Peter Gatehouse (Vice President)

Spring is finally here again and I’m sure you are all busting to do those vital Spring inspections to check on the health of your hive. As I’m writing this report, I see that there are a couple of nice warm days to do just that! However, after those couple of nice days we will be back to cold wet weather for a week or so, so personally other than checking on the health of my hives I won’t be adding any new undrawn frames or supers or manipulating brood frames as it is still too early and I like to keep my bees nice and snug still until the weather stabilizes and we (hopefully) get consistent warmer weather.

At our next club meeting (via zoom) on Thursday 9th September our guest speaker will be Bee Biosecurity Officer Ally Driessen from Agriculture Victoria (DEDJTR). It is always great to have Ally give us an update on bee biosecurity and gently remind us of our obligations as registered beekeepers and the vital role we play in helping our officers keep exotic pests such as Varroa Destructor out of Australia. It was an amateur beekeeper that discovered Varroa in New Zealand so don’t think you are not vitally important to the health of our beekeeping industry.

I would just like to thank the outgoing committee (Bronwyn Barton, Colin Goodwin, Peter Galt, Margaret Gatehouse, Barry & Nola McGann and Andy Teitge) for keeping the club functioning under what I’m sure you would agree was and still is exceptional circumstances! 

Welcome to our new committee!! (Andy Teigte, Anna Jones, Jackie Checkley, Bronwyn Barton, Margaret Gatehouse, Joe Borg, Peter Galt, Geoff & Yvonne Bell). I feel we are a fine example for our politicians, equal representation! It is great to see some fresh faces on the committee bringing new ideas and skills to the running of our club. Thankyou to Bronwyn Barton, Peter Galt and Margaret Gatehouse for renominating.

Why is the Vice President writing the President’s report I hear you ask? Our new President Andy Teigte has been called away to attend to personal matters in England and so as is the role of Vice President I am minding the fort until he has returned. We wish Andy & Paula safe travels and look forward to seeing them both on their return.

I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at our next club meeting via zoom on Thursday 9th September!

Happy Beekeeping!! 

Peter Gatehouse (Vice President)