the New South Wales Cichlid Society

When: Saturday 3 October 2009

Those who have secured their lots book in time is between 12:00pm and 1:15pm -

Auction starts 2:00pm

Where: Nuwarra Public School, Mckay Ave Moorebank

Entering Lots:

Don’t forget to pack 8 bags per foam box and number them from 1-8. This will ensure our auction steward will select lots in the correct order so that equity in our auction process can be achieved. There will be a 2 stage scrutineering process adopted at this auction. Your bags will be checked and their contents scrutinised for correct identification and health of the fish. Due to their special needs large fish are not to be placed in buckets but should be double bagged in suitable large bags and fish known to be aggressive in nature bagged individually. In the second stage your paperwork will be checked off and your fish moved to the holding area.

Please help us out and ensure that all ‘book in’ sheets are completed using both the scientific and common names (you may access a species list from our Website. Although the site is a work in progress the species list there may assist you with this task). This allows your fish to be entered into the database and if available a photo will be displayed. This is important not only for the sellers but also for the buyers wanting to see what a fish typically looks like.

Time will be saved if the correct procedures are taken from the start, otherwise you will have to correct the problem before the lots will be accepted and this may delay the start of the auction. The welfare of the livestock is paramount for the club, remembering that we would like the best conditions possible over a day that may see the fish bagged for 15 hours or more.

Remember if you are selling fish please do not feed them 24-48 hours before bagging them. Also remember to add some Prime or an equivalent and if at all possible please use O2.

Tape over labels on bags with wide clear tape and add lot number with permanent marker.

Mulitiple bags to be placed inside a larger bag or securely taped around as well as across from the top to bottom of bags using wide clear tape ..not household sticky tape.

Viewing

There will be no viewing of the lots due to the mishandling of fish in previous auctions and for the welfare of the livestock in general. There have been a considerable number of complaints regarding this matter. The auctioneers will be only to happy to describe the lots for you as they come up, a photo wherever possible will be displayed during the auction and the runners can show you the fish throughout the process as well

We know that you will understand our reasons for not allowing this practice to continue.

Who can sell fish?

Only financial members with allocated lots may sell their fish at our Major Auctions. Unfortunately new members joining on the day are unable to sell any fish, but are most welcome to grab a bargain

Bidders cards for visitors will incur a $5 fee.

Raffles

Bagging Station and Trade Table

If you need to rebag your purchases you can do so for $1 at the bagging station.
Bill and Lena will be manning the O2 and bagging station for the auction and the Trade Table will also be in operation

Remember

The auction will start at 2pm sharp at Nuwarra Public School, McKay Ave. Moorebank, and is for fish, or aquarium related products only.

All items to be auctioned must be booked in between 12:00 noon and 1:15pm

All lots must be adequately marked with the name and number of fish, plus the reserve price if any.

Fish lots that are not labelled with the correct name of the fish or without a name will be immediately passed in.

- A total maximum of Three (3) lots of non cichlid species.

Fish must be properly bagged. A charge of $1 will be payable where it is necessary to add oxygen or to re- bag the lot.

All bids will be in whole dollar units. Bids will be in minimum amounts of $1 increments from $1 to $20. $2 increments from $20 to $50. $5 increments beyond $50 and $10 bids after $100.

If anybody is interested in assisting the committee on the day, please make yourself known to us. Without the help of our volunteers the major auctions would not be as successful or enjoyable as they are for both members and visitors and of course your committee.

The committee looks forward to seeing you all on the day

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you wish to know more about this special day for the NSWCS either through this site or http://www.nswcs.org.au/content/.

Lots available for the October Major Auction for financial members please see Peter Baron at the meeting.
Giant Fish Raffle
When: 7:30pm Saturday 5th September 2009
Where:Nuwarra Public School, Mckay Ave MoorebankWhat’s On:
Talks
Anthony Ramsay - Singapore Trip
Supper
An array of refreshments for you to enjoy for a gold coin donation
And all the wonderful, usual stuff:
Lucky Door Prize
Financial members who sign in by 19:00 will receive a Lucky Door Ticket on entry.
Trade Table
Bill and Lena will be only too willing to assist you with the purchase of all your dry goods needs
Library
Mini Auction
Member’s Draw
We had no winner last month so a prize will be added to the tank this month
Table Show
Giant Fish Raffle
On behalf of the 09-10 committee we look forward to seeing you all in September

Kind regards,
Aline Sinclair
0404 489 445

NSWCS AGM
Come and support your club and have a say in the election of the 2009-10 committee  

08-09 CLUB MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS ARE NOW DUE - Please see our membership officer at this meeting - only financial members will be able to participate in the voting process.  When: 7:30pm Saturday 1st August 2009 

Where:Nuwarra Public School, Mckay Ave Moorebank 

What’s On: 

Election of the 09-10 Committee: 

Supper 

Back by popular demand - The Breeders Market 

In lieu of the mini auction we are opening the hall to our breeders to bring in what they choose for sale. All buyers will have an opportunity to meet the breeders and buy what they have on offer. You can haggle to your hearts content or get a taste of what they may be breeding and place your orders directly 

And all the wonderful, usual stuff: 

Lucky Door Prize 

Financial members who sign in by 19:00 will receive a Lucky Door Ticket on entry. 

Trade Table 

Library 

Member’s Draw 

Table Show 

On behalf of the 08-09 committee we look forward to seeing you all in August 

Aline Sinclair
0404 489 445 

When: 7:30pm Saturday 4th July 2009

Where:Nuwarra Public School, Mckay Ave Moorebank

What’s On:

Talk(s)

Alex Jordon - On his recent trip to Lake Tanganyika

Membership Renewals now due

Supper

An array of refreshments for you to enjoy for a gold coin donation

And all the wonderful, usual stuff:

Lucky Door Prize

Financial members who sign in by 19:00 will receive a Lucky Door Ticket on entry.

Trade Table

Bill and Lena will be only too willing to assist you with the purchase of all your dry goods needs

Mini Auction

Member’s Draw

We had no winner last month so a prize will be added to the tank this month

Table Show

On behalf of the committee we look forward to seeing you all in July

When: 7:30pm Saturday 6th June 2009 

Where:Nuwarra Public School, Mckay Ave Moorebank 

What’s On: 

Talk(s) 

DIY Night - for those handy newbies who want to cut costs 

Supper 

An array of refreshments for you to enjoy for a gold coin donation 

And all the wonderful, usual stuff: 

Lucky Door Prize 

Financial members who sign in by 19:00 will receive a Lucky Door Ticket on entry. 

Trade Table 

Bill and Lena will be only too willing to assist you with the purchase of all your dry goods needs 

Mini Auction 

Member’s Draw 

We had no winner last month so a prize will be added to the tank this month 

Table Show 

On behalf of the committee we look forward to seeing you all in June:) 

Aline Sinclair 

0404 489 445 

Editor 

When:
Saturday 7 March 2009Those who have secured their lots book in time is between 12:00pm and 1:15pm 

When: 
7:30pm Saturday 7 February 2009

Where:
Nuwarra Public School, Mckay Ave Moorebank. 

What’s On: 
Giant Fish Raffle 
This month in lieu of the usual goodies on offer we have our bi-annual Giant Fish Raffle with a great array of cichlids for you to choose from. So come along and try your luck. 

And all the wonderful, usual stuff: 
Lucky Door Prize 
Financial members who sign in by 19:30 will receive a Lucky Door Ticket on entry. 

Trade Table 
Bill and Lena will be only too willing to assist you with the purchase of all your dry goods needs 

Supper table 
A time to network, suppertime is made even better with the array of sandwiches and biscuits, tea and coffee, provided by the committee for your enjoyment and a gold coin donation to the club. 

Mini Auction 
The not so mini, mini auction will be there for your buying pleasure. All items to be submitted for the mini auction must be booked in between 18:45 - 19:30. All lots must be adequately marked with the name and number of fish, plus the reserve price if any. 

Member’s Draw 
As there was no winner last month the prize has been added to and carried forward - you have to attend to win.

Table Show 
On behalf of the committee, we look forward to seeing you all there!

When: 7:30pm Saturday 3rd January 2009
Where:Nuwarra Public School, Mckay Ave Moorebank
What’s On:
Talk
Upcoming Eco Tourism Trip to the Amazon - Michael Keating
First run of Auction Lots available for the March Major Auction - be sure to place your name down if you want some
Supper
An array of refreshments for you to enjoy for a gold coin donation
And all the wonderful, usual stuff:
Lucky Door Prize
Financial members who sign in by 19:00 will receive a Lucky Door Ticket on entry.
Trade Table
Bill and Lena will be only too willing to assist you with the purchase of all your dry goods needs
Library
By popular demand our collection of books are returning for your enjoyment and education during the meeting and for borrowing should you wish to.
Mini Auction
Member’s Draw
We had no winner last month so a prize will be added to the tank this month
Table Show
On behalf of the committee, I would like to wish you all a safe and happy New Year - we look forward to seeing you all in January

Aline Sinclair
0404 489 445
Editor

Hello all,

I have just come home from work so was unable to post this sooner.

For quite some time now this has been on the agenda and it seems that it is finally going ahead.
Please act now.
Cut and paste the letter written by a legal representative - place it on your letterheads and send asap.
Our fish need our voices.

ALL FISH HOBBYISTS - YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS URGENTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last week representatives of the pet industry attended a meeting in Canberra with officials from Department of the Environment & Water & also the Bureau of Rural Sciences. We are advised from this meeting that they intend, effective 7th November, to recategorise ALL of the fish species currently on their “Grey List” as “Noxious”.

This would result in all of these fish being illegal to sell or even keep privately, with the sanctions of fines & possible convictions for anyone caught doing so, & the seizing & destroying of the fish.

The full grey list can be viewed on http://www.brs.gov.au/ornamental , but includes amongst others most of the large American cichlids, all arowanas, bichirs, knifefish, stingrays, eels, koi & a number of large catfish & “exotics”. In effect almost all large fish kept in the hobby today.

It is also important to stress that this list is not final, & other species can be added later.

If allowed to proceed this legislation will decimate our hobby, & if this is of concern to you we need your help to stop it. One of the major problems is that the Government Departments have mainly consulted wholesalers who are not badly effected by the fish listed, & we need to ensure that they learn just how much opposition is out there to this proposal.

THE ONLY THING THAT WILL STOP THIS OUTRAGE IS IF WE BURY THE DEPARTMENTS & MINISTER IN OBJECTIONS. Hobbyists, retailers & aquarium societies are all banding together to give a unified response to achieve adequate consultation.

Attached please find a pro forma letter that we would urge you sign & email to the parties listed, & preferably also your local member as well. Of course feel free to add your comments or write your own if you prefer.
Please also tell anyone eelse you know & ask them to help - part of the problem is no -one has been warned this was coming, & they have given us so little time to respond.

PLEASE ACT NOW - AFTER 7th NOVEMBER IT WILL BE TOO LATE. Don’t leave it to others - we need every voice we can muster, only weight of numbers will make a difference.

Email contacts are:-

Tony.Burke.MP@aph.gov.au

Peter.Garrett.MP@aph.gov.au

nick.gascoigne@environment.gov.au

anthony.moore@brs.gov.au

Letter

For the attention of :-

Mr Anthony Burke, Minister DAFF, PO Box 6022, Parliament House, Canberra, 2600
Mr Peter Garrett, Minister DEWHA, PO Box 6022, Parliament House, Canberra,2600
Mr Anthony Moore, Bureau of Rural Science, GPO Box 858 Canberra 2601
Mr Nick Gascoine, Department of Environment, Water, Heritage & the Arts GPO Box 787, Canberra, ACT,2601

Dear Sirs,

Re ; Proposed extension of the Australian & National Noxious Fish List

It has been brought to my attention that your department(s) intend to upgrade all of the fish species currently on the National Grey List to the category of Noxious, & I wish to object & oppose such action.

I am alarmed that this intention was only made known to a few industry representatives last week yet is proposed to be finalised by 7th November. This is clearly inadequate time for all interested parties to be informed & respond, & I preface my objections with a request that any decisions be delayed for sixty days to enable fair & reasonable consultation. I note also that to date that consultation which has occurred has mainly been with parties such as industry wholesalers who are largely unaffected by the proposal, & you need to be made aware of the very large number of retailers, hobbyists & members of aquarium societies who will be adversely affected.

- Unlike the current Noxious list, the proposed extension now includes many widely owned aquarium species, & many of the most prized & valuable in the hobby. Fish such as the American Cichlids, Arowanas, Stingrays,Knifefish, Eels, Bichirs & others form the heart of the collections of most serious aquarists, & are the economic mainstay of many aquarium retailers. Indeed many retailers would struggle to survive this proposal, particularly the specialist retailers who cannot generate sufficient profit if deprived of their most valuable sales. Note also that many hobbyists have tens ( & some hundreds) of thousands of dollars worth of fish in their collections, which value your proposal would wipe out over night.

- Any recategorisation should be on a species by species basis, not a blanket ban, & the “scientific” basis for such action needs to be both reasonable & transparent, & widely consulted rather than just an arbitrary subjective departmental opinion. Many of these species could not survive &/or reproduce in our waterways - due to temperature, water chemistry & predators - & even of those that theoretically could many have been kept as pets here for decades without problem.

- How can one reasonably claim the listed fish are worse than many not targeted, or is the ultimate intention to ban all non-native Australian fish? How can it be that a common goldfish is not banned when it can & does live in our colder & polluted waterways. Taken to it’s logical conclusion are we to tell all pet shops in Australia they cannot sell goldfish, & all Australian children that they cannot have a goldfish in a bowl?

- Far from protecting our environment the proposal will have the opposite effect. Regrettably it will spawn a black market just as has occurred with reptiles & birds, & remove any chance of proper regulation. And fish which are today very valuable & unlikely to be released in waterways will become worthless & in the hands of many alienated hobbyists.

Certainly there are species on your list that need attention, but there are many that do not, & thought also needs to be given to alternatives such as registration, micro-chipping & perhaps even sterilization of some other more questionable species. I urge you to take a far more considered & informed approach to this issue.

Yours Faithfull