Victorian Apiarists Association

Victorian Apiarists' Association

The 121st VAA Conference & 2022 AGM

Thank you to everyone!!!

The VAA conference is over for another year.

Our thanks go to our Sponsors, to our Exhibitors, to our Speakers

and most of all to our Delegates.

See the Conference Page for photos and other outcomes from the conference

The 2022 VAA Executive Council

President

John van Weeghel

Vice Presidents

Judy Leggett, Phil McPherson

Executive Councillors

Lindsay Callaway Naomi Forbes-Wilson

Ken Gell Max Maunder

Robert McDonald Andrew Turnbull

See the Contacts tab for full details

Thanks to our 2022 Conference Sponsors

VAA Constitution - May 2022

An update - Monday 23rd May 2022

We now have a modernised constitution!

A platform to build on for the future.

Thanks to all members for participating in the review process and voting it in!

Let's work on the problems together

The Victorian Apiarists' Association can advocate for all beekeepers.

Whether you are a hobbyist beekeeper with one hive in the backyard, a semi-commercial beekeeper wishing to take the next step towards becoming fully financially dependent on beekeeping, or a full time commercial beekeeper, there are advantages in working together on all aspects of apiculture in Victoria.

Click on VAA Shop for details

Deadline to submit articles for the Australian Bee Journal

The Australian Bee Journal seeks to publish articles dealing with all aspects of beekeeping and encourages contributions from a wide variety of beekeepers.
To enable it to be published well before the end of the month, the deadline for submission of articles is the 5^th of each month.
Articles should be submitted to the editor of the journal via email at abjeditors@yahoo.com or via post to PO Box 42 Newstead, VIC 3462

On-Line Delivery Only of Australian Bee Journal

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and until further notice the Australian Bee Journal will not be posted in a printed format. Instead it will be delivered on-line via a link from an email sent to each member from the VAA Secretary. The email for the June 2020 journal was sent on 24th June.

In order for this link to automatically display the journal on a device, you may have to have previously logged on to your VAA Wild Apricot account. To do this, click on the login button on the bottom of this page. If you have forgotten your password (or have never had one), click the “Forgot password” link and follow the instructions to set your password. Your device will remember your password and there should be no need to repeat this process again.
In order to receive the email you will also need to have "Mass emails from administrators, such as newsletters and other important notifications" selected in the "Email subscriptions" section of your profile.
Depending on the security settings of your device, the email may have been saved in your Junk email folder from where you can access it. Click here for instructions to prevent this from happening. Also, it has been reported by a number of members that, instead of the Journal being displayed in their browser, it was saved in their download folder.

If you are a VAA member, have checked the above three issues and are still not receiving the email with the journal attached, please notify the VAA Secretary (contact details shown below).

Along with many past editions, the latest journal can also be accessed from the Members menu tab. Here is the front cover of the June 2022 journal:

VAA Melbourne Section

Face-to-face Monthly Meetings have Resumed

The Melbourne Section has recommenced Face-to-Face meetings in 2021. We have a NEW VENUE at The Avenue Church of Christ, Surrey Hills. You can find out where to go by checking the Events page in the Melbourne Section menu tab. Come along and meet up with beekeepers from all flights of life!

Covid Campaign Donation

Beekeeping during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The VAA has been working with Governments during the current COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that our interests are considered as part of any movement restrictions and exemptions that apply to individuals and businesses.

I have been able to gain some clarity around beekeepers being able to attend their hives for husbandry purposes in areas subject to stage 3 and 4 movement restrictions. The link below takes you directly to the relevant web page which has a number of frequently asked questions (FAQ’s).

Where the FAQ indicates that you need to provide evidence about your animals/insects, I suggest that you carry a copy (both hard copy and electronic) of your beekeeper registration with you in the event of you being spot checked by authorities.

For current information please check the relevant Victorian and the AHBIC websites as they hold considerable amounts of relevant information for you and your business.

As the COVID-19 response continues, I will continue to represent the VAA and our interests at the relevant industry forums being hosted by Agriculture Victoria.

Kind regards, Phil McPherson, President VAA Inc

https://www.business.vic.gov.au/disputes-disasters-and-succession-planning/covid-safe-business/agriculture,-forestry-and-fishing-sector-guidance

Government COVID-19 Resources

The following government resources are being updated regularly and we recommend you check them for the latest public information. Thanks to the University of Melbourne for providing much of this list.

COVID-19 hotlines also offer 24/7 support:

1800 675 398 (Victoria Department of Health and Human Services)
1800 020 080 (Australian Department of Health)

B-QUAL Newsletters are available from the Links menu and also details of how to register to collect for the Australian Honey Library Project

Become a member

The Victorian Apiarists’ Association welcomes all beekeepers to become members. Join the VAA to fast track your knowledge and experience.

Join us

Victorian Apiarists Association Inc.
PO Box 40 California Gully, Vic 3556. Email: vaa@vicbeekeepers.com.au