Crowds flock to rare breeds show

PAULA Voss runs a thriving food service business from her beautiful property high on a hill at Longford. She also puts her amazing catering skills to good use for the Tasmanian Rare Breeds Poultry Club’s annual Rare Breeds Show at Longford Showground (tomorrow, July 20), making sure there’s a delicious spread for the poultry breeders. Somehow, she also finds time to prepare a variety of beautifully bred birds in the show – her purebred lavender cochins are the only ones in the country. 

More than 800 people are expected to head along to the showground tomorrow in what has become a favourite family day out for the community.

About 600 amazing-looking birds are expected to be on display at the Tasmanian Rare Breeds Poultry Club’s annual Rare Breeds Show at Longford Showground on Saturday. 

A swathe of sashes and trophies presented on the day, along with cash prizes and medallions. 

The afternoon will be dedicated to an auction of more than 40 of the rare breeds. Single mother-oftwo Paula Voss’ flock includes many different colours of her big, fluffy Cochins, large and bantam Rhode Island reds (the only bantams in Tasmania) and the unusual, slightly plucked-looking mediterranean naked necks. 

The past few days has seen a flurry of feather cleaning and preening for the breeder’s best chickens. It’s not unusual to see Paula Voss with one of her fluffed-up beauties. them in the family shower, getting a good foot spa, or in the laundry sink lathered up with blue shampoo. 

Paula’s 11-year-old daughter Elinore also like to show some of the birds, while son Bryce, 5, just likes to pat them. 

“I’ve been showing poultry for about 10 years and while it’s nice to come home with some ribbons, it’s the social scene that keeps me in,” Paula said. 

“I’ve made so many friends, and I particularly love the stories and advice from the older breeders.” 

Every year Paula gives around a dozen of her birds to Longford Primary School and talks to students about the life cycle of chooks, how to care for them, even helping show them at Longford Show. 

“I think it really helps some of the kids, especially those who can’t have a pet at home, learn about responsible pet ownership and many other aspects of caring for an animal."

With her Norwick Farm pre-prepared meals almost selling out every week, Paula is about to build a huge commercial kitchen near her house, but one thing she will not have to worry about going forward, is having enough eggs! 

Gates open for the rare breed show at 7.30am, judging starts at 9am and the show finishes around 3pm.