Report from August meeting
The Branch AGM and the August branch meeting were held at Lloyd Younger’s home in Norman Gardens, a most pleasant setting surrounded by bees and flowers; it was attended by 16 members and two guests. After a warm welcome, Lloyd delivered the 2021-2022 Chairman’s report and minutes were read and approved. Office bearers for 2022-2023 were elected, or in Lloyd’s case, re-elected. Marg Barry joined the executive being voted into the position of Secretary / Treasurer.
Very exciting news!!
Lloyd’s entries in the recent Brisbane EKKA [Royal Queensland Show] paid off big time. He was awarded FIRST PRIZE in the Tetragonula hockingsi category of the Native Bee Honey Competition – an outstanding achievement from 30+ entries, and a great boost for the Rocky branch which he chairs. Well done Tony for also entering some vials.
Branch Business
Highlights from both the most recent Branch Management Zoom meeting and the ANBA National Conference held in Sydney recently were presented by Lloyd.
Morning tea and lively discussion and very generous sharing about a range of topics ensued. Members who joined the Fitzroy Regional Beekeepers’ Association members at the recent local Honey Display at the Rockhampton Show observed the growing popularity of, and passion for, Australian Native Stingless Bees at the event. They reported a high turnover of the public with lots of questions asked about both bees and bee keeping.
This led to a decision to prepare accurate promotional and educational material to share and distribute at such events in the future – sets of education brochures/info sheets [electronic, printed, even small business card size with a URL]. Dave Fry attested to this need when he raised the issue of flow hives being purchased with little knowledge / education around their care.
Dan shared his extensive experience of exhibitions. He kindly offered to loan a native hive to the ecoresort on Great Keppel Island as part of their on-going education of guests. Les further increased members’ knowledge about criteria for judging honey, and this was of great interest, especially to the less experienced bee keepers in the group.
Barry O’Rourke, State Member for Rockhampton, and a bee keeper himself, promised to keep us updated about the latest biosecurity issues, and also regional council by-laws related to keeping Australian native bees on resi-dential allotments.
Lloyd made a special presentation to Murray Smith in acknowledgement of his seven-year commitment to the Rocky Branch of the ANBA, even before its inception, and then as Secretary. Murray was warmly applauded in recognition.
Sharing Session
Lloyd and Tony demonstrated how to remove a hive from an old hive and reestablish them in a new hive. Explanations at each step were informative and all questions were answered. Members also willingly shared their tips on small, practical aspects of keeping native bees.
From Marg Barry, Secretary / Treasurer, margbee4703@gmail.com
