Newsletter of the Beekeepers Association of the ACT Incorporated
Newsletter Web address: www.bindaree.com.au/newsletter.htm
Meetings of the Beekeepers Association of the ACT Inc are held on the second Wednesday of the month at 7.30 pm at the CIT, Heysen Street, Weston in Building A
Contact No: Association President - Bob Shaw Ph: 6254 0018
Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday 9th April at 7.30pm, at CIT Weston. The topic for the meeting is Autumn Shutdown and Preparation for Winter. The business section of the meeting is from 7.30 and the presentation will commence at 8.00. There will be time for a cup of tea and chat after the meeting.
Firstly I would like to thank the membership for their vote of confidence in me as their new president.
Next, I must thank the outgoing committee for their great efforts on behalf of our membership, and extend a welcome to the new committee for 2003. A full list of committee members appears elsewhere in this newsletter.
Welcome also to our new members who were in attendance at the March meeting. I extend an invitation to all our members to contact me if they have any queries concerning our hobby. I can't guarantee an answer to all questions but can probably point you toward someone who can.
Bob Shaw
A vote was passed thanking the outgoing President David Lillis and Treasurer Graham Turner for their service to the Association over several years. David will continue his involvement as Vice President and Graham hopes to be involved again when his other commitments permit.
The Anzac Day Picnic will be held at Weston Park from 11.30 am. Bring a barbecue or picnic lunch and enjoy the Autumn sunshine. Look out for the yellow balloons for exact location.
President: Bob Shaw
Vice President: David Lillis
Secretary: Mark Hosking
Treasurer: Dominic Staun
Public Officer: Derek Butler
Librarian: Richard Johnston
Newsletter Editor: Lyn Shiels
Tea and Coffee: Brian Pearce
Committee Members: Paul Hooper, Roy Bray
I started on this crazy bee caper in September 2002. I noticed heaps of bees in my lemon tree gorging on my blossoms...these free loaders belonged to someone else! I decided I had to have my own hive since my garden is full of bee friendly plants; lavender, roses, all fruit blossoms, crepe myrtle, etc and I haven't used any chemicals for at least 5 years. I figured I would get excellent pollination with my own bees. They have their own kiddies wading pool lined with carpet to cling to while they drink and even their own personal wooden board to sit on while they sup water when the ducks, geese and chooks have finished having a bath, the resident pee wee bathes as well. I couldn't bear to see a drowned bee...so depressing
I went to visit your stand at the Canberra Show and was most impressed with you guys and the comfortable way you have with information and us dummy beekeepers. I purchased a beehive in October from Joe in Weetangerra, he is such a lovely man and came over to show me how to do the first honey harvest. Even though he is 80+ he is so full of enthusiasm for all things bee. My friends of course think I'm mad but are happy to test out the honey, which is yummy.
Anyway on the second harvest time, my husband Tom, donned the bee net I bought from the national geographic shop, and we lit the smoker with a handful of pine needles scabbed from my daughter's pine tree. WRONG, the smoke petered out at the crucial moment and Tom was puffing the smoker like mad. We looked at each other amid the angry hum of truly annoyed bees and made a rapid but very quiet beeline, without appearing to be in the least panicked, to the safety of the chook pen. I got stung through my sock on the inside ankle. Joe told me to just swear a bit and it would go away. I had an itchy welt inside my ankle for a week (heard a sting is good for arthritis). I now wear fur lined leather boots.
Anyway, we tried a few handfuls of dry grass, oak leaves and bamboo in the smoker and eventually extricated 2 pretty full frames which I took upstairs with quite a few bees hanging on for grim death. They, in fact, were stuck to the honey so were gently extricated and put into a saucer of water for the honey to melt. Then they dried off, (I put some kitchen paper next to the saucer), shook their wings and disappeared. I get such a guilt complex if a bee actually dies, it's awful. Two frames were busily dripping into a plastic box and my kids hung about and marvelled at how the honey flowed like lava, with the aid of a hot knife in the saucepan. and it was only 35°F! I ended up with about 2kg of honey which was put into assorted jars, for Christmas presents. If only the recipients of BB's best knew the angst it took to do this.
My lavender patch was totally smothered in my bees. I do know them all of course. It feels so pure to give these little girl workers lots of lovely flowers. This year I had the best crop of cherries, peaches, apricots and nectarines ever, excellent pollination of course. I love observing them at work on my balcony on the lavenders, close up is great.
I am really keen to use my beeswax and honey to make great skin reviving soap. and skin ointment, I have a book of recipes. My next idea is MEAD, yummy, and am keen to know how to make it and even enter it in the next show. I even bought a "still" to start the process.
I got a great bargain at Dimmy's in Goulburn, 48 jars of pureed baby food peas for $4. The peas are great puppy food and the jars a perfect size for honey gifts! The cheapest jar I found prior to this was 95c at Clints. What a bargain! Anyway, I'm really pleased to make your acquaintance. I will be at the next meeting Wed March 12 with my book BEEKEEPING FOR DUMMIES ...which my daughter gave to me for Christmas. It is truly a bible! Cheers from Brigitte Ballard...BB.
Brigitte's story was emailed to Richard's web site just after the show. Ed.
Class 295 - One 500g glass jar, produced from Eucalypt
1st - John and Theodora Andonarus
2nd - Richard Johnston
3rd - Robert Shaw
Class 296 - One 500g glass jar, produced from sources other than Eucalypt
1st - Cec Mercer
2nd - Bruce Fragar
3rd - Richard Johnston
Class 297 - One 500g glass jar of Canberra garden honey
1st - Paul Helliwell
2nd - Brian Pearce
3rd - Robert Shaw
Class 298 - Three 500g glass jars of honey from the same source
1st - Brian Pearce
2nd - Robert Shaw
3rd - Bruce Fragar
Class 299 - One 500g glass jar, fine grain
1st - Robert Shaw
2nd - Bruce Fragar
Class 300 - One frame of Comb Honey, suitably enclosed in a glass or perspex case
1st - Cec Mercer
2nd - Robert Shaw
3rd - Paul Helliwell
Class 301 - One 500g glass jar of liquid honey containing a piece of comb honey from the same source
1st - Robert Shaw
2nd - Cec Mercer
3rd - Paul Helliwell
Class 302 - Block of Beeswax, up to 1kg
1st - Robert Shaw
2nd - Richard Johnston
3rd - Cec Mercer
Class 303 - Collection of six beeswax moulds, natural beeswax
1st - Paul Helliwell
2nd - Robert Shaw
3rd - Cec Mercer
Class 304 - Two moulded candles, natural beeswax
1st - Robert Shaw
2nd - Paul Helliwell
Class 305 - Two Rolled Candles, natural beeswax
1st - Paul Helliwell
2nd - Robert Shaw
Class 306 - Two dipped candles, natural beeswax
1st - Robert Shaw
Class 307 - Child's Candle
1st - Kathryn Lindsay
2nd - Arisha Anif
3rd - Mathew Hayes
Class 308 - One 750ml bottle of mead
1st - Richard Johnston
Class 309 - Bread and Cakes
1st - Paul Helliwell
2nd - Robert Shaw
Class 311 - Jams and Chutneys
1st - Robert Shaw
2nd - Paul Helliwell
Class 313 - Confectionery
1st - Robert Shaw
2nd - Paul Helliwell
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Most Successful Exhibitor - Bob Shaw Congratulations Bob |
On a recent trip north to Newcastle our intrepid beekeeper noted that whilst the bushfires had scorched vast areas of the country from the southern highlands northward, regrowth was turning the forests to green, and, surprise, surprise, the white of prolific flowering in some areas, notably the central coast from Hornsby north to Swansea.
Curious as to identity of trees BK stops on a long straight road (safety first) and cautiously enters bush, looking carefully for snakes and other bities in the grass, while seeking suitable branch low enough to break and take sample flowers. Sample obtained BK returned to car. On the roadside, much to the amusement of passing motorists, BK performs highland fling as realisation dawns! While plucking branch from tree BK has stood squarely in the middle of a red meat ant nest. Thousands of tiny jaws are now munching their way up the legs of BK. Ouch!!
Battle rages for some minutes, BK continues journey with occasional panicked swatting and scratching at trouser legs.
Westward bound of the Blue Mountains BK disposes of the last savage beastie three hours later near Bathurst. He still hasn't identified eucalypt type.
Bob Shaw
April 5th-6th - Lanyon Garden Festival (Derek Butler)
April 9th Meeting: Autumn Shutdown (Richard Johnston)
April 25th - Anzac Day Picnic - Weston Park (Bob Shaw)
May 14th Meeting - Guest Speaker Doug Somerville (Bob Shaw)
June 11th Meeting - Mead Making and Show Entries- various speakers (Bob Shaw)
July 9th Meeting - Mid Winter Dinner and Empty Super Awards (Lyn Shiels and Bob Shaw)
August 13th Meeting - Swarm Collecting - Lyn and Pat Shiels
September 10th Meeting - Spring Management
October 8th Meeting - To be advised.
November 12th Meeting - Auction and Gadgets Night.
December 10th Meeting - Christmas Get-Together.
June - Mid Winter Madness Picnic
August - Hive Crawl
September - Mini Field Day - Spring Management
This will be held on 5th and 6th April at Lanyon homestead. Entry is $7 for adults and $10 per family. As well as a large number of stalls, including ours, there will be many activities in and around the homestead.
This inaugural Lanyon Garden Festival promises to be a weekend packed with interest for garden enthusiasts and those who just love being in a beautiful garden. Lectures, demonstrations, garden walks and talks, food and fresh garden produce, organic gardening, a celebrities' garden clinic and children's activities
Two double box, eight frame hives were stolen From Hawker College at the weekend. Both hives were queenless and at least one was infected with early stage AFB. The boxes were painted with white gloss paint inside and out and the tops of a small number of frames were marked HC in black texta. Members are asked to be alert for these hives especially if looking to buy second hand equipment.
For further advice on the NSW Apiaries Act 1985 please contact Mick Rankmore, Regulatory Specialist, Apiaries on (02) 6741 8374 or mobile 0402 078 963 during business hours.
1. A beekeeper was convicted of 2 matters of failing to notify disease (American foulbrood) in Batemans Bay Court on February 3, 2003.
The magistrate took in to account the fact that the beekeeper entered a guilty plea, had destroyed his hives and had limited ability to pay a fine. He was fined $50 for each offence and ordered to pay court costs of $58 plus witness expenses of $191.54.
2. On the same day at the Bankstown court another beekeeper was convicted of failing to comply with a prohibition order.
The beekeeper was not permitted to keep bees on his premises due to a nuisance bee complaint investigation. The hives were removed but later re-established on the premises. He received a fine of $800 plus court costs of $58 and witness expenses of $93.00.
NSW Agriculture sent information to registered beekeepers about the Small Hive Beetle and Imported Fire Ants using the Bee Registration System database.
Unfortunately, numerous mail outs were returned to NSW Agriculture because the beekeeper had moved address or had changed their postal address without notifying NSW Agriculture about these changes.
To ensure beekeepers receive their renewal notice for the registration as well as any other information, it is important for beekeepers to notify NSW Agriculture about any changes in their registration details.
Beekeepers can notify NSW Agriculture about any changes in their registration details by post, phone, fax or E-mail. Notification can be directed to:
NSW Agriculture, PO Box 546, Gunnedah, NSW 2380
Phone: (02) 6741 8333
Fax: (02) 6742 2940 or
E-mail: gunnedah.office@agric.nsw.gov.au
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Richard Johnston Phone: 02 6281 2111 Email: bindaree.bee@bigpond.com Website: www.bindaree.com.au Shop open: Wed, Thur, Fri 4 pm to 6 pm, Sat 9.30 am to 4pm Closed: Sun, Mon, Tue. |
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