About Us
Welcome
Welcome to the Bega Valley Beekeepers. As a club affiliated with the Amateur Beekeepers Association of NSW, our aim is to foster and promote responsible beekeeping, and to share the skills and knowledge of our diverse membership with those new to beekeeping. We achieve this through several forums, including regular monthly meetings, workshops and events, where people can learn and have fun. The Club is run in accordance with it's constitution.
The COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted regular club activities throughout the entire year, however we can now resume face to face meetings and workshops in a COVID safe manner at our new larger meeting venue in Bega. For more detailed information on meetings go to the Meetings tab in our website.
Club Apiaries
The Club maintains two apiaries, the main site being in the grounds of the Old Bega Hospital, 3 Corkhill Place, Bega. Here, the Club has a variety of hive types and is managed by the Apiary Manager and a team of volunteers. The second site is located on private land adjacent to Mirare Point Reserve in Eden, and this is accessed via a track at the end of Cocora Street that winds around the residential properties to the reserve. Please take care not to enter the apiary via private properties.
Frequent events are held at both apiaries and members are encouraged to attend and get involved in maintaining the hives, all the while increasing or sharing their beekeeping knowledge.
Workshops and Training
The Club organises a variety of training events throughout the year. These include introductory or beginners classes through to more advanced and specific classes, where the focus is on a particular beekeeping topic such as re-queening, honey extraction, maintaining hive health and bio-security management to name a few.
On the second Saturday of each month a workshop is held alternately at the Bega and Eden Club Apiaries to demonstrate a specific aspect of beekeeping, and give members hands-on experience under the guide of experienced beekeepers. These sessions normally go from 10 am to 12 midday. Find out more on upcoming workshops on our website under the Events tab.
Getting Involved
The ongoing success of the Club is due to the enthusiasm and commitment of members willing to volunteer their time. There are many ways you can become involved. This can be through:
providing information to the public about beekeeping and club activities at the Club stand at local fairs and agricultural shows;
assisting with workshops and training;
helping with preparation of the monthly newsletter, website or Facebook page
joining the Bee Biosecurity team that monitors the Eden Sentinel Hives;
helping to set up before and after Club meetings;
leading discussion / making a presentation on a beekeeping or related topic at a Club meeting; or
becoming a member of the committee.
If you would like to get involved contact anyone of the committee below. You will be very welcome!
President Will Blythe
begavalley.president@beekeepers.asn.au
Vice President Alex Aitkenhead
begavalley.vicepresident@beekeepers.asn.au
Treasurer Lyall Zweck
begavalley.treasurer@beekeepers.asn.au
Apiary Manager Graham Jones
begavalley.apiary@beekeepers.asn.au
Publicity Officer Sue Cechet
begavalley.publicity@beekeepers.asn.au
Committee Member George Todd
Biosecurity Officer Alex Aitkenhead
begavalley.biosecurity@beekeepers.asn.au
Secretary Tasia Livaditis
begavalley.secretary@beekeepers.asn.au