The Australian Rare Breeds Import Syndicate
The Australian Rare Breeds Import Syndicate is an initiative to bring previously extinct, non-existent or extremely rare breeds of poultry back to Australia, started by Meredith Parker in 2003. It is now nearing its successful conclusion, with eggs from 45 breeds and 22 extra varieties and colours due to arrive in Australia in May of next year. 19 of these breeds will be brand new, never before seen in Australia - including Dutch bantams, Jersey giants, Peasant Fowl, Sumatra and many others.
According to Meredith Parker “The facility in the UK is now working, and the source flock has been hatched in quarantine. Dr. David Spackman has been running the facility for us, doing a great job dealing with all the varie-ties and breeds. His practice manager Rob has been doing a lot of the hands on as well for us.”
This exhaustive and expensive process has taken almost ten years to set up - the project had to wait for space in Australia’s quarantine facilities, and have their own facility constructed in the United Kingdom. The source birds had to be hatched in quarantine, and their eggs will be sent to Aus-tralia where they must then be hatched in quarantine and undergo three months in quarantine once hatched. However apparently it has been a rewarding project; “What a great thing it has been to be involved in this - the way people have pulled together to make it work, and there has been some people who have put in a great amount of effort. It has been just an enjoyable effort!” Meredith Parker stated. “There have been times that it looked like it would fall into bits but it always came through. There have been people who have helped enor-mously, including people on the other side of the world who went to huge lengths to assist for nothing in return. It has been great how people helped out.”
Around four people in Tasmania will be bringing in birds as part of the pro-ject, while other birds will be going to every state except for the Northern Territory. “About 65 people are part of the project and bringing in birds, even a couple of poultry clubs have pitched in as a group.”
Inquiries can be made to Meredith Parker at mrdthprkr@yahoo.com