Mr
Frank Gary
Crosswicks
- N.J. - USA
29-6-1984
Dear
Mr Gary,
I
guess you have been wondering what had happened to me, but unfortunately I
have had some personal problems, which right now I will not burden you with
and consequent lye both with correspondence and most other things have lagged
badly. However I’ve begun to get things straightened out mainly with myself
although not being in a very happy frame of mind, life must go on.
First
re your letter of January with comments on the material I submitted to you re
our Pekin Color standards.
The
final paragraph in your letter sums up the situation exactly, that was that I
have to write up these standards in this fashion, not so much to mollify my
immediate associates but most of the breeders we have in Australia. I’m
afraid our Australian breeders and exhibitors are way behind in their thinking
when compared with your people in the US.
However
on the brighter side the draft which I sent you was accepted by our Pekin Club
executive at a recent meeting. We made a few minor alterations, e.g. eye color
to be red or reddish orange which I think is a step in the right direction and
which I feel you will also agree.
We
decided that the color standard for Black Red, Blue Red Brown Red, Birchen and
Wheaten be published in the Pekin Bantam Club of NSW Newsletter
as the Accepted and Recommended Plumage Pattern for judging of these colors in
Australia.
In
this we feel we are quite correct in doing, being the Specialist Club of the
breed as there is no National organisation in Australia to handle this sort of
thing.
At
our last meeting: we decided we will continue on with straightening out the
BLUE color pattern which has been
very confusing from time immemorial.
So
it looks that at long last persistency is paying off.
Our
President, a particular friend of mine works with me on these projects. We
agree on most things and my son who is Club Secretary can now see what we have
been working towards, so I’d say we will reconstruct the whole Pekin
Standard along the lines that I published in my book when I was working in
conjunction with you. It now looks as the work done has not been in vain.
A
Plymouth Rock Specialist Club has been formed and I had the President to see
me and loaned his some of the APA and ABA Standards which he was looking for.
They have decided to formulate a standard for the Plymouth in Australia which
is a move I think in the right direction. When I obtain a copy I will pass one
on to you. I think they are covering both Light and Dark Barred.
Another
bit of good news is that I received a letter from our Club Rep. in West
Australia who first requested we do some something about these colors. When
they get confirmation from us as a Specialist Club they will put classes for
these colors. They now have this conformation, so I would say we are at last
making some ground in forming our own Australian Standards. However there is
still a lot to be done.
Referring
to your further letter of March I am using Timoptol ophthalmic solution
timolol 0.25% sterile twice a day and it is quite effective in keeping the
pressure down behind the eyes. My eyes at the moment sightwise are fairly
stable. The cataract on my left is still growing slowly, the doctor told me a
couple of weeks ago that I could be 12 months before he has to remove it. They
are now using what is called an implant method here in Australia which is
apparently very successful. A friend of mine has had both his eye done this
way and is very happy with the results. Will write again soon.
Sincerely
yours,