About Us

About Hives Helping Heroes

The Gold Coast Regional Beekeepers Inc. (GCRB), has established Hives Helping Heroes on the Gold Coast, with assistance from the Veterans Support Group Men’s Shed at Nerang.  We are a not-for-profit organisation focusing on a healthy transition from service for our heroes and beekeeping.  For our heroes we aim to provide connection, purpose, and healthy relationships while establishing a lifelong hobby in beekeeping.

Many of the heroes in our society, 

·      Veterans, 

·      Police, 

·      Fire fighters, 

·      Para-Medics, 

·      SES Personnel, etc, 

have had some very harrowing and horrific experiences saving lives, keeping people safe, and dealing with trauma and the results of war, disasters and accidents.  These heroes do this to protect our country and community.  Sadly, too many of these heroes find it difficult to cope with life following these experiences, and they often fall into depression, unhealthy relationships and addictive behaviours which can lead to feeling alone, isolated, and mental illness.

Hives Helping Heroes mission is to assist heroes in dealing with mental health issues and difficulty in coping, through building relationships for them in their local communities.  This is achieved by connecting a hero to an experienced beekeeping mentor.  The mentor will provide the hero with the opportunity to learn and be involved in beekeeping.  In addition, the social connection and involvement with the therapeutic process of beekeeping can establish a sense of worth and accomplishment.

Why Beekeeping?

Beekeeping is unique, because not only is it a fascinating subject to study, but all beekeepers overcome fear by suiting up and attending to their hives.  It is an activity that is very relaxing and can calm stress while providing a great sense of satisfaction and achievement.

This practice can easily translate to our heroes personal and professional lives when dealing with PTSD and other traumas from service. 

Heroes entering our programme are teamed up with an experienced mentor to teach them the information and skills required to be a responsible and capable keeper of bees themselves.

The hero and mentor are responsible for communicating and scheduling their beekeeping activities,  while supported by the resources of the particpating beekeeping clubs and other organisations.