A free event for beekeepers!
Plans are coming together for the 46th Tocal Beekeepers' Field Day at Tocal College. This is a free event for beekeepers and bee enthusiasts, with exhibitors and suppliers, presenters, industry updates, and honey to buy. The date for 2025 is Saturday 11 October, so put it in your diaries! It's always good to get together for an informative day for those wanting to know more about both European honey bees and our native bees!
- Talks on the main stage
- Hive demonstrations in the beezeebos
- Honey extracting and sales
- Beekeeping associations
- Beekeeping equipment suppliers
- Tocal publications and education
- Helpful advice for anyone thinking about keeping bees
- An informative day for the family
This year we will be holding a honey competition for the general public to enter, facilitated by the Central Coast Beekeepers (download the entry form and schedule), and also hosting the Amateur Beekeepers Australia Colonel Guy Pulling Competition for affiliated ABA clubs (download the schedule).
For updates, follow us on Facebook at www.fb.me/TocalBees
Register for free at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/46th-annual-tocal-beekeeping-field-day-tickets-1637137354899
Email: tocal.bees@dpi.nsw.gov.au
2025 suppliers and information
- Pender Beekeeping Supplies
- Lockwood Beekeeping Supplies
- Hornsby Beekeeping Supplies
- Hunter Valley Apiary supplies
- Tocal publications and education
- Hunter Valley Amateur Beekeepers' Association
- Hunter Branch - Australian Native Bee Association
- Central Coast Beekeepers
- Varroa controller Australia
- Varroa Development Officers
- DPIRD honey bee officers
Meals and refreshments
You are welcome to BYO food to Tocal if you are staying all day, or order lunch in the dining hall which will be open from 12 noon to 1.30pm:
- salad box with or without chicken - $10
- lasagne and chips - $15
- fish and chips - $15
- pie and chips - $15
- hot chips only - $5
- tea and coffee available with your meal for $2
- soft drinks will be available at $3 per can
There is also a free cold water bubbler to fill drink bottles.
Ballimore Farms will be back with their delicious honey and goat milk gelato!
2025 Program
| Speakers | Topic |
|---|---|
Dr Madlen Kratz (Honey Bee Industry Development Officer, NSW DPIRD) | Honey bee nutrition |
Elizabeth Frost (Technical Specialist Honey Bees, NSW DPIRD) | Oxalic acid treatment—test results |
Dr Kenya Fernandes (ARC DECRA Fellow, The University of Sydney) | Social native bees medicinal honey |
Kelly Lees (Tocal Honey Bees Education Officer, NSW DPIRD) | Churchill travels and tropilaelaps |
Michael Syme (North Shore Beekeepers Assoc) | Varroa and small hive beetle (SHB) impacts |
Rod Bourke (Bee Biosecurity Officer, NSW DPIRD) | Varroa makes you a better beekeeper |
Emily Noordyke (Varroa Technical Officer, NSW DPIRD) | Swarm prevention or varroa/SHB Reinfestation |
Dr Ros Gloag (ARC DECRA Fellow & Robinson Fellow, The University of Sydney) | Stingless bees swarming behaviours |
Mike Allerton (Bee Biosecurity Officer, Amateur Beekeepers Australia) | Managing mite levels with brood frame heat treatment |
Demonstrations in the Beezeebos
- Inner workings of the hive - Kelly Lees (Tocal Honey Bees Education Officer, NSW DPIRD)
- Hive inspection for pest and disease - Alex Schellenberg (Bee Biosecurity Officer NSW DPIRD)
Competitions
- Amateur Beekeepers Australia: Test your honey bee knowledge
- Tocal Honey competition winners (download the entry form and schedule)
- Presentation of the Col Pulling Award and Bruce White Sheild
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