AHBIC acknowledges the beekeeper suppliers who contribute via their packer and queen bee supplier to AHBIC. We also urge beekeepers to support those packers/queen bee breeders who contribute to AHBIC.
Does your honey buyer’s or queen bee supplier’s name appear on this list?
If not, then ask ‘why not?’
SUPPORT THOSE WHO SUPPORT YOUR INDUSTRY!

Queen bee breeding workshop
Saturday 12th April 2008
The Australian Queen Bee Breeding Group will be holding its inaugural workshop on Saturday April 12, 2008. Members of industry are invited to attend at a cost of $20.00 which includes morning and afternoon teas and lunch.
The venue will be the Stephen Roberts Lecture theatre, Zoology Building, University of Sydney.
Proposed Programme
9.30 Welcome Prof Ben Oldroyd
9.40 Outline of current bee breeding programs in Australia
- Better Bees (John Davies)
- AQBBG (Bruce White)
- Jo Horner

11.00 Morning tea
11.30-12.30 General problems in bee breeding and promise for the future (Ben Oldroyd)
12.30-1.30 Lunch
1.30 Report on Black Bee genetic variance (Peter Oxley)
1.45 Report on genetic variance in the West Australian Bee Breeding program (Nadine Chapman)
2.00 Report on mating control by Jo Horner's method (Ben Oldroyd or Peter Oxley)
2.15 Report on the hygienic behaviour genes, Spivak stock (Peter Oxley)
2.30 - 3.15 Visit to the Social Insects laboratory (DNA Robot, sequencing machine, bee house etc)
3.15-4.00 Report on the honey production of the AQBBP lines. Bruce White and Ben.
4.00-5.00 Reports from assessors
- Wayne Sawdy
- Lindsay Bourke
5.00 Experiences in dairy cattle (Prof Frank Nicholas, University of Sydney)
At the conclusion of the workshop, participants are invited to the Forest Lodge Hotel for drinks and dinner (at own expense).

Accommodation (if required)
There are several hotels and guesthouses adjacent to the University
The Alishan Guest house has single rooms from $55 (share facilities) to $88 (en suite)
http://www.alishan.com.au/
The Forest Lodge Hotel is pub style Telephone: 02 9660 1782.
There are also the usual chains around Central Station.
Parking
Parking on campus is permitted but expensive. Because it’s a weekend, you should find free parking on Glebe streets.
Public Transport
The closest station is Central. 435, 436, 437, 440 and 461 busses along Parramatta Road will take you to the University. Ask the driver to let you off at the Foot Bridge Theatre. Enter the University and turn right on Science Road. The Zoology Building is on the right 100m down the hill.

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Vale - Michael (Mike) Nelson
We were deeply saddened by the news that reached us that Michael Nelson had passed away (Aged 65) in the early hours of November 19th 2007.
Michael was an amazing beekeeper. He began his involvement with bees as a teenager starting with 2 hives and over the years built up to 450 hives in 1970 when he went full-time beekeeping leaving his employment with Tebbutt's General Store. The decision was a big one for him given that he had a young family to support and was leaving a secure position. He credited the decision to Peter Porter from Geurie and Ian Lummis, Gilgandra, plus the support of his wife, Marlene.
Michael was a great listener with an excellent memory for detail. He benefited from wise counsellors like the late Merv Goodwin who imparted in him an incredible understanding of honey producing flora, flowering times and the effects of changing weather conditions. He remained a close friend of Clem Marriott, a highly successful beekeeper from the Central West of NSW and over time developed close friendships with other beekeepers throughout Australia. Always talking bees, conditions, marketing etc.
In 1978 he upgraded his extracting facility installing electronically timed Pender 21 frame semi radials and then later a fully SS Beequip extracting system using 2 horizontal radials. During this time the hive numbers had reached 1200 +.
His long term friend, Warren Millington described Michael as "....a great friend who only knew a days work to be a Big Day or a Whopper." Ready to help his mates he had often explained to me that when he loaned a site to a fellow beekeeper he always ensured it was a good one, you never knew when you might need the return of a favour. Another highlight to be enjoyed was his video record of beekeeping sites and honey flows worked over the years and the commentary that accompanied the video. Those records will be treasured by the family for generations.
Michael's main skills revolved around an uncanny ability to understand honey and pollen flora and then locate suitable sites and maintain the access by taking care of property owners, he was always looking to improve the welfare of his hives and had a philosophy "that nothing was too good for the worker." Mike was quick to move with the times and found his knowledge was increased by regularly attending the annual NSWAA meetings where he thrived on the informative programs and exchange of ideas with close friends such as Ian and Shirley Stephen's from Mole Creek, Tasmania.
His equipment was very well presented and maintained and he made a relatively easy transition to the B-Qual program some years back.
He was a member of the 1963-64 Premiership Winning Boggabri Rugby League team that won the Grand Final, Mike played in the forwards.
In 1966 Michael married Marlene, also from Boggabri in what might be called a marriage "made in heaven". His beekeeping skills were exceptional and the support he received from Marlene, even more so. Mike had three children, Sharon, Julie and son John. John has worked in the family
business for 18 years and has taken over the responsibilities of the large operation since Mike became ill earlier in 2007.
Michael was a proud supporter of Capilano Honey Limited but not backward in offering advice when he felt it necessary. My personal association began in the mid 1970's and Michael and his family remain close friends.
Michael loved beekeeping but adored his family and not just his immediate family, a point so profoundly evidenced by the 600 friends and relatives who attended his funeral at the Sacred Heart Church, Boggabri.
To Marlene, John, Sharon, Julie and the entire Nelson family we extend our deepest sympathy at Michael's passing. He will be sadly missed.
Bill Winner

Vale – Sir Edmund Hillary (1919 – 2008)
The lanky, industrious beekeeper-turned-adventurer who was the first person to stand on the top of the world created a legacy that New Zealanders celebrated while absorbing the news that the hero on their five-dollar note was dead.
Sir Edmund Hillary, 88, died in Auckland from a heart attack after a long period of ill health. World leaders have paid tribute to the man the Prime Minister, Helen Clark, called the most famous New Zealander to have lived. They all said the same thing in different ways: that Hillary’s place as his country’s mountain-conquering trailblazer, an inspiration to generations of schoolchildren, would never by replicated.
Sydney Morning Herald – January 12, 2008

Honey may improve insulin sensitivity
Findings at the International Symposium on Honey and Human Health in Sacramento, California, suggest honey may help against diabetes, obesity and hypertension.
David Baer a research physiologist at the US Department of Agriculture showed how insulin resistance, a sign that glucose metabolism is breaking down, is not only related to diabetes, but also to obesity, cardiovascular disease, stroke and hypertension.
“Controlling blood sugar is critically important for diabetics and maintaining good insulin sensitivity reduces the risk for diabetes in at-risk people,” Baer said in a statement.
“Experimental evidence suggests that consumption of honey compared to some other sweeteners may improve blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity.”
In addition, researchers are exploring honey’s potential to improve chemotherapy-induced neutropenia, wound healing, restorative sleep, cough suppression and cognitive function.

Honey proves a better option for childhood cough
Hershey, Pa – Now that the safety and effectiveness of children’s cough medicines are in question, what can parents do to help their child deal with a troublesome cough?
A new study by a Penn State College of Medicine research team found that honey may offer parents an effective and safe alternative. The study found that a small dose of buckwheat honey given before bedtime provided better relief of nighttime cough and sleep difficulty in children than no treatment or dextromethorphan (DM) a cough suppressant found in many over-ther-counter cold medications.
Honey did a better job reducing the severity, frequency and bothersome nature of nighttime cough from upper respiratory infection that DM or no treatment. Honey also showed a positive effect on the sleep quality of both the coughing child and the child’s parents. DM was not significantly better at alleviating symptoms than no treatment.
The results are published by Penn State College of Medicine researchers, led by Ian Paul, M.D., M. Sc., in this month’s Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.
In a previous study published in 2004, Paul and colleagues showed that neither DM nor diphenhydramine, another common component of cold medications, performed better that a placebo at reducing nighttime cough or improving sleep quality. However, honey has been used for centuries in some cultures to treat upper respiratory infection symptoms like cough, and is considered to be safe for children over 12 months old. Honey has well-established antioxidant and antimicrobial effects, which could explain its contributions to wound healing. Honey also soothes on contact, which may help explain its effect on cough as suggested by the World Health Organisation.
In the latest study, the researchers enrolled 105 children between the ages of 2 and 18 at a single university-affiliated physician practice site. On the first night of the stuffy, children received no treatment. Parents answered five questions about their child’s cough and sleep quality as well as about their own sleep quality. On the second night, children received either honey, artificial honey-flavoured DM or no treatment about a half hour prior to going to bed. Parents answered the same five questions the following morning.
The randomized study was partially double-blinded: Medical staff did not know what treatment each participating family received when distributing their sealed syringe-containing envelope. Parents of children who received honey or artificial honey-flavoured DM in a measured syringe were blinded to their treatment group. Parents of children in the no treatment group received an empty syringe, and therefore were aware of their child’s treatment group.
Across the board, parents rated honey as significantly better than DM or no treatment for symptomatic relief of their child’s nighttime cough and sleep difficulty. In a few cases, parents did report mild side effects with the honey treatment, such as hyperactivity.
“Our study adds to the growing literature questioning the use of DM in children, but it also offer a legitimate and safe alternative for physicians and parents,” said Paul, a pediatrician, researcher and associate professor pediatrics at Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Children’s Hospital. “Additional studies should certainly be considered, but we hope that medical professionals will consider the positive potential of honey as a treatment given the lack of efficacy, expense, and potential for adverse effects associated with the use of DM.”
Potentially dangerous side effects of DM in young children include dystonic reactions, severe involuntary muscle contractions and spasms. Further, DM is commonly used as a drug of abuse by adolescents.
Cough is the reason for nearly three per cent of all outpatient visits in the United States, more than any other symptom. It is particularly bothersome at night because it disrupts sleep.
Consumers spend billions of dollars each year on cough and cold medications despite little evidence that these drugs provide significant relief.
This study was funded by an unrestricted grant from the National Honey Board, an industry-funded agency of the United Stated Department of Agriculture.

Employment enquiry
Mr Rajeev Kurnar is a hard working experienced beekeeper in India who is looking for a seasonal or year round beekeeping job. He has a sound knowledge of beekeeping practices with experience in manipulating colonies and knowledge of bee behaviour (Carnolian, Italian, Caucasian). He is physically fit for honey pulling and extracting honey, and also for disease checking, splitting hives, swarm control, feeding, wrapping etc.
Contact: Email: rajeev kurnar This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Mobile: 0091 9934903007

Crop and Stock Reports
As previously advised, crop reports will be provided on a seasonal basis and the next report will be available in February 2008.