Shoalhaven Beekeepers Association

28/12/2025

Please note that our page is no longer being actively monitored. If you have any questions please email our website: https://www.beekeepers.asn.au/shoalhaven.

If you are interested in keeping bees or just knowing more about these wonderful creatures, you are always welcome to come to one of our club meetings, 3rd Wednesday of the the month - 6PM at the Nowra Showground Committee Rooms.

Welcome to Shoalhaven Beekeepers Association Incorporated The Shoalhaven Beekeepers Association (SBA) formed in early 2015 for those interested in beekeeping in the Shoalhaven/Illawarra area. The club aims to support all beekeepers to improve knowledge and skills of members at every level of expert...

20/05/2025

Hi All,

I hope you all had a good International BEE day! Up here in Wollongong it has rained most of the day so my Bees haven't been out partying at all.

Below are some words I would like to share from the first Shoalhaven Bee Associations member to find Varroa in their hives. Another reminder to be vigilant knowing what's going on in your hives.

" I'm out in Vincentia. I have been dealing with Varroa for just on a year now. Jervis Bay was one of the first varroa detections south of Sydney last year. So 1 year on, where am I at, my 6 hives are in my backyard and back onto the Booderie National Park. I have just completed my 4th varroa treatment in that time period (Apitraz, Apiguard, Bayvarol, Apiguard.)

The many feral hives (and unmanaged hives) in the local area are in steep decline. I enclose a pic of my pest management tray at the start of Autumn. Clear indication of SHB invasion. If you look closely, mites are also in the mix. This collection of beetles (and mites) is from a 2 week period only ( the trays get cleaned out every 2 weeks) The worst SHB invasion ever. The colonies are strong (just came off an Apiguard treatment). I have started to notice a calming of the beetle situation in the last 4 weeks, maybe due to cooler weather, but I suspect due to the declining number of hives in the area, so hopefully easier times for next season.

When I look back at the start of summer, I recall wondering why the hives are not thriving (even after treatment) and definitely no honey. All hives had a “shotgun “ brood pattern, I tested for AFB and EFB…sending samples to labs. All negative. Turns out it was parasitic mite syndrome. The hives were being re-infested by mites over and over again."
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Cheers
Dino
Shoalhaven Biosecurity Officer
Ph: 0419 621 042

13/03/2025

A reminder the next GM is on Wednesday of next week, 19th March. It is an important milestone in our history, occurring exactly ten years after our inaugural meeting. An auspicious (although some might say suspicious) occasion. A new start for our next ten years!!! AND THERE WILL BE CAKE!!!, (but no party hats).
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE NEXT GENERAL MEETING

A reminder the next GM is on Wednesday of next week, 19th March. It is an important milestone in our history, occurring exactly ten years after our inaugural meeting. An auspicious (although some might say suspicious) occasion. A new start for our next ten years!!! AND THERE WILL BE CAKE!!!, (but no party hats.

Also, please remember this will be our first meeting at the new venue, the Committee Room, Nowra Showground Halls. Entry via the War Memorial Gate in West Street, approximately 50m down the road from our previous meeting place. Same time, 5:30 for 6:00pm. There will be a few old friends there, as well as many new ones.

We look forward to seeing you.

Tim

Tim Haddad
Secretary
Shoalhaven Beekeepers Association Inc

Beekeeping association in Shoalhaven for beekeepers, encouraging education, biosecurity compliance. Also honey and wax sales and bee keeping equipment.

19/02/2025

PLEASE SEE IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM TIM ABOUT THE CHANGE OF OUR MEETING VENUE

"Hello to all members.

I shall keep this as brief as possible.

On the 2nd of December last I received a communication from the above advising they had been appointed head lessee by Shoalhaven Council for the premises of 27 West Street Nowra, our club meeting and storage space. Whilst all was bright and rosy initially, things have deteriorated to the extent that we have been forced to find a new venue both for our meetings and to store our equipment.

Shoalhaven Council has been very helpful and we have a new home for our meetings, which will take effect from our next GM on the 19th of March. Please note the below:

The Committee Room, Nowra Show Society
Nowra Showground Halls
Shoalhaven Showground

The venue is approximately 50 metres from our current space and is accessible by car.

Continue down West Street towards Junction Street until you reach the War Memorial at the entry to the showground. Turn left and enter the showgrowground, drive up the main entry road to the showground pavilion, park and walk towards the covered walkway, turn right under the walkway and the Committee Room is straight in front of you.

Please note, this is NOT the main entry to the Showground. The important thing to look out for is the War Memorial in West Street.

Next month we will have people at 27 West Street, at the Memorial in West Street and at the Nowra Showground Halls to help you find the new venue. It is a very amenable space, with a kitchen and handy toilet facilities. I think we will enjoy our meetings there.

The issues around storage are a work in progress. There is a shed at the apiary which is currently being renovated by various members and with donations of materials by others, (thanks Rhonda). As there is no power or water available there, extractions and storage is being organised in a shed at Laurie Talbot's home in Coolangatta. More on that later.

So that's it. Please contact me if you have any questions or the above raises any problems for you."

31/01/2025

STOP PRESS:
Harvey Howard from the DPI is coming to Cambewarra Village next Friday (Feb 7th) at 10:30. He will be demonstrating varroa washes but will also be dispensing help and advice on all things varroa related. PM me if you can make it and I will send address details- Harvey he will also be around in the afternoon if you would like him to visit your property if you can't make the morning session.
Best regards
Virginia

12/12/2024

Please note the next meeting is on Wednesday, 18th December. For our new members, the address is The West Street Community Centre, 28 West Street Nowra, (near the Nowra Showground); 5:30pm for 6:00pm; please bring a share plate.

Please also note the club hives will move next Tuesday 17th December. If you would like to see the move, be at The Merribee at 9:00am on Tuesday. The address is 660 Comerong Island Road, Numbaa. Bring a suit if you have one.

15/11/2024

The next General Meeting will be next week, Wednesday 20th November.
Venue will be the usual, West Street Community Centre - 28 West St, starting at 6PM
All welcome - members and anyone interested in bees.
This session will be a general Q&A and note that Harvey, our incredibly helpful VDO from the DPI, will be coming to discuss the latest developments.

15/11/2024

The DPI have just approved oxalic acid treatment for varroa (in the form of Api-Bioxal) see details;

03/11/2024

Lisa Frost gave a really helpful talk at the ABA AGM yesterday on the importance of drone uncapping to reduce mite levels. She went through the intensive process of testing and uncapping to keep the mite levels down and there was some talk of making the presentation more widely available, but here is some information from her website:
https://extensionaus.com.au/professionalbeekeepers/chemical-free-management-of-varroa-brood-breaks-and-drone-trapping/

Resilience in beekeeping was also a key topic and please see some resources here:
https://agrifutures.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/24-140-varroa-resources.pdf

Many beekeepers will be wondering how to best manage varroa in their hives. A well equipped Integrated Pest Management (IPM) tool kit will comprise of cultural and chemical measures to be employed based on colony infestation thresholds.

29/10/2024

DPI have just released a varroa management tool to help beekeepers identify the treatment options under different conditions.


https://tocalcollegecourses.z26.web.core.windows.net/courses/Varroa%20Management%20Tool/story.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawGNBIdleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHe1ImjfyOFKHL7MqzmOcNngnDEk2ZgNr-Au60GDf7kXXm2lZ4Pyx_b53qw_aem_Pp6_kWzLqi50vLcDdcxScA

09/10/2024

DRONE MANAGEMENT AND VARROA - Harvey Howard mentioned this at a recent meeting as a great way to check for varroa and then to manage varroa in your hives.

The link below is from the National Bee Unit:
The population of Varroa mites in honey bee colonies must be actively managed throughout the year. Drone brood removal is an effective way to remove almost half of the reproducing Varroa mites from a colony.
Drone brood removal is recommended as part of a continuous
integrated pest management regimen in the apiary alongside monitoring the Varroa population. This fact sheet details how and when to perform drone brood removal.

09/10/2024

The next General Meeting will be next week, Wednesday 16th October. Our guest speaker will be Rachael Peedom on Flow Hives.

Venue will be the usual, West Street Community Centre - 28 West St, starting at 6PM

All welcome - members and potential members