On May 9, 2018, one day before World Bee Day, the Amateur Beekeepers' Association of NSW held its first organised conference.
It was opened by the Governor of NSW, David Hurley.
There could have been no better choice to fulfil the role, for the governor is a beekeeper and a member of the amateur association.
He has been a beekeeper for the past three and a half years and has four hives at Government House, two Langstroth hives and two Flow Hives.
Honey is harvested and labelled “Isabella Honey” because Isabella was the name of the ship in which Captain Wallis brought the European honey bee to Australia in 1822. The honey is then sold for charities.
The governor's enthusiastic support for things agricultural and his responsible adventure into amateur beekeeping provides a salutary example for the public.
Government House is within bee flying distance of the Royal Botanic Gardens where the governor's lucky bees can forage on blooms all year round.
Bees will fly up to five kilometres if they have to, but flying such a distance with a load consumes a lot of energy. Fortunately, there are many in a vibrant city parks, gardens, window boxes and roof-top plots.
On the other side of the coin is the destruction of floral sources by development policies. Weeds provide flowers which bees love, but in towns and cities they are wiped out by herbicides.
Flowering plants need too much maintenance so the little spaces and plots in streets are filled with non-flowering plants in beds of wood chips or concrete, taking care of solitary native bees which pupate in the soil.
The governor's welcome involvement in urban beekeeping sends strong messages:
- Bees are of vital importance to ecology and to our food source;
- Amateur beekeepers can make an important contribution;
- You can keep bees in an urban environment; and
- If you want to keep bees, join an association, adopt a guiding mentor.
Jim Wright is a life member of the Hunter Valley branch of the Amateur Beekeepers' Association of NSW.
