A SPRAYPAINTER by day and a passionate beekeeper the rest of the time, Gippsland’s Anurag Bhangu is enthusiastic about improving the genetics of his queen bees.
Thanks to being selected for a recent state government Young Farmers Upskill and Invest Scholarships his dream is a step closer.
Born in India’s Punjab province, Anurag, moved to Australia 14 years ago on a student visa to complete a one-year course in spray painting which was followed by on the job training.
Anurag told us he is still in the same job which keeps him exceptionally busy but his lifelong fascination with nature led to an interest in beekeeping.
“I love any animals.
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"There were always cattle and lots of bees where I come from in India,” he said.
“From the age of five I was fascinated by bees, how they react and survive for such a little thing.
“I got my first beehive three years ago after doing a course at Moe and catching my first swarm.
“Then I bought one hive from a breeder, then two,” Anurag said.
This was followed by a rescue of a full-blown hive in a wall of an “old chicken farm shed” at Nar Nar Goon.
He accepts that you get “stung here and there” but is committed to breeding queen bees that are not only “good looking” but calm too.
This can involve developing seven to 20 different genetics and regularly watching the daughters of the queens.
From his initial foray into beekeeping Anurag today between 150 to around 200 hives near his home in Drouin.
He laughs that he has lost count but spends any spare time doing something related to beekeeping.
“Every day before I go to bed I watch TV documentaries about beekeeping,” Anurag said.
With the advent of Varroa into the state he is much more aware of the risk of disease.
“Things have changed a lot.
“I still rescue swarms but put them into quarantine for six months to one year,” he said.
“It was easier before Varroa, the task demands 40 per cent more labour now and as a full-time worker I can’t manage any more hives”.
Breeding a queen has its challenges with her being able to fly up to one to two kilometres away.
“I can’t control where she goes,” said Anurag.
He stresses the importance of having hives that are “clean and hygienic” and breeding queens with that characteristic.
On a positive some of his hives are producing a lot of honey which he sells with his partner and mother of his five-year old son who also loves bees at various markets.
Trading as Old Mill Honey Nojee, the name is a reference to the area’s sawmill history said Anurag.
“We do honeycomb, creamed honey and normal eucalyptus honey,” he said.
His mother who still lives in India has also taken up beekeeping three years ago as a hobby and the pair often share videos of their bees.
He is also a member of two local beekeeping groups where they can share their knowledge and learn from one another.
Anurag will be using his scholarship funds for an intensive three-day course in Melbourne next month to learn more about bee genetics and artificial insemination of queen bees.
Following on from his upskilling, Anurag will invest in a queen bee artificial insemination kit.
He can then choose queen bees that are suited to the cooler climate and resistant to Varroa mite.
“I want to handle my bees without gloves and for them to be strong and hardy,” he said.
