Branch wants members

By Shaun Inguanzo
BIRD lovers in Melbourne’s south east want to ruffle Greater Dandenong residents’ feathers in a bid to unearth new members.
The south-eastern branch of the Victorian Cockatiel and Aviary Bird Society has met for more than four years in Dandenong but to this day has never had a Greater Dandenong member.
Branch president Graeme Mayes said the south-eastern wing of the society had about 25 members from neighbouring suburbs such as Hastings and Cranbourne, but never Dandenong.
“About 15 years ago, I got a couple of cockatiels when I was living in New South Wales, and I started from there,” he said.
“But the only club here then was in Morwell.”
Mr Mayes and a group of dedicated bird lovers established the south-eastern branch and decided Dandenong was the most central location to meet.
Since then, dedicated bird lovers such as Dingley’s Brian Higginbothom, 54, have bred cockatiels, budgies, finches and other types of birds.
Mr Higginbothom said he bred cockatiels and currently had about 150 in his aviary. Both Mr Mayes and Mr Higginbothom said they had an interest in birds because they not only made great pets, but were a challenge to breed.
“I just enjoy having them and breeding colours and mutations over the years,” Mr Higginbothom said.
The south-eastern branch of the Victorian Cockatiel and Aviary Bird Society will hold its next meeting at the Dandenong Neighbourhood House on Tuesday, 13 June.
Contact Graeme Mayes on 5979 3742 for more information.