Dear members,
Exciting developments never stop coming in the native bee biosphere. On page 11, read about an online work-shop on the topic of potential environmental and biose-curity risks, 29 March 11am – 4pm (AEST). Please register to attend and have your say, http://bit.ly/3pTBJOP.
Peter Stone, ANBA Treasurer, has been active over the last two years, in applying for grants for capital equipment for branches. Last year peter won a grant from the Qld govt Gambling Community Benefit Fund for IT and AV equipment, posters, signage and gazebos for our branches. Read the Mid North Coast and Cassowary Branch Reports in this issue for examples of how the funds were effectively used. Peter will soon commence a new round, so keep your eyes open for a call for capital equipment bids. In the meantime, discuss with your branch members what equipment would be useful for carrying out your activities.
We are working on some policy statements on relevant issues, such as movements of stingless bees and nation-al park access to honey bee keepers. We are working with Agrifutures to nurture our young industry from its emerging status to the next stage. We are continuing the epic journey of endorsing native bee honey as a standard food. We are collaborating with various other organisations on writing promotional material. We are contributing to the research effort by backing a bid for a National Pollination Research Centre (CRC for pollination Security). We are finalizing two research projects on bushfire recovery for bees that were done under our auspices. We are not losing sight of some of our longer-term objectives such as forming a honey coop and ac-credited training program on native bee keeping.
If any of these projects excites you and you feel you would like to contribute, please do not hesitate to join us. There is so much to do and we are only volunteers working in our spare time.
Warm regards from: Ian, Tim, Mark, Alex, Peter, Lachlan, Steve, Kit, Tobias, Dean, Jason, Lea, Lloyd, Mark, Josh, Sam, Diane and Monica
Brisbane Branch News
Report of March meeting
Regrettably, our last meeting on Sunday 6th March, was cancelled as a results of the general chaos caused by the East Coast 2022 Floods.
We have postponed the presentation by our guest speaker Sarah Hamilton, until later in the year.
Next meeting—April
Our next meeting will be held on Sunday 3rd April 1pm, at Bulimba Community Centre, 1 Barramul St, Bulimba.
Dr Ros Gloag will be speaking. See page 14 of this issue for full details.
Masks and vaccine certificates required please.
Free for members, $5 for non-members. ANBA members can attend by Zoom, a link to join will be sent by email prior to the event.
For more info on branch activities, visit our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/bnbeec.
Rockhampton branch news
Rockhampton Branch next meeting is set down for May date yet to be confirmed.
From Murray Smith and Lloyd Younger