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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING OF THE WELLINGTON BEEKEEPERS ASSOC. INC. HELD IN
THE JOHNSONVILLE UNION CHURCH HALL, JOHNSONVILLE ON MONDAY 8 MARCH 1999 AT 8 PM.
PRESENT: Richard Hatfield (Pres.), Mary-Ann Lindsay (Treas), John Burnet (Sec.) and
32 members and visitors as listed in the attendance book.
APOLOGIES: Andrew Jung, Chris & Marie Christoffel, Graham Lusty, Les Solomon,
Jurgen Jenkner
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: Minutes of meeting held 8 February were read and
confirmed.
GENERAL BUSINESS & MEMBERS QUERIES:
Honey Harvest - Wide variances reported - suburban harvests generally good however some
single sources such as manuka poor.
Wax Dipping - this option for AFB spore control and preservation of supers was now
available through Richard Hatfield.
Wax Salvage - several methods were outlined and discussed.
Cleaning "wets" - discussion centred on the use of a feeder tray and other
methods of persuading bees to take honey from "wet" supers down to lower supers.
Bees will have no interest in cleaning "wets" during a nectar flow.
Bee stings - remedies suggested - anti-histamine, honey, vinegar, saliva, crushed
aspirin. Bumble bees generally bite rather than sting. Wasps unlike bees can sting several
times. It was recommended rings be removed before handling hives as a ring may cause
restricted blood-flow following a bee sting resulting in loss of the finger.
Ivan Pedersen demonstrated the use and advantages of using plywood dummy boards
on the top brood box to create space for easier inspection and to better insulate the
brood on the two outer frames.
Tony Buder suggested the club provide the jars used by honey competition entrants. Use
of a standard glass jar would make the judge’s job easier and Tony offered to arrange
to purchase these from a glass wholesaler and supply to members each Feb at nominal cost
(approx. $1). Following general discussion this idea was agreed to by all members.
Wrae Duncan produced a jar of Horny Honey (containing deer velvet) which he had recently
purchased ($15) - a lively discussion on its merits followed.
The question of importation of Australian honey was raised and Mary-Ann detailed the bee
diseases currently rife in Australia and NZ beekeepers determination to protect their
industry.
The proposed requirement that a warning "may cause severe allergic reaction"
be placed on all dietary supplements made from bee products was discussed. Mary-Ann
suggested the warning requirement appeared to be driven by the Australian industry through
NZ’s Health Dept. Concerned beekeepers should lobby their MP or other politicians to
prevent the warning becoming law or at least soften the tone.
To enable many non-local members to stay later at meetings it was suggested (and
following discussion agreed to by all members present) that a 7.30 p.m. starting time be
adopted in the winter. Later start time i.e. 8 p.m. would apply during summer months when
NZ had switched to DST.
HONEY COMPETITION :
Liquid Honey : 1st John Robson
2nd
Tony Buder
3rd
Andrew Beach
Creamed Honey: 1st Deborah Paterson
2nd
Fred Thomson
Comb Honey: 1st Ivan Pederson
Meeting closed at 9.30 p.m. with supper.
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