Update on Sweet Justice Project
Claire Moore, a beekeeper and social enterprise entrepreneur was the recipient of the inaugural 2021 Rotary Melbourne Environmental Sustainability Award through her research work on the family farm at Kyneton in Victoria with the objective of creating a more resilient, diverse and adaptable strain of honey bees that have a better chance of survival in a world where the global bee population is under threat. This is serious as about one-third of the food we eat (such as a wide variety of fruit, vegetables and nuts) relies on the activities of bees and other pollinators.
The Environmental Sustainability Award also recognised Claire’s outstanding achievement as Founder and CEO of a social enterprise, Sweet Justice, which trains young male detainees in three Victorian juvenile detention centres in the skills of beekeeping. This work is important not only in teaching a viable vocational skill to these young males but also importantly addresses the critical shortage of beekeepers that is currently being experienced in the industry throughout Australia.
Sweet Justice’s connections with Rotary Melbourne has continued with Past President Quin Scalzo collaborating with Claire and her team in further developing both the beekeeping operation and in creating a business where the detainees can exit detention with appropriate training and qualifications into an enterprise that will employ them as qualified beekeepers.
Important recent exciting developments has seen a significant amount of funds being raised through philanthropic sources to support developments; a substantial number of hives are in operation with 400 being transported and used in the pollination of almonds on farms in the Mildura area; four experienced beekeepers have been employed from different regions in Australia with varied experiences and skills; offenders in the prison system from the ages of 10 to 80 are now being taught beekeeping skills and a rural property north of Bendigo has been rented which is where the central beekeeping operation and bottling of honey under the Sweet Justice label will be located - the honey is to be marketed through various retail distribution outlets.
What is happening at Sweet Justice keys in to two important areas of Rotary service – Vocational Service and Supporting the Environment and may also provide future volunteering opportunities for Rotarians.
By Peter Berg
