By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
MAUREEN Smollen has been raising poultry for the past 40 years.
What keeps her coming back?
“You can eat your mistakes!” she said.
The Pearcedale resident is the patron of the Oakleigh and District Poultry Society which celebrated its 100th anniversary with a luncheon and show on Saturday 2 August.
In her time with the society Maureen has served as secretary and treasurer and has used her expertise to judge many competitions over the years.
A former breeder, Maureen has raised many prize-winning chickens.
“There’s a great satisfaction in training the animal and seeing it compete.”
However, it takes more than good technique to turn a chook into a champ.
The fowl should have no deformities, good leg colour and glossy plumage.
Maureen explains there are different divisions in every show, including soft feather, hard feather and water fowl.
The society holds a poultry show every year at the Dandenong Show and its members come from many areas around greater Melbourne.
For Maureen, this year’s anniversary show was particularly special.
“It was great to see many past members of the club there.
“I’ve had chooks since I was a girl. It’s been a lifelong hobby.”
