A Brief History of the Federation
By Terry Martin BVSc
Zebra Finch keeping first became organised in the late 1960’s with the formation of the Zebra Finch Society of Australia (ZFSA) Inc, based in Sydney. During the 1980’s two new clubs formed which were originally branches of the ZFSA. The first of those clubs has become the Lake Macquarie Zebra Finch Society (LMZFS) and the second club is now the South East Queensland Zebra Finch Society (SEQZFS). During the late ‘80s problems with how the clubs related to one another, the relationship being an unequal one. This lead to the transformation of the LMZFS into an individual entity, yet there was still no way for different clubs to productively interact with one another.
At the start of the 1990’s a new club formed in South Australia, which has gone on to become the Adelaide Zebra Finch Society (AZFS). Discussions between all the Australian clubs were occurring unofficially, to find a way for the clubs to co-operate with each other. At the end of 1990 the LMZFS and the AZFS set the foundations between them that would become the Federation of Zebra Finch Societies Australia. At around the same time, another branch of the ZFSA was formed, known as the Central Coast and Hunter Valley Zebra Finch Society (CC&HVZFS).
Over Easter 1991, a meeting was held in Sydney between representatives of all of the existing Zebra Finch societies (ZFSA, LMZFS, SEQZFS, AZFS, CC&HVZFS) to discuss the constitution of the Federation. This became the first annual meeting of the Federation and successfully established a constitution and an agreement from all clubs to join the Federation, although the two existing branches of the ZFSA, the SEQZFS and the CC&HVZFS had to first rewrite their own constitutions and become fully independent clubs.
By 1992, a new club had now formed in the Western Australian Zebra Finch Society (WAZFS) and delegates from the ZFSA and CC&HVZFS travelled to Perth in June of that year for the second Federation meeting. The main topic of discussion was a National Show Standard.
Easter 1993 saw the third meeting of the Federation held in Brisbane with the ZFSA, LMZFS, SEQZFS and CC&HVZFS represented. Discussions continued on the National Standard.
The 1994 meeting was hosted by the LMZFS and was attended by delegates of the ZFSA, LMZFS, SEQZFS, AZFS, WAZFS and CC&HVZFS. This meeting saw good progress achieved with the standard and an alteration to the constitution to allow two thirds majority voting decisions to be passed on matters other than the constitution. The LMZFS also introduced the concept of having a Federation dinner on the Saturday night. WAZFS voiced interest in possibly entering a team in the NSW State Titles but a national show was still not on the agenda.
At around this time, a second club formed in Adelaide and in 1995 the two South Australian clubs jointly hosted the fifth Federation meeting. Delegates from all seven Zebra Finch societies in Australia attended this meeting, for the first and only time. The meeting weekend featured a team show competition between the two South Aussie clubs as well as continuing the Federation dinner concept from the previous year. Discussions still centred on the show standard, with most of the contentious issues finalised. The ZFSA moved that a National Team show be established and successfully argued for the right to host it the following year. The Beige standard was approved, the first new colour since the formation of the Federation.
In 1996, the sixth Federation meeting and 1st Federation show was held in Sydney. Five clubs attended the meeting and participated in the show, with the winner being the WAZFS. The CC&HVZFS folded at around this time and the second South Australian club pulled out of attendance just prior to the meeting and then folded during the subsequent twelve months, leaving the Federation with the current five member societies. This meeting agreed that future meetings be held in August or September to avoid clashing with school holidays over Easter and higher air fares.
The seventh meeting and second Federation show was held in Perth in September 1997. The national standard was finalised and printing authorised. The team show was won again by the WAZFS; however the AZFS did not field a team although they participated in the meeting. And the Queensland Isabel was approved as a national standard.
The 1998 meeting was hosted by the SEQZFS in Brisbane and revision of the new standard begun immediately. The fellows from Perth made it a hat trick, winning their third National show in a row. All five clubs attended and exhibited teams and have continued to do so each year since.
The ninth meeting was hosted by the LMZFS at Kurri Kurri in 1999. A new winner emerged for the fourth National show in the form of the ZFSA.
In the year 2000, Adelaide played host to the tenth meeting. The revision of the show standard was largely completed. The WAZFS regained the National title for the fourth time.
The eleventh meeting in 2001 was held in Sydney and hosted by the ZFSA. The ZFSA again proved successful in winning the sixth Federation show.
The year 2002 saw the meeting back in Perth for the twelve meeting. The ZFSA was victorious for the third time in the Federation show. The Carabel and the Charcoal were made interim standards after the constitution covering interim standards was thoroughly revised.
And last year, in 2003, the 13th meeting and 8th Federation show was hosted in Brisbane by the SEQZFS. The WAZFS claimed their fifth title but not until after the hosts gave the competition a shake up. The Alumina was made an interim standard and the Charcoal was approved as a full national standard.
This year the event returns to Kurri Kurri, with the LMZFS playing host and the Federation show is expected to be the mostly competitive to date. Watch out for the Queenslanders!