History

Some of the highlights of Fanfactory and myself in the fantail fraternity are some of the show goals achieved that many fantail
breeders forecast would never happen.

During the 1980's the fantail fraternity was very strong in Australia. A Mr Graeme Jubb, who incidentally became Australia's only
fantail Master Breeder of modern times, dominated at the shows.

At the time he coordinated a "trainee judging scheme" that we were all very excited about until we realised that a number of
important areas of the standard were being overlooked. Hence the previous statement that; " to breakaway from the accepted
norm was considered akin to committing a crime."

In the 1980's we (most Australian fantail breeders) held the same ambition, which was to get a win against our only Master
Breeder - Jubb. On occasions, other breeders ridiculed our ambition to roll Jubb at the shows - the catch cry being; "You are
wasting your time, his depth of quality is far too great!"

All the more reason to hold this goal. Graeme Jubb himself laughed at the proposition that he be defeated in the show ring.

Then came the imports. Graeme seized the opportunity to coordinate a few shipments and import a number of fans as did many
others. The fantail fancy in Australia was about to be turned on it's ear.

Birds came from Canada, some people imported from Pogue & Phillipo, others from numerous other breeders. Graeme imported
birds from most sources. I brought 4 birds in from Vincent initially followed a few years later by 6 more.

We each did our own thing, with varying results. Jubb was quick off the mark with a few early wins. An interesting rumor doing the
rounds at the time was that "Piper imported the wrong birds to do any good with them." Most of us were very keen on the early
outcomes of import young and their performance in the show pen.

Patience is an attribute in fantail breeding that all must possess. It takes time to create a tight family of birds that has the
attributes that we need which will consistently breed true.

I sold a few stock birds off to friends in the fancy Alan Mutimer and Trevor Joseph to name a few whilst I was working at building the
stud. I recall the 1998 National, a silver hen I sold Royce Keirl managed to finish as Reserve Champion. That year I never showed.
The following year Trevor Joseph won National Champion with a silver check hen that was first generation from a silver cock I sold
him in '98.

My friend Alan Mutimer won a few Nationals also with birds one generation down from birds sold to him by me. All the while in the
background I was working to create a showable fantail with the bodystyle that I see when I close my eyes. Sure I copped ridicule
from others for they said that during this period I was being beaten by birds I had sold - patience.

Then the breakthrough occured. I produced a family of fat, round powdered blue checks. The best of these was actually broader in
body that high. This is where I built a family and look out Australia, here comes Fanfactory!

From this point on the wins came thick and fast. People all of a sudden realised that all the while that others were winning with "fair
fantails," I was creating my ideal or well on the way to it.