Western Australia celebrates 8am World Bee Day in Perth CBD
World bee day will take over Perth’s Murray Street Mall on Wednesday 20 May, with a display opening from 8am that puts Western Australia’s bees, honey and biosecurity messages in the middle of the CBD. The event will feature beekeeping demonstrations, local honey tastings and information on preventing the spread of exotic bee pests and diseases.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is hosting the display with the Bee Industry Council of WA and the Agricultural Produce Commission’s Beekeeper Producers Committee. Visitors will be able to speak with local beekeepers, learn about creating bee-friendly gardens, and taste and buy premium West Australian honeys including jarrah, karri and marri varieties.
Gerard Leddin on WA honey
Gerard Leddin, a DPIRD principal agribusiness development consultant, said world bee day was an important opportunity to recognise the contribution bees made to agriculture and biodiversity. He said, “Thanks to WA’s unique jarrah forests, our beekeepers and their hardworking bees produce the much-loved jarrah honey”.
Leddin also said, “This premium honey is exclusive to our State, and its distinct flavour profile is gaining recognition in global markets.” Jarrah honey comes from WA’s unique jarrah forests, and the fact that it is exclusive to Western Australia gives the display a commercial edge as well as an educational one.
Biosecurity in Murray Street Mall
The event will also carry a biosecurity message tied to Western Australia’s position as one of the few regions in the world free from the destructive varroa mite. Organisers will present information on exotic bee pests and diseases, and visitors will be encouraged to download the free MyPestGuide app, which allows users to report biosecurity concerns directly to DPIRD.
Mikey Cernotta, the Bee Industry Council of WA deputy chair, said people could still support the industry even if they were unable to attend the event. He urged people to check labels carefully to make sure they were buying locally produced honey, saying, “If it’s local honey, you know you are getting some of the best honey in the world, and more importantly, you are supporting our local beekeepers”.
Local buyers and beekeepers
Cernotta also said, “Purch,ase some local honey from your local beekeeper, plant bee-friendly plants in your garden, try a recipe using premium WA honey or host a morning tea showcasing food made with local honey”. For visitors in Perth, the practical takeaway is simple: the Murray Street Mall display offers a chance to meet beekeepers, taste West Australian honey and take home the biosecurity app the organisers want people using after they leave.
