Barry Divine with his trophies
Barry Divine speaking at the 1998 Silver Toy Pigeon Convention, Sydney
Mr Shoumaker from Belgium, at my loft holding Phoenix Blue
Taiwan Presentation Night
Rodger Mortevedt USA at my loft with my daughter
My name is Barry Devine, owner of Phoenix Lofts of Australia. I am 75 years old, born in the Dorrigo Mountains NSW in 1939. My family were Dairy Farmers, so from the beginning I was with Cattle, Horses and Live Stock. Dorrigo at that time was also a timber town with five large saw mills, unfortunately which are all gone now.
My first contact with racing Pigeons came when I was about 12 years old in Dorrigo. Every year there would be Pigeons stop and stay in the saw mills. I did not know where they came from but they would have been race Pigeons racing back to Sydney I suspect. My Sister held the torch while I climbed up the walls and caught the Pigeons — very dangerous. My parents moved to Coffs Harbour on a Banana Plantation and I very quickly built a Pigeon Loft and I went and helped the Sydney Pigeon Federation liberate the race Pigeons at the railway station in Coffs Harbour each year.
Eventually we moved to Sydney when I was about twenty years old and started racing Pigeons around 1960. I raced in the Maroubra Club, Mascot Club and Cooks River Club. Mel Murcer, Bill Fletcher, Ted Manning and Fred Burton were the key flyers those days in the 60s and 70s.
I built my own family of Pigeons in the 70s known as the Phoenix Blues, that's what I called them. They were from Bill Eastcott senior — 600 Mile winner and a Union National Winner 400 Mile winner. They were the Crane blood I believe. One Blue Bar Peddie Cock from Bob Applebee and the most famous of all, a Black checker Hen known by her ring number 7510. She was bred of a Sid Widford Hen. A magnificent Hen came from Fred Burton and the famous Black Prince — the sire of Black Prince came from Hargraves Bros and they came from England known as the Gilson Blacks, they were from Belgium originally. The Phoenix Blues won everything for me in those days.
In the late Nineties I organised the first Racing Pigeon Convention held in Sydney with guest speaker John Pryor of Adelaide. I drew a crowd of over 300 on a two day event held at the Sans Souci Yacht Club.
My second year my guest speaker was Roger Mortivedt of the USA and that year on a two day event I drew a crowd of around 600 flyers from around Australia. The next year topped the lot.
I brought out from Belgium Silvero Toye. That event was held at the Bankstown Trotting Club and well over 600 flyers attended a two day event including Harbour cruisers.
I was also instrumental in raising over $20,000 for the FRP Federation when they badly needed cash. I have always been willing to exchange or replace any pigeon I have sold.
One of the saddest things we all have to live with is the passing of so many great Pigeon men in our time. At my age I can think of many. Quite a few died before their time, still quite young men. Two of the great men that have left their mark on me are Bill Wallford from South Australia and Bev Montison Sydney.
We would have to say one of the greats is still with us — Keith Wrightson, an absolute gentleman still flying Pigeons today.
This Australian Ward Grizzle won the Southern Taiwan International Race — a tremendous achievement for an Australian-bred pigeon competing on the world stage. Phoenix Lofts has always maintained the highest quality bloodlines to compete at the highest levels.
It has taken over fifteen years and many thousands of dollars to put the Grizzles together. I have only kept the best and I would have the best collection of the Ward and Boyce Grizzles available in Australia today. I have sold them all over Australia and they have bred winners in every state.
The Raven Van Loons have been very successful as a cross to other breeds. My Blue Caviar is half Raven — Grand sire AUST 08.13763, Grand Dame on father's side BC AUST 06.10951. Blue Caviar won the 2021 Meadow One Loft Race — Raven Van Loon — 1st prize $51,000.