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The Wheen Bee Foundation:
The Wheen Foundation has been created as a result of a generous bequest from well-known honey bee identities, Gretchen and the late Frank Wheen. Its broad purpose is to support research aimed at keeping Australia’s honey bees healthy to ensure efficient pollination of our food crops and a viable beekeeping and pollination dependent industries
The Wheen Foundation is a not-for-profit Public Company Limited by Guarantee.
The Foundation was officially launched on Saturday 12th December 2009 during a seminar at University of Western Sydney on bee genetics and stock improvement.
The Wheen Foundation is located at the Richmond property of Gretchen Wheen which is located 25km west of Sydney, Australia. This comprises a beautiful 18 acre (7.2 ha) farm, fronting the Hawkesbury River. It is well-known for its suitability for queen raising. Currently, there is a well equipped AI laboratory and other facilities.
The objects of the Foundation are:
1. To advance scientific knowledge and research into bee keeping in Australia, including but not limited to the systematic breeding and researching into honey bees to genetically improve strains of honey bees for the benefit of the Australian Apicultural Industry and in the national interest of Australia generally.
2. To provide means for research and development of the bee keeping industry in Australia, including research into disease, parasites, other pests, predators and nuisances; and to promote entomological study and, by collaboration with other entities, to increase knowledge and develop remedies to prevent, eradicate or minimise endemic and/or exotic threats to the health and existence of honey bees.
3. To collaborate with other entities to foster investigation into the capacity for Australian Native Social Bees and European Honey Bees to effectively improve production of plants through pollination.
4. To facilitate improved methods of bee keeping and promote better standards and practices.
5. To develop, advocate and promote alternative or new methods, practices and procedures to better regulate and protect beekeeping.
6. To promote the marketing and advertising of products and by-products of beekeeping in Australia and elsewhere.
7. To provide means for the education, advancement, accommodation, training and support for bee-keepers and other persons, including researchers, teachers or operators in or associated with beekeeping.
8. To generally promote the betterment of bee keeping in Australia.
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