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

June 2001

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June Meeting

Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday 13th June at 7.30pm, at CIT Weston.

President’s Note

I am writing this report from the NSW Apiarist Association’s State Conference at Port Macquarie. More on that in next month’s issue.

Recently our association was asked by the NSW Apiarist Association if we could make use of their old Honeyland stall as they had built a bigger and better one. The old stall was used for displays and honey sales at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. At our last meeting the committee decided to accept the offer considering it was free to a good home. I have great faith in the Show Committee’s ability to convince Liz Roberts of its value as a crowd drawer to the exhibition hall at the Royal Canberra Show. My thanks to the NSW President, Greg Roberts, for offering this opportunity to us.

Our next meeting’s guest speaker is Professor Srinivasan of the ANU whose subject will be "Honeybee Navigation: Going with the Flow" in which he will tell us about his studies of bee flight and the application of his findings to robotic flight.

Also welcome to new member Brad Reeves of Gowrie who has joined the Association this month.

We have a number of important agenda items up for discussion so I look forward to seeing everyone at the meeting next week.

David Lillis

Subscriptions Due

Members are reminded that subscriptions of $25 for 2001 are now due. They may be paid at meetings or by mail to PO Box 1482, Woden ACT 2606.

Professor Srinivasan Honoured

On Monday May 28 The Canberra Times reported that Professor Mandyam Srinivasan has been elected a Fellow of Britain’s RSBS. The Royal Society name only about 40 Fellows each year in acknowledgement of outstanding contribution to scientific knowledge.

Beekeeping Work Sought

I have recently moved to Canberra from Sydney and I was wondering if you might know of any beekeepers around Canberra who are looking to hire someone part-time with a serious interest in beekeeping and a strong back - a vital combination I understand. I have done voluntary work with a beekeeper in Canada. I am now in the position of having to find paid work to fill in between contracts I have doing a therapeutic program for children with learning disabilities. I am a permanent resident with a driver's licence, TFN, ABN, and First Aid Cert. If you could offer any suggestions, pass along my contact details to interested Beekeepers, or email me a list of local Beekeepers. I would be very appreciative

Sebastian Nicholas

29 Wilsmore Cr Chifley 2606

Ph 6285 2085

 

Economic Value of Australian Beekeeping

An interesting insight into the value of beekeeping to the Australian economy was revealed in the following brief extract from a 1998 report prepared for the Australian beekeeping industry entitled The Economic Value And Environmental Impact Of The Australian Beekeeping Industry..by Diana M H Gibbs and Ian F Muirhead.

How much are apiary products worth? The apiary industry has its economic impact via direct effects (the gross value of production), indirect effects (demand stimulated in linked sectors) and crop pollination services. The gross value of production over all sectors of the industry is estimated as being between $60 and $65 million per annum, of which $49 million comprises honey production. As expected from hive registration data, NSW beekeepers contribute around 44% of this total value of production. Major items of expenditure for the industry are labour and transport – with fuel being the largest single component of the latter. It is estimated that around 80% of income Economic Value and Environmental Impact of the Australian Beekeeping Industry 2 (turnover) is spent on costs of production, which means that much of the income generated by the sale of honey and other products remains in rural areas of Australia. Other supply sectors are located throughout Australia. What is the value of crop pollination provided by honey bees? Some crops like almonds set very little fruit without insect pollination. Others like cucurbits and strawberries also require effective pollination by bees for fruit quality –shape and size. The benefits of crop pollination accrue to the agricultural sector and flow on to the entire Australian community. Previous estimates of a total value of paid and unpaid pollination of around $1.2 billion/year are supported by this study. Estimates of values to individual states vary from $60 - 251 million. Income from paid pollination services (although representing a minor part of this total estimated value) is important to individual beekeepers in every state, and this sector is expected to expand.

Contributions Sought

Do you have a story for the Empty Super Award or other stories or information to share? Contributions for the newsletter are always welcome. Contributions can be emailed to lynshiels@netspeed.com.au or by post to 57 Beasley St, Torrens. Also sought are handy hints, book reviews or questions for our panel of experts.

Winter Activities for Beekeepers.

Winter is an opportunity to take a rest from hive inspections and honey extraction and recharge the batteries in preparation for a busy Spring. It is also an invaluable time to take stock of equipment and supplies and do any cleaning and repairs needed.

Old frames can be cleaned in a caustic solution, rewired if necessary and be ready for new wax foundation when required in Spring. Boxes may need another coat of paint, cleaning and minor repairs.

Any equipment that is beyond repair should be burnt if possible.

Check your smoker and clean out any tarry deposits so that it can burn more efficiently. A trip could be taken to the pine forest for a bag or two of dry needles for the smoker. Swarm collecting gear can be checked and additional items bought.

Winter is a good time to melt down wax and make some candles or wax moulds for entry in the Canberra Show, make some furniture polish or to try out some honey recipes.

Ginger Snaps

Boil 550grams honey, 375 butter and two teaspoons of ginger together for a few minutes, cool, and when nearly cold add flour until mixture is stiff. Roll out thinly, cut into rounds and bake quickly, about 10 minutes in a medium oven.

Anzac Day Barbecue

Those who attended the Association’s barbecue at Ray Sillis’ Tanbella orchard at Pialligo had a pleasant afternoon. We had a look at Derek’s hive site in a sunny corner of the orchard and enjoyed some good food and wine in good company. David Gowty took this photograph of the group relaxing in the Autumn sunshine.

 

The Third Annual WINTER (S)WARMING

Wednesday 4^th July 2001, 7 for 7.30PM

SAGE CAFE

Gorman House Batman St Braddon

POLLEN:

Cold and hot canapes

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Crisp vegetables, sprouts and toasted peanuts wrapped in rice paper and served with a spicy Thai sauce, or

Soup of the day with warm crusty bread

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Pan seared Atlantic salmon fillet on jasmine rice with Asian greens and sweet soy/mirin dressing, or

Char grilled sirloin steak on a garlic mash with steamed broccholini and tomato ragout

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Chocolate and frangellico tart with winter fruit and clotted cream,

or

Sticky date pudding with warm caramel sauce

………………………………………...

NECTAR:

BYO wine. Corkage $4 per bottle. Selection of wine is available by the glass or bottle.

Beer is also available.

THE STING: $30 per person. Drinks purchased separately.

The EMPTY SUPER award will again be presented. Late entries to Lyn Shiels or Rob Gardiner. A prize for the best RSVP will also be presented.

BUZZ: Lyn Shiels 6286 2421 or Rob Gardiner 6231 0383

Email lynshiels@netspeed.com.au or gardiner@apex.net.au

RSVP:20^TH June. As we have to pay a deposit to the Café, a $5 per person deposit would be appreciated. The café has space for only 30 people so book early.

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WAGGA WAGGA

FIELD DAY

RIVERINA BRANCH OF NSW APIARISTS’ ASSOCIATION & NSW AGRICULTURE

SATURDAY, 27^TH OCTOBER 2001

Start 10.00 am

Finish 3.30 pm

V E N U E Ron Fraser’s property 5 Maple Road, Wagga Wagga

SPEAKERS:

- Honey packer representatives

- Commercial beekeepers

- NSW Agriculture

ENTRY FEE $3 per individual $6 per family

 

FOR FUTHER INFORMATION:

David Mumford	Neville Field	Doug Somerville
President	Field Day Secretary	NSW Agriculture
(02) 6959 2519	(02) 6931 1864	(02) 4828 6619

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Crop Pollination Association Inc

9th Annual Conference

FRIDAY, 17^th AUGUST, 2001

RENMARK HOTEL MOTEL

MURRAY AVENUE

RENMARK 5341

‘FILLING THE ALMONDS’

Agenda

8.30 am	Enrolment and refreshments
9.00 am	Commencement of conference
	Welcome by President
	Silence for deceased colleagues
	Confirmation of 2000 conference	John Edmonds
	Business arising from minutes	Executive Council Report
	Financial Report	Glenn Watson
	President’s Report	Ian Oakley
	Official Opening - ABC Rural Reporter	Fleur Bainger
	Statutory Levy Payments & AHBIC	Bob McDonald
	Update & direction of the Almond Industry	Chris Bennett, Almond Growers Association
	Overview of Beekeepers Issues in the Riverland	Keith Gibbs
12.30 pm	Lunch of the day at Renmark Hotel
1.30 pm	Costing & Benefits, Numbers of hives to pollinate	Doug Somerville
	Organising Dump sites and transport	Ian Oakley
	Assessment of hives for pollination strength	Frank Lacey
	General Business
	Election of Office Bearers
	Almond Grower Lindsay Point	Tom Martin
6.00pm	Evening meal
	Panel Discussion of Beekeepers

 

SATURDAY FIELD DAY 18^TH August

Field day organised in conjunction with Keith Gibbs of the S.A. Apiarists Association and the S.A. Department of Agriculture.

Visit to Almond Processor, Demonstration of Pollination Hive strengh, BBQ Lunch and visit to Almond Orchard.

COST Registration Members $35 (includes lunch morning & afternnon tea) Non Members $50 Accompanying person $30 Saturday Field Day $10 Motel rooms available at venue 08-85866755 Fax 08-85866186

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Internet Delivery of Newsletter

This newsletter is published in hardcopy for delivery by postal mail but is also published in two formats (HTML and PDF) on the Internet for electronic delivery to recipients who have Internet access. If you would like to try receiving your copy of the newsletter via the Internet and, in doing so, reduce the Association’s printing and postal costs, please simply send an email to Paul Hooper at phooper@pcug.org.au nominating your preferred email address.

Bindaree Beenotes June 2001 – Winter Activities

We sometimes overlook the investment we have in bee equipment. Winter is the ideal time to restore old gear and build new equipment to be ready for Spring. Significant savings can be made by building your own equipment. However, readymade or plastic gear is available for the busy beekeeper. This is more expensive. As an example, this month we will look at 8 frame boxes.

In the following months, we will look at lids, bottoms and frames.

Wooden box - parts		$23.80
Four sides	$22.00
Bitumen coated nails	$1.80
Wooden box – ready made		$30.00
Plastic box		$39.00
Four sides	$38.00
Screws	$1.00

 

 

 

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