This is the first experimental swarm box we made for

 Barbara Elkins

The idea is to attract bees & encourage them to make a temporary

hive which can be transported to a more suitable location where they can be re-housed. 

The short video shows the activity in & around the box which is far better than expected

 

As well as supporting our local schools we have now linked up with Armidale Public School.
Some of John Mills family live up there & he was asked if we could make a small Library Book Box to be installed in the playground. They only wanted it undercoated as the children would decorate it themselves. We obliged & some results can be seen in the photos. They also gave us a donation in appreciation.

 

WE do our upmost to support important charities.
In the past we have raised funds & given to The Cancer Council $850, The Prostate Cancer Appeal $1250 as well as support for our local schools.
We have supported the Samaritan’s Purse for children for 9 consecutive years. Last year we donated $750 for transport costs of containers overseas. 
This year the committee decided to support the training of guide dogs for the blind with a substantial donation of $500.  

A letter of thanks can be seen below.

W

Here it is ...Our new Pride & Joy

After a couple of attempts for funding from the government grants via AMSA we finally cracked it & bought this new Deluxe Router Table.

 It will replace the old one we had & is much more upmarket & easier to use. 

The old router table was handed on to Mannering Park (Manno) Men's Shed who were very grateful for the donation as they didn't have one. We also supplied them with a Makita router to suit the table.

 A big thank you to the Federal Government (Health) for their continued support of Men's Sheds & to AMSA for passing on the   funding needed to purchase this machine.

 

Being the professionals we are at making beehives the word is out that we can make anything relating to beekeeping. 
In that light we were asked to tackle a Kenyan style beehive.
 It needed to be made from at least 25mm thick hardwood planks & a pitched roof for ventilation.. It also needed numerous horizontal slats for the bees to build the combs on.
After we sourced the timber the ever reliable Bryan Frendin & a couple of others got stuck into it. As can be seen in the photos there was quite a bit of work in it but on completion it was exactly what the client required. If it works successfully we're sure  others will want to follow suit.

Good Job Fellas

Eagles Plumbing has numerous stores scattered around the Coast & is one of the largest plumbing supply organizations in the area. They have in the past & continue to support Men's Sheds in their areas by raising much needed funds for us. As usual they held their  annual golf day for the tradies at Shelley Beach Golf Club. This year a was their best ever as the boys managed to raise a record $1100ea for Umina, Gosford, Erina & of course Bateau Bay. 

Well done guys & we assure you the support is very much  appreciated by all the Sheds  

Our President receiving a cheque from Josh (Manager Long Jetty)

 

Recently some of our members from the Photography arm of the shed decided to visit Barrington Tops to enhance their photographic skills.They chose an un-powered & un-serviced site to make camp.  Robert Corlet, Lyle Fry & Tony Newall were the only toughies game enough to take it on.

Below are some of the fantastic photos they managed to obtain from this beautiful undisturbed area.

Maybe a camp out in winter down the Snowy next fellas?? 

Looks like hard work to me