Photo: Supplied.
CONTRIBUTED BY DON SMITH, WYNNUM MANLY MEN’S SHED
Bernie is another ‘Men’s Shedder’ whose mission is to save the world. It must be a grandfather thing.
When Bernard O’Sullivan arrived from Ireland looking for the peace and tranquillity that stories about Australia had promised, he was alarmed to find that the lucky country’s biome was in dire trouble, with our declining bee populations already careering towards extinction.
This is caused mainly by human degradation of their habitats and the destructive Varroa mite, which kills off hives.
Bernie recognised that humankind’s best hope to reverse climate change was to replant those areas denuded by excessive cultivation. But with the ‘busy bees’ – our most prolific pollinators – now being corralled towards extinction, the Earth was rapidly hurtling towards the greatest mass extinction since the Cretaceous Paleogene period 65 million years ago. (You know, dinosaurs kaput!).
So, Bernie took up the challenge to save the bees and the Earth. At the Men’s Shed, he began furiously building bee hives and high-rises, probably using architectural ideas he gleaned from the Gold Coast high-rises. He willingly dispensed his knowledge and tips on beekeeping and hive building to all potential apiarists. It’s hard to save the world on your own.
A ‘Weekend at Bernie’s’ is killing Varroa mites, caring for his millions of workers and collecting the honey he sells at the Manly Markets to fund his noble crusade.
The photo shows Bernie discussing the highway with ardent supporter Joan Pease MP. No, no, no. Not the Bruce Highway. The Bee Highway. It’s all about the bees.
So, let’s all raise a glass of honey wine to Bernie, and thank him on behalf of our children and all future children.
