To The Weekend Sun team. I write on behalf of the Tauranga Bird Club to offer my sincere thanks for your excellent coverage of our annual Bird Show. Small, not for profit, local groups rely heavily on the work of a few hard working people and it is such a pleasure and delight for us to be supported by our local newspaper, The Weekend Sun. This year we had so many people from our community popping into the show that we were busy the whole time the show was open to the public.

When we asked people how they'd heard about the show an overwhelming number of people indicated they had seen signs around the town and then seen the photos and an article in the local Weekend Sun! We not only had people flocking through the door in their hundreds, but we also had seven new members join the club, one a 14-year-old keen to start breeding budgies and another family who'd been members of the club many years ago, and they were keen for their moko to be a part of the fun of bird club! We want you to know that these excellent results are just not possible without the positive support of The Sun and the friendly, helpful, professional staff who really care about the activities that take place in our community!

We thank you most sincerely and so look forward to your support in 2023 when we are hosting a very big show called the Budgerigar Society Patronage Show here in Tauranga and then in 2024 when we have been invited to host the Topflite National Show. Both shows will be held at the racing club where there will be no issues with parking and we can welcome many more members of our local community!

Sheryl Baron, Tauranga Bird Club president.