The Beekeepers Club Inc.

The Beekeepers Club History

The Beekeepers Club Inc. was formed to fill a need for hobby beekeepers to talk to other beekeepers and share their knowledge, experience, ideas and ways of managing their hives. The first meeting was held on 16th April 1998. At the first meeting, held at Bee Gentle Beekeeping Supplies in Blackburn North, there were thirteen people. The committee then found a place to meet on a regular basis at Manningham Council Depot. The first issue of the newsletter "Bee Lines" was published in February 1999 when Finian Burns joined the committee as editor; this newsletter was published bi-monthly. In the first year attendance of the meeting averaged 35 people; in December 1999 the club counted 70 members.

Collingwood Children's Farm gives hands on experience to the newer beekeepers and some exposure to handling bees whilst under the guidance of more experienced beekeepers. It also provides a venue for the 5th lesson to complete the "Introduction to Beekeeping" course run by the club. This course was instigated in 2005 as a 5-week course to cover the basics of beekeeping, i.e. how to assemble a hive, the history of bees and their introduction to Australia, bee diseases and complications, swarm control, Code of Practice, general hive management and good work practises when working with bees.

Member count at the end of 2009/2010 - 206
Committee members of the Beekeeping Club Inc. 2009/2010
President - Sue Zuber
Vice President - Aris Petratos
Secretary - Paul Davis
Treasurer - Paul Pynaker
Librarian - Helmut Huber
Editor - John Kennedy
Web Master - Dietmar Klimkeit
Other Committee members: Geoff Neville, Ian Brown, Ralph Lynch, Florian Gentu


Member count at the end of 2008/2009 - 122
Committee members of the Beekeeping Club Inc. 2008/2009
        President Sue Zuber
        Vice President Aris Petratos
        Secretary Paul Davis
        Treasurer Paul Pynaker
        Committee Geoff Neville, Ian Brown, Kym Rowlett, Helmut Huber, Dietmar Klimkeit, Ralph Lynch


Committee members of the Beekeeping Club Inc. 2007/2008
        President Graeme Grigson
        Vice President Aris Petratos
        Secretary Sue Zuber
        Treasurer Paul Pynaker
        Committee Geoff Neville, Ian Brown, Paul Davis, Kym Rowlett, Helmut Huber, Dietmar Klimkeit


Committee members of the Beekeeping Club Inc. 2006/2007
President Graeme Grigson
Vice President Aris Petratos
Secretary Sue Zuber
        Treasurer Paul Pynaker
        Committee Geoff Neville, Ian Brown, Paul Davis


Committee members of the Beekeeping Club Inc. 2005/2006
        President Graeme Grigson
        Vice President Denise Grant
        Secretary Kate Potter
        Treasurer Paul Pynaker
        Committee Sue Zuber, Geoff Neville, Ian Brown, Finian Burns


Committee members of the Beekeeping Club Inc. 2004/2005
        President Graeme Grigson
        Vice President Finian Burns
        Secretary Kate Potter
        Treasurer Paul Pynaker
        Committee Ian Brown, Paul Davies


Committee members of the Beekeeping Club Inc. 1999/2000
        President Vince Testra
        Vice President Finian Burns
        Secretary Jane Bunney
        Treasurer Sue Simpfendorfer
        Committee Chris Allan, Joan Allan, Ian Brown, Steve Anastassio


Committee members of the Beekeeping Club Inc. 1998/1999
        President Vince Testra
        Vice President Ralf Simpfendorfer
        Secretary Jane Bunney
        Treasurer David Moir
        Committee Chris Allan, Joan Allan