As the oldest president of the oldest dedicated poultry club in Victoria, Greenvale’s Alf Woods sometimes jokes he’s getting a bit long in the feather.
The 86-year-old, who helped write the book on Australian Poultry Standards and still travels across the country judging birds, is a legend in chook circles.
The stalwart of Essendon Poultry Society is a third generation office- holder, following in the chooksteps of his grandfather Alfred and dad Allan.
So dedicated is he to all things poultry that after he married in 1950 his lovely bride Gladys found herself spending the first day of her honeymoon in the poultry pavilion at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
“She knew what she was getting herself in for,” Mr Woods laughs.
The secret to active old age, he says, is work, chilling with … and eating chickens.
“I talk to my chickens every evening and I eat chicken soup every night. Every week I kill three chickens out of my backyard and make soup for the rest of the week.”
The Essendon Poultry Society’s 127th show, including the state junior championships, is at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds on Sunday, June 29
Details: essendonpoultrysociety.net
… Sarah Harris
