Beekeeping has no doubt experienced a dose of popularity over the last decade in Yass Valley and beyond, resulting in a boost in commercial and recreational apiarists.
It is estimated that the NSW beekeeping industry contributes around $36 million annually to the state’s economy through the production of honey, beeswax and other hive products.
But the pollination services provided by honeybees are estimated at $4-6 billion nationally.
There are currently nearly 3,000 registered beekeepers in NSW, which represents about 45 per cent of the Australian beekeeping industry.
Yass and District Beekeepers Club, which is one of 20 clubs associated with the Amateur Beekeepers Association NSW has been busy recruiting new members and trapping swarms.
Club President Nadya Small said the public is a lot more aware of bees now with swarms all over Yass and Murrumbateman and they have tons of new members.
President since the AGM last June, Nadya has been a club and committee member for three years despite discovering she was highly allergic to bees last year.
“I got a sting to the face, just one sting to the face, I was in hospital for about five hours.”
Passionate about pest and disease management and prevention, Nadya said the club is aiming to become more educational.
What the club discusses on their webpage and at meetings will be directly relevant to Southern Tablelands beekeeping and associated issues with the local climate and environment.
Nadya is making a particularly big push to discuss AFB (American foulbrood), an infectious bee disease.
“There are things we need to look out for all the time and a lot of people just aren’t aware of it.”
“No one tells them anything, no one shows them what to look for,” she said. “If you read about it, it’s not the same as somebody showing it to you.”
On the third Sunday of every month the club meets at the local Apiary near Cooma Cottage. Experienced beekeepers like Nadya spread out to look for diseases like AFB and check the hives to show green beekeepers what to look for.
“They’re going to learn what they’re going to use with their own beekeeping,” Nadya said. “I want it to be something that everyone’s excited to come to.”
For anyone interested in beekeeping, Nadya suggests getting in touch with your local bee club and being sure to work above board. Beekeepers and all hives must be registered with the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) because they’re classified as livestock.
“Come to bee clubs like this to get involved be- cause then you can see firsthand if you really want to do it.”
“Because when you hear somebody get stung and start running you do some- times think, ‘Am I doing this for the right reason?’” Nadya said.
“Do it legally and be above board, the fines are horrific,” she said. “It’s not worth it for everyone else that gets stung by the diseases that you might miss because you’re not registered.”
By Brianna O’Rourke
