Issue: December 2025
Increasing Your Hive Numbers
Bruce White discusses different approaches to creating a split. Hive numbers can be increased by splitting a hive when plenty of nectar and pollen is available, usually from spring to late summer. Boxes with a small number of frames are usually used to start the new colony - called a nucleus (or nuc) to accommodate a split
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Vale Neville Cutts
One of the most respected members of the beekeeping community, Neville Cutts, passed away just prior to his 98th birthday in October. For thirty-four years from 1953 to 1987, Neville was a lecturer at Hawkesbury Agricultural College then the University of Western Sydney. Neville taught a who's who of NSW beekeepers, including Doug Somerville and Bruce White.
An informal wake is planned for Wednesday 21st January at the University of Western Sydney (Hawkesbury} Bourke Street Richmond. Read More:
Biosecurity Buzz
Mike Allerton discusses what was new, exciting and hot from the 49th Apimondia conference Congress in Copenhagen, Denmark (23–27 September 2025). The scientific sessions and trade show were packed with discussions on climate stress, pesticide residues, declining pollinators, and of course, varroa. The push now is toward precision beekeeping, less chemical dependency, and smarter in-hive monitoring. Read More:
And the Winners Are?
Who won the Colonel Pulling Award
and
the Bruce White Award
for 2025?
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The Colonel Pulling Award Honey Cake Competition Winner!
Deep down, below the " wax foundation look alike" chocolate wrap, the honey cream icing, the honey candy glaze and the moulded chocolate bees there is a caramelized honey cake. In fact there are three layers of honey cake.
This cake from Hawkesbury Beekeepers is the winning entry in this years Colonel Pulling Award. This confectionary creation was a collaboration between Hawkesbury members Jacqueline Lea and Rosalind Stanley. Read More:
Scottish Cranachan
This traditional Scottish chilled dessert mixes honey, toasted oatmeal whipped cream, whisky and raspberries. It's ideal for Australian summer entertaining.
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Pollination Failure at Bilpin!
You have probably already heard that something has gone drastically wrong with the fruit pollination at Bilpin this year! Multiple orchards in and around Bilpin have almost no apple crop (Less than 5% of average crop). The situation for stone fruit is mixed. Almost no peaches or cherries, but some plums.
There are quite a few theories as to what happened. Varroa and bad weather are on the top of the list of suspects. Did the bees get a better offer? As apples and stone fruit are completely pollinator dependent, there is no doubt this is a bee story. Read More:
The 2025 Colonel Pulling Award photography competition
The 2025 Colonel Pulling Award photography competition was judged on a group of three images on the topic "In the Hive"
The image is a detail from the Hunter Valley Beekeepers photo called Emergence Bee.
What are your Training Needs?
Varroa Transition to Management
Most of the State jurisdictions are running surveys asking Beekeepers what their training requirements are. This is your chance to tell them what training would be helpful, to all of us.
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We would like to add your content to “The Amateur Beekeeper”
I hope that you are enjoying your “new look” Magazine. The editorial team has widened the content to include “Native Bees”, but Apis Mellifera will always be our core content.
Readers like stories about people and our clubs, so, if you have news or interesting topics, we would like to hear from you.
Plus, a sneak peek at what is coming up in the January Issue.
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