary
must also maintain and make available free of charge to anyone
requesting it the Club’s printed “Information Kit”.
The Secretary is required to write an interim report for
inclusion in each quarterly Club Newsletter and must keep members
up-to-date on all matters pertaining to Club affairs.
The Secretary is the custodian of the Club archives and all
Club merchandise items, including the Club Handbook and any other
Club publications.
(a) All appointments of members to the Committee
(b) The names of ordinary members and members of the
Committee and visitors present at a Committee meeting, general
meeting or Annual General Meeting.
(c) All proceedings at Committee meetings, general meetings
or Annual General Meetings.
It is the duty of the treasurer of the Club to ensure:
(a) That all money due to the Club is collected and received
and that all payments authorised by the Club are made.
(b) That correct books and accounts are kept showing the
financial affairs of the Club, including full details of all
receipts and expenditure connected with the activities of the
Club.
(c) That an interim Treasurer’s Report be provided for inclusion
in each quarterly Club Newsletter.
(d) That an Annual Treasurer’s Report for the period 1st July to
30th June be compiled and included in the August Newsletter each
year.
(e) That a full costing of all official Club Shows be compiled for
inclusion in the Club Newsletter.
(e) Editor
The Editor shall be responsible for producing a quality
quarterly Club Newsletter with the intention that it be posted on
the second Monday of February, May, August and November each year.
Each Newsletter must contain reports that may be obtained
from other Club or Committee members.
These shall include: President’s Report, Secretary’s
Report, Treasurer’s Report, Correspondence received and sent
(abbreviated summary) and a welcome to all new members.
Each May Newsletter will contain a membership renewal form,
the schedule and classes for the Annual Show and a copy of the
official Agenda for the Annual General Meeting of the Club.
Each November Newsletter shall contain a full membership
listing for the current Club year.
It is also expected that information on various upcoming
shows, plus show reports, shall be included in the appropriate
Newsletters as well as informative articles and information on any
topics considered appropriate for such a Newsletter.
The Annual Show Secretary shall be responsible for the
running of the Club’s Annual Show.
His or her duties and the proposed budget allowance shall
be set out by the Committee of the Club to ensure efficient
running, both beforehand and on the day, of the Annual Show.
This shall generally consist of preparing the show schedule
and classes for inclusion in the Newsletter, organising the
purchase of the necessary trophies and/or prizes, allocating
duties to the Assistant Annual Show Secretary (one or more as
required), Annual Show Merchandising Officer, Annual Show Sales
Section Supervisor and any stewards required to assist the judges.
On the day of the Show the Annual Show Secretary shall have
sufficient authority to ensure the smooth running of all aspects
of the Show and is entitled to enlist the aid of any person or
persons required to attain these objectives.
The Show Secretary shall be responsible for the running of
the Club’s Victorian Show.
His or her duties and the proposed budget allowance shall
be set out by the Committee of the Club to ensure efficient
running, both beforehand and on the day, of the Show. This shall generally consist of preparing and posting the
show schedule and classes, organising the purchase of the
necessary trophies and/or prizes and appointing stewards to assist
the judge. On the day of the Show the Show Secretary shall have
sufficient authority to ensure the smooth running of all aspects
of the Show and is entitled to enlist the aid of any person or
persons required to attain these objectives.
(h) Casual
vacancies
For the purposes of this Constitution a casual vacancy in
the Committee occurs if the member dies, ceases to be a member of
the Club, resigns office by notice in writing given to the
Secretary, is removed from office by the Club, or becomes
mentally incapacitated.
(i) Removal
of a Committee member
The Club at any general or Annual General Meeting may by
resolution remove any member of the Committee from office before
the expiration of the member’s term of office and may by
resolution appoint another person to hold office until the
expiration of the term of office of the member so removed.
This may only be effected by a two-thirds majority vote of
those present at the meeting.
Committee Meetings and quorum
Any two members of the Committee may call for a
Committee meeting to be held at such time and place as the
Committee may determine. Oral
or written notice of a meeting of the Committee must be given by
the Secretary to each member of the Committee at least twenty one
days before the time appointed for the holding of an official
Committee meeting. Notice of a meeting must specify the general nature of the
business to be discussed at the meeting.
Any three members of the Committee constitute a quorum for
the transaction of business at a meeting of the Committee.
No business is to be transacted by the Committee unless a
quorum is present. At
a meeting of the Committee the President or, in the President’s
absence, a Vice-President is to preside.
If the President or Vice-Presidents are absent or unwilling
to act, one of the remaining members of the Committee may be
chosen by the members present at the meeting to preside.
Questions arising at a meeting of the Committee or of any
sub-committee appointed by the Committee are to be determined by a
majority of the votes of members of the Committee or sub-committee
present at the meeting. Each Committee member present at a meeting of the Committee
or of any sub-committee appointed by the Committee (including the
person presiding at the meeting) is entitled to one vote.
Delegation by Committee to a sub-committee
The Committee may, by instructions in writing, delegate
to one or more sub-committees (consisting of such members as the
Committee thinks fit) the exercise of such of the functions of the
Committee as are specified in that instruction. Any act or thing
done by a sub-committee acting in the exercise of a delegation
under this rule has the same force and effect as it would have if
it had been done by the Committee.
The Committee may, by instructions in writing, revoke
wholly or in part any delegation under this rule.
A sub-committee may meet and adjourn as it thinks proper.
The Club must, at least once in each calendar year,
convene an Annual General Meeting of its members.
The Annual General Meeting of the Club is currently held in
conjunction with the Club’s Annual Show, this being deemed the
only date at which sufficient Committee and general members gather
together. The quorum
for the Annual General Meeting shall be deemed to be those
financial members of the Club in attendance on the day at the time
and place specified in the official Agenda.
In addition to any other business that may be transacted at
an Annual General Meeting, the business of an Annual General
Meeting is to include the following:
(a) To
confirm the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting and of
any general meeting or Committee meeting held since that meeting
and discuss any business arising from those minutes.
(b) To receive from the President, Secretary and Treasurer
appropriate reports on the activities of the Club during the
preceding year.
(c) To receive and consider any submissions made by the
Committee or Club members according to the official Agenda
published in the Club’s May Newsletter.
However, provision is also made here for members to
introduce new business on the day of the Annual General Meeting
providing that said business is of such a lesser nature that it
would not require previous notice to all members via the official
Agenda. The members
present at the Annual General Meeting shall vote on whether any
such new business may be introduced on the day or held over until
the next Annual General Meeting.
(d) To elect a Club Patron or Patrons.
(e) To elect the Committee of the Club for the forthcoming
year.
(f) To elect any extra persons than may be required to assist the
Committee.
(1) Assistant Annual Show Secretary (one
or more as required),
(2) Annual Show Merchandising Officer,
(3) Annual Show Sales Section Supervisor
(4) Show Secretary for the Club’s
official Victorian Show.
(g) To elect judges, stewards and delegates for any
relevant shows, meetings, associations, etc to which the Club is
entitled nominate officials in the year ahead. This currently involves nominating judges and stewards for
the Sydney Royal and Melbourne Royal, accepting nominations for
judges for the Club’s Annual Show and Victorian Show and our
appointing our delegate to the Exhibition Poultry Association of
NSW. This number may
be altered or added to at any time.
(h) To elect any other persons as may be required from time to
time.
General Meetings and quorum
The Committee may, if the circumstances warrant it,
convene a general meeting of the Club.
The Secretary must, at least twenty one days before the
date fixed for the holding of the general meeting, give written
notice to each Club member specifying the place, date and time of
the general meeting and the nature of the business proposed to be
transacted at the meeting. No
business other than that specified in the notice convening the
meeting is to be transacted at the meeting.
No item of business is to be transacted at a general
meeting unless a quorum of members entitled under this
Constitution to vote is present during the time the meeting is
considering that item.
Ten members
present in person (being members entitled under this Constitution
to vote at a general meeting) constitute a quorum for the
transaction of the business of a general meeting.
If within half an hour after the appointed time for the
commencement of a general meeting a quorum is not present, the
meeting is to be dissolved. The
President or, in the President’s absence, one of the
Vice-Presidents, is to preside as chairperson at each general
meeting of the Club. If
the President or the Vice-Presidents are absent or unwilling to
act, the members present must elect one of their number to preside
as chairperson at the meeting.
Making of decisions
Answering a question or motion arising at a general
meeting or Annual General Meeting of the Club is to be determined
on a show of hands unless before the declaration of the show of
hands a secret ballot is demanded.
At a general meeting or Annual General Meeting of the Club
a secret ballot may be demanded by the chairperson or by at any
member present in person or by proxy at the meeting.
A declaration by the chairperson confirms that a resolution
has been carried, or carried unanimously, or carried by a
particular majority, or lost.
An entry to that effect in the minute book of the Club,
giving the count of votes, is evidence of the number or proportion
of the votes recorded in favour of or against that resolution.
On any question or motion arising at a general meeting
or Annual General Meeting of the Club members have one vote only
per membership. In
the case of joint, family or group membership one person should be
appointed to vote on all issues.
All votes must be given personally or by proxy but no
member may hold more than five proxies.
In the case of an equality of votes on a question at a
general meeting or Annual General Meeting, the chairperson of the
meeting is entitled to exercise a second or casting vote to obtain
a result. No member
is entitled to vote at any general meeting or Annual General
Meeting of the Club unless all money due by that member to the
Club has been paid. Each
member is entitled to appoint another member as proxy by written
notice given to the Secretary no later than three days before the
time of the meeting in respect of which the proxy is appointed.
The Club currently holds two official shows each year -
the Club’s Annual Show and the Club’s Victorian Show.
This may be changed or added to at any time at the
direction of the Committee.
(a) Club rules relating to official Club shows. All official Club shows are to be conducted under the rules
of the appropriate state authority, with certain exceptions made
by the Club, as follows. A
class shall consist of a minimum of six birds.
However, the Committee reserves the right to accept smaller
classes if so desired. The
Committee also reserves the right to join classes together to form
an Any Other Colour (AOC) class in the event of insufficient
entries in any particular class.
If sufficient birds of a single colour are entered in any
AOC class the Committee may create an extra class for that colour.
At any time in the future the Committee of the Club may make
further changes to the show schedule.
(c) Exhibitors.
The Club allows both adult and junior members from the same
family or group to show Belgian bantams at any official Club show.
There are no restrictions on the type or colour of birds
shown by different members of the same family or group.
Nor is there a restriction on such birds being shown in the
same class by different family or group members.
However, only junior members (up to and including 16
years of age) may exhibit birds in the junior section.
Junior exhibitors may also enter the open section, but must
pay the full adult entry fee for each bird entered.
(d) Club perpetual trophies.
All perpetual trophies awarded by, or in the hands of, the
Club always remain the property and responsibility of the Club.
Members who have been awarded perpetual trophies shall be
liable to defray the cost of repair to, or replacement of, any
perpetual trophies damaged whilst in their possession.
Members awarded a Club perpetual trophy must also undertake
to return such trophy to the Club at, or preferably at least two
weeks before, the show at which it will again be awarded.
Any member not able to guarantee to do this will not be
permitted to take the perpetual trophy away with them at the
conclusion of the show. The
perpetual trophy will remain in the hands of the Club until the
following year. In
addition, Club perpetual trophies may only be awarded to Club
members whose subscriptions have been fully paid up.
If a person who is not a Club member wins a perpetual
trophy that perpetual trophy will remain with the Club until
awarded the following year. However, the winner’s name will still be inscribed on that
trophy.
Miscellaneous
(a) Insurance.
The Club must effect and maintain insurance to cover public
liability with respect to holding any official Club show,
exhibition or event. This
is currently obtained through the Exhibition Poultry Association
of New South Wales and covers the Club for up to ten million
Australian dollars at any show within Australia designated as an
official Club show. The
title “Belgian Bantam Club of Australia (……) Show” must be
used to ensure complete coverage.
(b) Funds - source.
The funds of the Club are to be derived from annual
subscription fees from members, donations, entry fees at Club
shows, sale of merchandise and publications, plus any raffles or
other competitions that may be held during the year. All money received by the Club must be deposited by the
Treasurer as soon as practicable.
The Treasurer of the Club must, after receiving any money,
issue an appropriate receipt as soon as possible thereafter.
(c) Funds - management.
Subject to any resolution passed by the Club at a general
meeting or Annual General Meeting, the funds of the Club are to be
used in pursuance of the objects of the Club in such manner as the
Committee determines. A
separate account is to be maintained for sales of the Club
Handbook. Such money
is not to be used for the day to day running of the Club, but set
aside against the time a new Handbook is to be produced and
printed. The current
Club President and current Club Treasurer must both sign all
cheques for both accounts.
(d) Alteration of the Constitution. This
Constitution may be altered, rescinded or added to only by a
special resolution of the Club at the Annual General Meeting of
the Club. Any
proposed changes or alterations must be sent, in writing, to all
Club members prior to the Annual General Meeting of the Club.
These changes are to be included in the May Newsletter to
ensure adequate written notice is given to all members.
An appropriate entry must be added to the Annual General
Meeting Agenda. All
changes made at any given Annual General Meeting become effective
immediately, excepting any change in the yearly subscriptions,
which shall not take effect until the beginning of the next full
membership year.
(e) Alteration to the Australian Standard or Australian
Colour Standard for Belgian Bantams.
(f) Custody of Club books and merchandise.
The Club Treasurer must keep in his or her custody all
books, records and other documents relating to position of
Treasurer of the Club. The
Club Secretary must keep in his or her custody, or under his or
her control, all other records, books, documents and merchandise
relating to the Club. All
such records, books and documents held by the Treasurer or
Secretary must be made available for inspection by any Club member
at any reasonable hour. Such
notice of inspection should be requested at least one week
beforehand.
APPENDIX
A
BELGIAN
BANTAM CLUB OF AUSTRALIA
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AGENDA
(a) ………………..
(b)
………………..
(c) ………………..
(d) ……………….. etc
(b) Nominations for Melbourne Royal judge for ……
(b) Nominations for Melbourne Royal stewards for ……
(a) President
(b) Senior Vice-President
(c) Vice-President
(d) Vice President
(e) Secretary
(f) Treasurer
(g) Editor
(h) Annual Show
Secretary/Manager
(15) Election of additional persons to assist the Committee during
the year
(a) Assistant Annual Show Secretary (one or more as required)
(b) Annual Show Merchandising Officer
(c) Annual Show Sales Section Supervisor
(d) Show Secretary for the Club’s Victorian Show
(e) Any other persons as required.
(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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