The weather is warming up now and the bees are out doing what bees do and everyone is now getting ready to increase their numbers with propagating to do their bit at preserving the species and improving pollination. Just going through the documentation for handover to our incoming Secretary and I realized our AGM held last month where we elected our new management committee marked exactly 4 years ago that we established the Gladstone Branch. So much has happened in that time and after 4 years in the role as Secretary / Treasurer, it is time to hand over to Madonna to continue to grow the Branch. I won’t be disappearing just yet though as I have accepted a role as Event Organiser and look forward to some interesting events for our members.
Rockhampton Workshop
A number of our members travelled up to Rockhampton on Sunday 3rd Sep to attend a fabulous workshop presented by Tim Heard. It doesn’t matter how many of these workshops you attend, there is always something to learn just by chatting with other like-minded bee people about their experiences. Not only are the workshops a learning experience they are a perfect opportunity for networking. A big thank you to Lloyd Younger and the Rocky Branch for hosting the event.
Vertical Split
The day after the Rocky workshop a friend from Brisbane and member of the Brisbane Branch Bill Kraft who visiting Tannum Sands gave me a call to check a couple of hives here one of which he was intending to do a vertical split (his first). Certainly Bill goes to a lot of detail constructing his hives specifically for vertical splits and the ease in which it was performed was excellent although it did seem to take a bit longer getting them sealed up afterwards as opposed to horizontal splits. I tend to agree with Tim’s philosophy of using the KISS principle.
Water Meter Rescues and Fostering Program – John Starr
Our first foster hive recipient is the Calliope Community Garden and it is most appropriate that they are the first recipient as that is where we held that first official work-shop 4 years ago. So much has happened since that workshop.
The next recipient once they have everything in place for placement will be the Kin Kora School. I have also received a request from the Bindaree Lodge Aged Care Facility for their residents to appreciate in their gardens.
Boyne Island Environmental Education Centre (BIEEC) Observation hive
Our association with BIEEC continues, earlier in the year when we were conducting a native bee presentation to the public, Principal Michael Gariel discovered their observation hive had succumbed to attack by ants. I took the box to show Tim at the Rockhampton Branch workshop two weeks ago to seek his advice on how we might resurrect it and I have now connected it up to one of my log hives as an eduction. Less than a week down the track and already they have cleaned up the propolis around the entrance and are very active. I have been tempted to lift the cover off to investigate their progress but I think I will leave it a couple more weeks.
Quoin Island Marine Turtle Rehab Centre Visit
Our long association with CQ Uni students continues in early Oct with an invitation to once again visit the Centre where I get to wear all three hats on the day. Firstly I will be leading a marine debris cleanup and data collection as part of my role with Tangaroa Blue Foundation, followed by a native bee presentation where Kim has some beautiful hives to view, one of which we set up as an eduction on our last visit, and of course not forgetting the turtles. More on this in the next news-letter.
Ray and Alicia Stanley
Dropped around to Ray and Alicia in Gladstone to hand over the Treasure’s books to Alicia as the incoming Treasurer and Alicia showed me their two beautiful log hives that were doing extremely well, one of these hives was over 30 years old and originally came from Calliope
From Ian Anderson
For more info on branch activities, visit our Facebook page ANBA Gladstone Branch, https://www.facebook.com/groups/480678232538075
