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Concentrating on which apple blossom to pollinate

On May 17, Rotarians for BEES and the Rotary Club of Canterbury shared a stand at the fun-filled Canterbury Neighbourhood Centre Open Day.

The timing of this family focused event was ideal, as it coincided with the World Bee Day celebrations, which we were fortunate to enjoy in the centre’s beautiful surrounds of the thriving community garden. Our pollination activity buzzed with children who could dress as bees or butterflies to pollinate the flowers of an apple tree and then receive an apple – the result of pollination. They could also plant a seed of a bee-friendly plant or complete a beehive jigsaw puzzle.

An enthusiastic performance of the Waggle dance by eight Parkmore Primary School students, led by Lili-Ann Kriegler, demonstrated how bees communicate with their colony to let them know where a food source of pollen and nectar rich flowers is to be found.

The day was a great success, showcasing the many activities available to the local community. Our thanks go to all who participated and volunteered to make this event so special. It was a pleasure to work together with Canterbury Neighbourhood Centre, where we now meet together on Monday evenings.

Seed planting activity with Elizabeth Shepherd (President of Canterbury Rotary Club) and a very young gardener.

Butterflies also pollinate apple trees.

Craig Smith (Canterbury RC) helping to plant seeds that will produce food for us as well as our wildlife.

At our stand, Judy Parslow, Liz McCaskill, My- Hanh Ly and Craig Smith, Our team had much fun sharing the love and concerns for bees and other pollinators with the children and their parents.

Parkmore Primary School students led by Lili-Ann Kriegler, performing the Waggle Dance, which is how honey bees communicate with their colony the locations of water and food sources.

The Your Garden – Our Future event was held on the 7th of April 2025, at the Box Hill Golf Club. This special night raised awareness and funds for the Rotarians for Bees campaign to promote the importance of bees and other pollinators, and to encourage efforts to boost dwindling numbers and prevent disease.

Rotarians for Bees and the Rotary Club of Canterbury hosted the ‘Your Garden – Our Future’ event at the Box Hill Golf Club. The Rotary theme for the month of April 2025 is Environment Protection and Sustainability and an ideal way to observe it was an evening with an enthusiastic audience of 150 Rotarians and friends. We were particularly grateful for the strong support and involvement from Eltham, Kew and Balwyn clubs.

Key speakers included Aris Petratos (former President of the Victorian Apiarists Association and owner of The 3 Bees Honey), Fiona Chambers (CEO of The Wheen Bee Foundation, Andrew Laidlaw (Landscape Architect and Horticulturist at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne) and Costa Georgiadis (everyone’s favourite presenter from ABC Gardening Australia). Jonathan Shepherd, our MC, interviewed other notable attendees including Emma Cutting (Founder of The Heart Gardening Project) and Murray Wilkinson who initiated Balwyn Rotary Club’s  Nature Strip Program in Boroondara, which has now also been adopted by four clubs in Geelong.

Costa also talked with four inspirational Parkmore Primary School students about BEAP (Bee Education & Protection), a problem solving project that they developed to help educate the wider community about the importance of native bees. In June this year, they will be representing Australia at the Future Problem Solving Program International (FPSPI) in the USA.

There certainly was a buzz in the room and a wonderful atmosphere created by so many people who share our concern for the environment and protection of bees and other pollinators.

The key message for all, is to make gardens, whatever the size, with safe and thriving habitats that will nourish them and us.

Thanks to everyone for the support and contribution to a most memorable evening.

John McCaskill

Founder and Victorian Chair

John McCaskill, Fiona Chambers, Aris Petratos and Tracie Armstrong

Fiona Chambers – The Wheen Bee Foundation

Andrew Laidlaw – Landscape Architect at Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Aris Petratos former President of the Victorian Apiarists Association and owner of The 3 Bees Honey

Costa with Parkmore Primary School students

The following short video  captures some of the excitement in the room.

We are very grateful to our videographer Michael Demarco from Simple Souls Media.

Thanks to our Donors who have so generously supported the event 

Aris Petratos – The 3 Bees  Honey

Andrew Laidlaw –  Melbourne Botanical Gardens

Andy’s Happy Hens

Beechworth Honey

Box Hill Golf Club

Brighton BMW

Costa Georgiadis

Emma Cutting

Daisy’s Garden Supplies

Escape Hatch Books

Jenny Sardon

Jill Woinarski

John & Liz McCaskill

Jonathan & Elizabeth Shepherd

Kew Nursery

Kimberley Grace

Lucy  Hobgood-Brown

Mayvers

Michael Stillwell

Peter Kelly & Jo Rice

Readings Books Hawthorn

Rob and Karin Simpson

Rotary Club of Southbank

Ted & Rosemary Waghorn