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

Thursday of the month at 7.30 pm at the CIT, Heysen Street, Weston in Building A

Contact No:  Association President – Bob Shaw  Ph: 62540018

Meeting

Due to school holidays we are unable to hold our meeting at CIT. Instead we will have our Mid Winter dinner at Restaurant 83 at the Tradesman’s Club, Woden on Thursday July 22.  The cost will be $15.80 per adult and $9.90 for children under 12 years.  Discounts are offered to seniors and Tradies club members.  Families, including children, are most welcome to attend.

Restaurant 83 offers a variety of Chinese dishes, soups, prawns, roasts, veggies and desserts from a buffet service.  There is a bar where drinks may be purchased and tea and coffee is available.  Please phone Lyn and Pat Shiels on 6286 2421 if you are coming so we can arrange seating in the quieter part of the restaurant and give the club a list of those attending.

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June Meeting

Paul Hooper demonstrated various options for boxes and frames, lids and base boards.  Discussion about various feeding devices and their merits followed.

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President’s Note:

Hi everyone!  I hope this finds you and your bees well.  Don’t forget there is no meeting this month due to school holidays preventing our access to CIT Weston.  Instead we will have our winter swarming at Woden Tradies.  Please come along with your partner and have an enjoyable evening. 

One of our members recently had hives stolen from a site near Fyshwick.  To help prevent this happening to you make sure your boxes, lids, bottoms and frames are branded with either your NSW Ag registration number or your own brand eg. Your initials.  Also report any thefts to the stock squad officers at Tuggeranong Police Station.

Bob Shaw

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Beekeeping Course.

The Beginning in Bees Course at CIT Weston will begin on October 14^th. The course consists of four evening theory sessions in the classroom and four Saturday morning practical sessions conducted at beehives located at the CIT, Weston.

Topics will include bee biology and behaviour, handling bees, getting started, equipment, seasonal activities, pests and diseases, and extracting.  It will provide beginning beekeepers with basic knowledge and some experience to start them on beekeeping.  Enrolments are still being accepted at CIT Solutions on 6207 4444 or at www.cit.act.edu.au/CITSOL

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Amzanig.

Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the only iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae.  The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wothiut a porbelm.  This is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istelf, but the wrod as a wlohe. Dran amzanig huh?

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Irradiation of Beehives

It is proposed to send another load of hives to Steritech for irradiation on 28^th July.  If anyone has a hive or hives to send would they please contact Lyn or Pat Shiels on 62862421.  The current cost of irradiation is $22 for a triple and $15.40 for a double.  Remember that the total weight of each unit must be under 25 kilograms and Steritech may refuse to handle anything above this and they DO weigh them.  Hives must be well wrapped according to instructions from NSW Agriculture.  If unsure about packaging contact Lyn, Pat, or Dick at Bindaree for detailed instructions or access the appropriate Agnote at www.agric.nsw.gov.au . 

Double reversed emlocks & wrapping of individual boxes.	Double wrapping and taping - rope allows for easy handling and is not compulsory. Labelled with name, address and phone number.

 

The cost for transport of our last load was about $6 per unit return and depends on the number of units sent each time.

Lyn Shiels 62862421

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In Bloom around Canberra

Drawing by Jenny Pearce

Argyle Apple, Mugga Ironbark, Scribbly Gum, Spotted Gum and many of the winter flowering grevilleas are blooming in some parts of Canberra at the moment so most town bees are doing quite well.  Many eucalypts are heavily budded and should bloom over the next season if sufficient rain falls to allow the buds to mature.

Information is sought from members about floral sources in town and the surrounding areas. If you notice particular plants in flower please let me know on 6286 2421.  Lyn Shiels

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Beekeeping Code of Practice for NSW

The Beekeeping Industry Consultative Committee, with assistance from Bruce White, Mick Rankmore and Rob Bowman of NSW Agriculture has developed a code of practice for NSW beekeepers. This one page document is available as an Agnote from NSW Agriculture offices or at www.agric.nsw.gov.au .

Some key recommendations for urban beekeeping are:-

2-4 hives for average blocks

flight paths away from people

docile strains of bees

provision of water

control of swarms

talking to neighbours

planning work to minimise impact on others

Our Association talked about a Code of Practice for ACT beekeepers some years ago and some work was done on this.  We might do well to endorse NSW Agriculture’s document.

Lyn Shiels

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Recipe Corner

Liquid Furniture Polish

50g soap flakes

100g beeswax

500mls turpentine

250mls water

Dissolve the soap in the warm water in one pan and keep warm.  Put wax and turpentine in another pan and heat gently until wax is melted and dissolved.  Pour the soap mixture into the turpentine, stirring with a wooden stick.  NOTE: Both pans must be at about the same temperature.  When dissolved and well mixed pour into storage jars.

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Royal Canberra Show

Winter is a good time to begin preparations for your assault on the Most Successful Exhibitor ribbon at the 2005 show.  Mead will need to be made soon so that it is ready to exhibit in February. Wax blocks and candles can be made well ahead of show time.  Honey for the granulated class should be in suitable jars now so that it is well set by February and creamed honey could also be made.  Some exhibitors may want to choose their recipes for the cookery and have a couple of trials runs.

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Apiculture Royal Canberra Show 2005

Class 295 - One 500g glass jar, produced from Eucalypt

Class 296 - One 500g glass jar, produced from sources other than Eucalypt

Class 297 - One 500g glass jar of Canberra Garden honey

Class 298 - Three 500g glass jars of honey from the same source

Class 299 –Natural Granulation: One 500g glass jar, fine grain

Class 300 – Creamed Honey: One 500g glass jar

Class 301 – One frame of Comb Honey, suitably enclosed in a glass or perspex case

Class 302 – Chunk honey: One 500g glass jar of liquid honey containing 1-4 piece of comb honey from the same source

Class 303 - Block of Beeswax, up to 1kg

Class 304 - Collection of six beeswax moulds, natural beeswax

Class 305 - Two moulded candles, natural beeswax

Class 306 - Two Rolled Candles, natural beeswax

Class 307 - Two dipped candles, natural beeswax

Class 308 - Child’s Candle

Class 309 - One 750ml bottle of mead

Class 310 - Bread and Cakes

Class 311 - Bread and Cakes Junior – Under 16

Class 312 - Jams

Class 313- Chutneys

Class 314 - Confectionery

Class 315 - Confectionery Junior – Under 16