Australian Stonefruit Grower Magazine Issue 4 April 2017 | Page 9

Feature
Elizabeth Frost has been stung some
200 times, but her love affair with
bees continues unabated.
Photo: Kathy Keatly Garvey
Beekeeper
This profile first appeared in the Maitland Mercury and is here reproduced with permission.
In the last issue of Australian Stonefruit Grower we featured story which
described the role that honey bees play in pollination of crops, stone fruit among
others. Here, Rick Allen profiles a professional beekeeper, Elizabeth Frost.
E
lizabeth’s Frost’s enthusiasm is palpable. “Want to try gap under my headwear and taste. It’s not as thick as I
some,” she asks in her northern Californian accent, as would have expected, but deliciously sweet.
she dips in her forefinger, gives it a quick twist and then sips
the golden nectar.
She holds the frame out for me to try.
But there’s a problem. I’m in protective gear – a sort of
“It’s a touch cold today, so the honey’s not as warm and
runny as usual,” she says. “A pity.”
We’re in a partly shaded area between trees at the back
of Tocal Agricultural College, where Elizabeth, honey
cross between Ned Kelly and an Ebola nurse. Headgear, bee development officer with the NSW Department of
netted at the front and zipped at the neck, long sleeved Industries, is showing me her hives and trying to explain
white jacket and thick gloves that go up to my elbows. this beekeeping caper.
It’s poor form to get your interviewing journalist stung by
bees.
With Elizabeth’s help – a quick unzip here, off with the
glove there – I dip my finger into the honey cells, find the
summerfruit.com.au
But first, let’s talk about Elizabeth and her journey from
the Bay area of San Francisco – “Silicon Valley, really” – to
the Hunter Valley.
“I’ve always been passionate about insects,” the 28-year-
April 2017 | Australian Stonefruit Grower
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