Beekeepers from Wyndham are invited along to Werribeeks to wax up on their skills.
Meeting the third Monday of each month at the Wyndham Park Community Centre, the organisation offers a space for beekeepers and prospective keepers to share tips and resources about apiary management.
Werribeeks president Carmel Gerdsen said education is the central pillar of the group’s work.
“We focus on ongoing education, because beekeeping has a lot of moving parts and to be a good beekeeper you have to always educate yourself,” Ms Gerdsen said.
“If you isolate yourself as a beekeeper, you often don’t pick on the nuances of different things.”
Beginner information sessions, seasonal and climate advice, and networking opportunities are just a few things Werribeeks offers.
“Being part of a bee club means we have resources, we have many guest speakers and chances to network with other beekeepers.
“A lot of people are older when they take it [beekeeping] up– or do so as they retire– so maybe you’ll make a mate down the road and be able to check up on each other’s hives.”
Werribeeks is urging beekeepers to prepare for the potential spread of the varrora mite, a destructive parasite that kills honey bees, and which Ms Gerdsen expects to hit locally soon.
At next month’s meet, an officer from the National Varroa Mite Management Program is visiting the club.
In the meantime, Ms Gerdsen encouraged local keepers to attend a free-one day course at the Italian Sports Club on Saturday, May 3 presented by National Varroa Mite Management Program.
