Barry Robinson, Tarrangower Times
Warral Maldon’s owner, Lindsay Callaway, has been elected President of the Victorian Apiarists Association (VAA), the state’s peak body for beekeepers.
Lindsay is a fifth-generation apiarist and the managing director of Warral Maldon, a beekeeping business founded by his great-great-grandfather, Edward Teague Penglase, in 1896. Operating over 5,000 hives across Central Victoria and beyond, Warral Maldon is one of the country’s longest-running beekeeping enterprises. From its purpose-built facility on the outskirts of Maldon, the business produces high-quality honey and beeswax products, provides commercial pollination services, and runs two in-house programs: SWARM (an apiarist training academy) and SYZYGY (Warral’s research and development wing).
Though grounded in the local community, Lindsay has spent years working at a national level to advocate for beekeepers. He is an executive member of the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC), a board member of B-Qual Australia and contributes to national projects, including planning for the 2026 Australian Bee Congress in Adelaide.
His leadership at the VAA has included chairing the Commercial Subcommittee and guiding the association’s current rebranding process. He also proudly represents the Bendigo Branch of the VAA.
“I didn’t go looking to be president—but I do care deeply about the future of our industry, and the people in it,” Lindsay said. “The VAA has been a big part of my family’s beekeeping story. It’s where my dad shared his knowledge in the 70s, helping to form the Bendigo Branch that still thrives today. It’s where I’ve found mentors, mates and now a platform to pay it forward.”
The Warral Maldon story and history is captured in the brand’s theme: ‘Bees love Warral. We love bees.’ It’s a sentiment that reflects generations of care and one Lindsay says is, “at the heart of the role I now have as president of the VAA.”
As the newly elected President, Lindsay hopes to help the VAA stay strong and united in the face of modern challenges—from managing biosecurity threats like Varroa destructor to supporting the next generation of beekeepers. “We’ve got some serious work to do,” he said. “But we’ve also got a serious community of people who care about bees, the environment, and each other. That gives me hope.”
For more about Warral Maldon and its work in the industry, visit warralmaldon.com.au.
This article appeared in Tarrangower Times, 25 April 2025.
