THE SCHILLER family at Eudunda must have known their young son, Brian, was destined for a career in the market saleyards when they caught him sitting up on the rails of their yards when he was quite little pretending to sell all their milk calves.
Growing up on a small farm at Eudunda with three sisters Budgie's cheeky nature meant he was often in trouble at the local school.
"I spent more time out of the classroom than in it," he said.
The schoolyard was also where Budgie picked up his nickname, as he whistled "constantly" and also sold budgies for 20 cents each to other children.
In Year Eight he left school and went to work on his uncle's nearby farm.
The next few years he worked a variety of jobs, on a fruit block, slaughtering livestock for nine years at the Eudunda Meat Store, and at the Laucke flour mill and chaff mill.
In partnership with his wife Melva, Budgie also leased the Truro supermarket and ran it for 18 months.
"I went for a haircut and next thing I knew we were running the supermarket," he said.
"The hairdresser said: 'Oh you two would be good in a supermarket', and that was it, next thing I knew I had the supermarket keys in one hand."
Budgie and Melva leased farms at Mindarie, Wanbi, Moya Mission and Blanchetown, and also ran a secondhand shop at Eudunda. They also leased Canegrass Station at Morgan for three years.
In between all this Budgie began working at the former Gepps Cross Livestock Markets - getting up at 2.30am on Tuesday morning and driving down to de-tusk and clip the teeth of boars being sold at the sale.
"I was always going to the markets - and when this job came up I thought why not," he said.
Former House of Lindner principal, the late Don Lindner, mentioned to Budgie that he was looking for a livestock agent for the Eudunda area - and three months later Budgie had a car, phone and was on the road as a House of Lindner agent.
"He was a great boss and mentor," Budgie said.
"He was a generous boss and looked after you well."
There were few sheep and lambs clients to start with but business gradually built up.
"Don gave me a three-page list of clients - I rang up the first one only to be told he was no longer at the house - I'd have to go down to the cemetery to find him," he said.
"He was dead and buried. After that I decided I needed to go out and find my own clients!"
Sourcing clients was hard work at first.
"I remember going out to one fellow's farm and helping him sort out his sheep - he then sold through another agent!" Budgie said.
Budgie was given his first start in auctioneering by John Bampton. It was a nervy start - but Budgie performed well.
"I was a nervous wreck for the first 12 months but I did okay," he said.
"I still get nervous - but I think it helps make you a good auctioneer."
Then after seven years with House of Lindner - Budgie decided to go it alone.
In his 15 years as a livestock agent he has built up a strong clientele in his hometown, and also has clients from the Riverland to Broken Hill, Mid North to Adelaide Hills and Lower North regions.
Besides livestock, Budgie has also built up a strong list of clearing sales and auctions.
Socially he remains in good demand for charity auctions and as an emcee at weddings and other events.
One of his more interesting ideas was to start up a horse sale at Dublin - attracting the "most people I've seen" to the saleyard centre in the two years the sale was held.
"I enjoy the challenge of selling," he said.
"You have to be confident in what you're doing, be prepared to have a go and tell it as you see it."
He said he also enjoyed a "bit of banter and camaraderie" at the markets.
Recent ill health made him decide to sell his livestock business after an offer from Ruralco-owned Platinum Livestock. Agent Craig Barbary took over the livestock section of his enterprise from January 15.
Budgie will continue to auctioneer on behalf of the Combined Independent Agents Association sheep and cattle sales at Dublin.
He will also continue to run and auctioneer clearing sales under the BM Livestock name, and farm 4000 Merino, Damara, Damara-Persian sheep and 30 head of cattle in 9712 hectares of leased land at Mount Mary, Sutherlands, Stockwell and Truro.
* Full report in Stock Journal, January 23, 2014 issue.