Meet your trainers - Victoria

Andrew Wootton first started keeping bees assisting his father way back in the 1960s.  After retiring from a career as a clinical biochemist, Andrew now has more time to devote to beekeeping. He is a certified Master Beekeeper with the Eastern Apicultural Society (USA) and has run numerous beginners’ courses and queen-raising workshops.  Andrew is Vice President of the Victorian Apiarists’ Association and Chair of its Education Committee. 

“Teaching is something I’ve always done, and I get the most satisfaction from passing on my experiences to the next generation of students”. 

As an active SQRT (State Quarantine Response Team) member, he has been deployed numerous times with both Agriculture Victoria and the NSW DPI on the varroa response, and currently sits on Agriculture Victoria’s Bee Biosecurity Working Group. 

Keegan's beekeeping journey began at 11 years old, taking him first from South Africa to New Zealand, and then more recently to Australia. His more than two decades of hands-on experience brings with it a wealth of expertise and knowledge. Importantly, his international exposure includes having implemented varroa management practices, and he's keen to share those learnings so the Victorian industry can effectively prepare for and manage varroa mite.

Currently the MD of Duxton Bees, Keegan is very active with the South Australian Varroa Industry Advisory Committee and Honeybee & Pollination Advisory Panel where his passion for apiculture drives his support of collaboration, innovation, and sustainable practices in the Australian beekeeping industry

Fascinated about bees … but also a tad wary? That was me! 10 years ago I did my first beekeeping course and discovered that handling bees safely was possible. Welcome to the mesmerising world of bees.

I’m now a qualified beekeeper with apiaries in the city and countryside.

From a professional career in strategic communications and adult training, I now work with bees – the best communicators of us all – mentoring others, and promoting pollinator health and food security as a Wheen Bee Foundation ambassador. I’m also a founding member of the Melbourne Beekeepers Club.

I joined the Varroa Mite Emergency Response in NSW almond orchards in surveillance and destruction and saw my first Varroa. Like many, I’ve been learning all I can about this tiny parasite, and how to upskill us all to manage and live with Varroa.

When I’m not decoding mysterious bee dances, I work on a cattle farm and am hoping for some more rain.

To say that bee keeping is in Luke’s blood is an understatement. As a 5th generation bee keeper, Luke has seen the highs and lows of our industry. This unique lifelong hands-on connection has given Luke a front row seat as more and more people come to appreciate the role bees play as more than just honey producers.

Luke is passionate about being well-informed about Varroa. As a manager of 800+ hives, Luke is determined to help not just his own business, but the whole bee keeping community be prepared for how and when it’ll present here in Victoria.

Working in Pathology laboratories for close to 30 years I would often look outside through the window with a desire to be working “out there” in the natural environment. I had already discovered the joy of beekeeping and wanted to take it further!

A call from my manager while on a holiday in Tasmania 15 years ago to let me know I had been retrenched would turn out to be my long-awaited “Bee change”.

Today I’m running my own semi-commercial beekeeping operation - Hill Top Hives. My science background and medical scientist experience, combined with my passion for beekeeping and a strong interest in pests and diseases of honeybees and biosecurity, has leant itself to educating other beekeepers particularly through my roles on the South Gippsland Beekeepers and Gippsland Apiarists Association committees.

I’m looking forward to assisting both recreational and commercial beekeepers as we all transition to living with varroa.

Several years ago, I was gifted a beehive which helped improve the pollination of our vegetable garden and orchard. Wanting to know more I was lucky to befriend and be mentored by a retired commercial beekeeper. My 9 to 5 job is as a water treatment supervisor where I am continuously problem solving and improving processes. These research and analysis skills have enabled me to become a better beekeeper. The hives I manage form part of a training apiary for teaching beekeeping and providing agricultural pollination services across central, northern, and western Victoria, including almond pollination in the Sunraysia.

My enjoyment comes from sharing my beekeeping knowledge and seeing learner beekeepers grow into skilled and confident beekeepers. I am passionate about maximising our understanding of best practice beekeeping and biosecurity and I look forward to sharing these insights with the broader beekeeping community.

Coming from a farming background in WA, I’ve long understood the role and importance of bees. Working with commercial beekeepers from a young age gave me a good start, and getting the chance to work with commercial keepers in the UK during my 20s set me up with a strong foundation. It was there that I learned about the craft and business sides of beekeeping, especially honey production and pollination services.

After the ebbs and flows of a long health and community services career that took me across rural Australia, I’m now doing what I love most – keeping bees. With around 25 urban hives, I love spending time training and mentoring hobbyists and club members. I’m also currently immersed in a Masters in Beekeeping too!

Yes, varroa is a challenge that’s on our doorstep. However, by learning and sharing, we can manage it together.