I have been stunned privately of late with the amount of natural calamities and disasters that are occurring. 20,00 dead and many thousands more missing in one city in China alone. It is hard for me to fathom the depth of loss of life happening around the globe at present. I don't have any answers, no ideas and no solutions. but I wonder, how would it be if these calamities occurred closer to home. I shudder to think.
An evening in the Domayne
According to Cerentha Harris and Neale Whitaker of Belle magazine, the fashions for the home for this year direct from Milan in Italy are black's and whites. Even a patent leather look, earthy green's, and small amounts of creme with stark and jarring contrasts and eclectic mixes of colour. The focus is on individuality and character. The couch and lounge fashions are reverting to button back variations reminiscent of chesterfield lounges, and a range of new and stylish wooden furniture suitable for indoors and out and even moulded plastics. I don't have pictures of all of there presentations, but it is interesting. I was at Domayne last night to photograph one of their exclusive VIP nights where they have leading industry experts come and highlight what's happening in the world and provide a comfortable environment to allow customers to purchase what they see at reduced and incentivised pricing. Photography in these stores is normally not allowed, but I was granted access for the evening. I love the ovens and kitchen layouts and appliances. I am a closet chef, I love it! The bathroom furnishings by Alessi of Italy were beautiful also. I need to take more photos to afford this stuff! I will show you just a few shots of the amazing commitment that Domayne has to showcasing their products in an environment of interaction and contemporary looks and feel. This was shot in their store at Auburn, but they are all over NSW, Queensland and Victoria.
Enjoy!
Robyn Loau
I have added this short post to advertise a concert of one of my friends Robyn Loau, who will be appearing at Slide in Sydney's Darlinghurst. Regrettably, I will not be able to be there on that night as I have another assignment elsewhere, otherwise I would be I assure you. I have posted this here in case any Sydney-siders are interested in a midweek night out. it is a beautiful venue with a reasonable price for a tremendous meal and great night of entertainment. Go and see Robyn, she is wonderful and her show is a warm and intimate journey through her musical career and prowess.
The first clip is from yesteryear when she was in a group called Girlfriend. The second is a VERY hard song to master and she nails it! Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush, and the last is a clip I have shown in a previous post, She Devil, which she told me was filmed down at the 12 Apostles on the Victorian coastline.
The Naked Cowboy
In the city earlier today calling on some clients I happened to meet the famous New York Busker called The Naked Cowboy. A person who has the desire to become the most celebrated entertainer in the whole world. I wish him well on his journey.
It is great to have a dream and chase it. The street he was walking on early in the morning was cold and the cold can affect us men folk adversely at times, and there he was a guest of Myer, struttin his stuff, playing his guitar and posing for the passers by. I believe he is in Sydney to compliment the Myers New York Promo on at present. Apparently Carson Kressley will be there tomorrow also, from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, and NO, I won’t be there. Not because I don’t want to be, but because I have assignments elsewhere. It is interesting. I even caught a glimpse of the State Police Minister off to the side having a bit of a “Captain Cook” (meaning having a look). I like that the Naked Cowboy doesn’t take himself too seriously and it was good to watch the look on everyone else’s face when The Naked Cowboy was walking around, the reaction from both men and women was humorous! Here are some pictures
I have just gotten back from a photo shoot for Domayne, a large retailer here in Sydney that is an upmarket department store, and they had a VIP night with the Editor and manager of Belle Magazine and Gourmet Traveller magazine, and they were showcasing the latest in furnishings and appliances and showing the trends coming out of Milan in the last few months. A very interesting day today!! I love what I do. I will put some Domayne pictures up as an add on to this post when I can.
! (Shift 1) on the keyboard
My friend Matthew has this on his blog and I loved it and thought I would share it to the people who visit here. It is great. Thanks Matthew, very good stuff isn't it!
A thought to start the day with
Advice is like snow; the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon, and the deeper it sinks into the mind.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
What a beautiful day.
The Dash
In July 2006, a short 3-minute movie was launched on the Internet called The Dash. Since then, over 40 million people from around the world have watched it; and over 20,000 a day continue to watch it as a result of people passing it along.
This movie has been more successful than ever imagined by its creator. More importantly, however, it has inspired many, many people to reflect on their lives and ask that all important question, 'Are my priorities where they should be?'
I hope you enjoy this movie and share it with those who are close to you, I did.
This is very inspirational. What will you do with your dash?
www.dashpoemmovie.com
A film that I co-wrote and co-produced
V2T, a regular voice on my blog, stumbled across a reference to a a video production that I co-wrote and co-produced called HooBee DooBee Do as I Do, and wanted to know more about that. So here is the abridged version of what was a 4 year oddyssey that still serves me helpings of satisfaction and pride. I will approach the subject however with a great deal of respect and love for the people involved. 
HooBee DooBee, Do as I Do is, or was, a children's video designed to appeal to young children around the Wiggles or Bananas in Pyjamas or Barney type demographic. It was borne out of an idea from Marcelina, who suggested one day, why isn't there any children's videos that teach values or principles. Most teach action songs, fun stuff and little substance. This idea percolated in and around my subconscious for a great period of time amounting to some months. It was like the idea came into my head and needled around like the clawing paws of a cat prior to settling down, and refused to move away when it was shoo'd. 
I watched a number of kids videos with Denzel in mind, and I commenced researching the "viability" of getting a number of songs together that were fun, yet instrumental in teaching principles. Once I found around 20-30 songs I liked, I commenced finding out who owned them so as I could obtain the rights to use them in a video production I wanted to make. I wrote letters to the publishers and owners of the lyrics and music as sometimes they belonged to different people, and commenced over an 18 month time period of gaining their approval. Some background information you have to understand here is, that I did not have ANY money to make such a video, and perhaps more importantly, NO professional production experience. I just had a big desire to do this and dedicate it to my son.
I had created wedding videos in the early days of video cameras, and they have progressed beyond imagination today. I had not thought past getting the approvals initially of any other factor that would be required and be important to the production of the video, yet something inside me kept me going forward...and so I followed that inner direction.
Approvals came through from the many copyright owners, and it was the most humbling of moments when I received letters from the owners who were generous in their praise for me having such an idea and gracious with their material. Some people gave me extra music, CD's and even autographed material. It seemed that people came out of the woodwork in support of my idea. I am still humbled how the universe became friendly and receptive to my fervent desire to bring this idea to fruition. Of course, as you would expect, I had my detractors. Though they were few, they were real. People who said "wake up" you are not cut out for this, and people who were in a position to help me, not necessarily with money, but with advice and time, scoffed at me. In one instance, a person ridiculed me for having such a whimsical notion. He was a man who could have opened doors for me with contacts. But his rejection of me did not deter me on my quest. 
My idea and I were now well formed, though I knew not how to proceed to take the approved project to the next level. More people came into view and through a series of questions I made of some people, they led me to a man who would in a sense become my business partner for the video project. I say a sense, as he had been in some serious financial distress previously to our association, but believing that we all make mistakes, I proceeded forward. So, His wife and I became business partners to satisfy the requirements of company law. Though this woman became my business partner in deed, the Husband took control of everything, against advice and better judgement. I found a lawyer, who became an exceptional ally and a man whom I respect for his help even to this day. I shall not post his name here or that of my business partners lest by so doing I open old wounds and cause difficulties.
From the last comment above you can sense a few things went wrong, I will get to that.
This man who would become my unofficial "partner" had been introduced to me as someone who had succeeded in roads where I wished to traverse. After a series of my persistent phone calls going over a period of 4 months he was wearied by my calls and then gave me the chance to present the project, I did, and after a couple of more persistent months he agreed to do the project. Once he caught the vision of what I wanted to happen, he told his Mother-in-law and she offered her house as collateral to raise the funds to create the project. I had envisioned making the video in Australia at the ABC studio's where a then unknown kids group called Hi-5 were starting out, I saw them rehearse once. My concept was borne before theirs though I must submit, meaning the racial diversity of the cast and having 5 young adults who could still relate to kids, could sell the package and become role models for a host of young people. 
My business partner's husband had other ideas, and wanted to go to the US of A to make the production, and who wouldn't! So I was swept up in that euphoria easily. Once their Mother had put her house up, a vendor was found through a series of mutual friends and said he would back the project with the house as collateral, he did and within some 72 hours we had access to $260,000 to make the video come to life. It was a whirlwind going to the US, getting the people organised, flying to Hawaii where it would be filmed and then back to the US mainland to have everything come together. A quick trip back to Australia and then to the US where we filmed the production with 5 wonderful people whom I came to love. It was a dream come true. 
It was surreal to have something come out of my head and creatively appear on a screen with actors and I still feel so gratified that I was able to be a part of such a project that taught me something valuable. I can do anything I put my mind to. You must understand here, that I ate, slept and breathed this project for a couple of years.So What I learned was I had No money? No problem. No professional video production experience? No problem. I learned that an inner belief in myself, and in what I was capable of, and the importance of being persistent and committed to that ideal, no matter what, could mean the fruits of my thoughts would be realised. I am very aware and grateful for the many, many people who came at points along the path as, and when, they were needed. I believe they were angels that enabled my wish to happen. The video is still played almost everyday in my home, Denzel loves HooBee and as many as a thousand times or more that I have heard it playing on Denzel's TV or CD player, I never get sick of it. It represents a triumph over adversity and a living memorial to an inner commitment.
We recorded 24 songs at Studio X in Pearl Ridge, Hawaii, then a few days later we were in a studio filming the project in Honolulu. The audio engineer at Pearl Ridge commented to me that he had not seen any artisits previously come in and within 8 hours record 24 songs and almost on every take get it right. He was amazed at the professionalism of these people. So was I. As you can possibly imagine there were so many twists and turns and so many times when I wondered was it all worthwhile as things would go wrong, but the project was completed, against many odds. I believe it was a truly wonderful thing for all of those involved to be connected to, judging from the feelings that were expressed to me and the feelings I had then, and now.
Since then we lost the musical arranger, and the musical director of the project who both passed away. I miss them and again, am so grateful for them, for what they did and that they believed in this project, and believed in me.
The down side is that my partner and her husband ostracised me from the project as time went on, and through a series of choices that were made by them, forced me to become redundant to the project in any form. Upon some timely advice from a lawyer I knew, not associated with the project, I was encouraged to relinquish the rights and opportunity for money that I might have had, and been due, in lump sum and in royalty from the concept being mine to begin with, and hand the project over to my business partner and her husband. I did so, reluctantly, and it ate away at me for some time.
As fate would have it, the former business partner and her husband lost control of the finances and the money ran out, the bills mounted up, their Mother and Mother-in-law respectively, lost her house, and as another insult the Australian Government took her pension as well, thinking she had much more money than she had declared. This was all unbeknown to me at the time. The financial backer came after me one day and told me of the dire financial circumstances that had been created, I invited him carte blanche to go through my accounts, see my accountant and I withheld nothing so as he could be assured that owing to me relinquishing access to the project, meant that I received nothing. He looked, found I was honest and then went after the former partners.
Some time later, I was asked to appear on the news show on Network 9 called "A Current Affair" in an attempt to help my partners Mother get back her pension, and to explain the story of what actually happened on prime time national television. I was very afraid that the TV station would edit and alter the text and tone of what I said in order to make me look like the bad guy. The producer made me a promise that he wouldn't and he honoured his word. I had the chance to thank him personally as well. Once that went to air I was threatened and had all sorts of things happen, but I am still here. The Government minister in charge of veterans affairs saw the story, realised that this wonderful lady for whom I will always be grateful, did not have money stashed away, and so within two months, the minister had reversed her decision, and re-instated her pension AND backdated it. I am happy they did. She was not at fault. In fact she was punished adversely for something over which she had no control. I was pleased to help.
I became very ill from the whole experience as I internalised the disappointment, and the host of other emotions that occurred. I choked literally with the pressure and frustration of having had something so special disappear and leave me in debt and feeling worthless. I recall with much clarity after having been to the Doctors the day before a momentous thing happened, he said something profound. "You have some serious medical issues now, that I can treat, but I suspect they will remain until you sort out the cause". The next day I awoke and forgave the business partner without reservation. I let my regrets, my lost hopes, my anger, hurt and shame all go. I remember crying and then feeling very weightless and FREE. And Free I was. I cannot explain the liberation I felt. Notwithstanding there are a few lingering health and financial issues, It is however a bitter sweet tale of my life, that I would gladly pay the price of for re-admission onto the ride of a lifetime. The people I got to meet, the places I got to go were amazing.
I am so very proud to have brought HooBee to life. I am grateful for each and every person who helped that to happen, and am grateful that I came to understand the meaning of forgiveness and the powerful blessing it is to the person who forgives, as well as it can be to the person who is forgiven. I am grateful for the opportunity that was mine to choose not to live with regret or forever wonder what might have happened had I not had the courage and faith to act on my thoughts and make HooBee DooBee. I know what it is to dance when there is no music that can be heard by anyone else, I know what it is to have faith in ones self. I have it still, that in a coming day all the experiences I have had will harmoniously blend and allow me to realise yet other aspects of my potential and heartfelt desires.
Here are a couple of clips that were on you tube which show just a little of the characters and songs. It went for 45 mins in total. Who knows more might be posted there soon.
If you look closely in the latter part of this last clip you may even see my Hitchcock-ian appearance speeded up a little like a closing segment of Benny Hill.
What a wonderful chapter in my life this was. It culminated for me in 1999. and I remember vividly playing Prince's song 1999 as well just before the dreaded Y2K bug, which must have been the greatest world hoax in history, would kick in in the year 2000, when Sydney would also host the Olympics in my home town. What a wonderful time.
One last thing, I once had a man at an event I went to say to me "Could you do me a favour and wait right there please?" I obliged and this beautiful little girl came up to me, as I crouched down to meet her face to face, and she said "Mr. Do you know HoBee DooBee?" to which I responded that I did, and her whole face lit up and she said "Wow your famous, and I love HooBee DooBee." I had to choke back the tears, as I thanked her for giving me one of the sweetest memories of my life. It was all worth it. I know Denzel is still proud of it, but to have known that someone else was touched by it, was truly a special moment in my life. I came to know there were other children who were similarly affected by it. I am still honoured. That's all!
The pictures in order are:
* The cover of the VHS Video of the production
* The Audition crew In Laie(pronounced Lah-ee-air)
* The group we chose during rehearsals in Laie
* The same group in the same pose on set in Honolulu
* Goofing around and posing for pictures in Laie
* HooBee entertaining some kids at a school in Laie
* Me on set with the painted props for PheeBee's house
* Pretending I knew what I was doing at Studio X in Pearl Ridge
* The DooBee's in costume at Laie
* Me during Filming
* In the Recording Studio at Studio X, Pearl Ridge
* Me in the Video Post production studio in Honolulu
Watching this Studio Space.. a new blog soon to start.
I am preparing a number of images that I will be selling. I am setting up another blog called Studio Space which will highlight the images that will be available on the net for purchase. I am excited about the prospect. I have started to reinterpret images and see things in images I have taken some time ago and never understood why, or seen the beauty of them for what they were previously. Who knows it could even become an interesting income stream as well. Each of the images will be available unframed or framed and will be autographed and matted. This is the first one I am putting on Studio Space shortly. I am very pleased and proud of the mood this image gives me.
I am so proud and grateful for the Sydney Opera House. I love it, and love that I can visit there often.
BEE Afraid ( an article from Australian 60 minutes worth reading.)
I watched an episode of 60 minutes last night on the 9 network in Sydney and was humbled and amazed at how reliant we are on bee's for food. I was so impressed by the importance of this little critter that I have placed the whole transcript from the story for those who may have missed it, right here on my blog. This is important stuff, and whilst I am glad that Australia is giving aid to Burma and other nations, I cannot help feel that we need to sidestep the red tape and give extra funding for this one man survival team to ensure he succeeds in finding a cure for the mite that is decimating bee populations around the world. Whilst this blog is designed for my thoughts and feelings and I wouldn't normally do this whole transcript thing, I felt that IF this story is completely factual, we cannot afford to get it wrong. I thought rather than re-interpret the story and give my take on it, and display my lack of knowledge on this vital subject, I would quote an unedited transcript. All I did was embolden one statement toward the end which I believe is vital. I have placed the 60 miutes logo and picture taken from their website at: http://www.ninemsn.com.au/60minutes 
INTRODUCTION TARA BROWN: They're nature's tireless workers. No wonder they call them 'busy'. But you've probably never considered just how busy bees really are. Well, consider this - these humble little insects are responsible for pollinating much of the food we eat. Without them, we'd starve. And this is where it gets scary. Because, right now, a tiny parasite is threatening to wipe out our bees. It has already destroyed bee populations around the world. And now, it's on our doorstep in New Zealand. But, all is not lost. You see, there is one man who is fighting back. A dedicated scientist almost as busy as the bees themselves.
STORY TARA BROWN: Look at them. Listen to them. Bees never stop. 'Busy' is the only way to describe them.
DENIS ANDERSON: Wow. Look at that. Wow. That's full of honey. Wow.
TARA BROWN: Could you eat that now?
DENIS ANDERSON: Oh, yeah.
TARA BROWN: So enthusiastic is Dr Denis Anderson about his bees he has convinced me to risk the pain of a sting. You're kidding aren't you?
DENIS ANDERSON: No, no, no. You've just got to have a little bit of faith.
TARA BROWN: For the pleasure of pure honey.
DENIS ANDERSON: Just, nice and easy. That's it.
TARA BROWN: Oh, yum.
DENIS ANDERSON: Can't get fresher than that.
TARA BROWN: Mmn, no. No that's beautiful. But bees give us so much more than honey. They are critical to our very survival - providing a $100 billion/year service to world agriculture by fertilizing our crops as they go about their business, collecting pollen.
DENIS ANDERSON: All these individuals we are looking at here they are all workers, so they've got chores.
TARA BROWN: But as a bee pathologist, Denis Anderson warns these bees face a catastrophic threat from a nasty tick-like parasite called 'Varroa Destructor'.
DENIS ANDERSON: This is the most dangerous threat we have for bees around the world.
TARA BROWN: What does he do? Why is he so dangerous?
DENIS ANDERSON: Well, it's ah, it's a blood sucker. It sucks the blood of the bees, basically, and as it is doing so it transmits viruses.
TARA BROWN: Varroa has spread insidiously into every major country except Australia. Now it is on our doorstep in New Zealand and the great fear is it is only a matter of time before we are invaded.
DENIS ANDERSON: We are an island in this world of Varroa, and it just hasn't got here yet.
TARA BROWN: As you watch this spread from country to country, as a scientist with a passion for bees, what were you thinking?
DENIS ANDERSON: I guess when I saw it spreading I was, ah... ..everybody, well, was quite dismayed. I mean, how were we going to deal with this problem?
TARA BROWN: Standing here being buzzed by all these angry bees it is taking all my willpower not to run out of here. But whether you love or loathe bees it is important to know they are very crucial little creatures. The thinking goes if all the bees were to disappear it would only take five years before we would all starve.
DENIS ANDERSON: If we didn't have bees the world would be in serious trouble. Our crop yields would drop away and there would be mass starvation everywhere. We just can't do without bees.
TARA BROWN: So we should care about these, then.
DENIS ANDERSON: We should care terribly about honey bees, hmm.
TARA BROWN: And across the Tasman I soon discover why. Denis has brought me here to New Zealand to see Varroa wreak its devastation. Oh, there's another mite coming outer, yuk. The Varroa parasite jumps onto bees, hitching a ride into the hive.
DENIS ANDERSON: Look, it's gone you see. It's on the back. It's on the back of the bee, it's on the back of the bee! That's how quick it was.
TARA BROWN: So fast. They are so opportunistic aren't they?
DENIS ANDERSON: Oh yeah, they are perfectly adapted to the bees.
TARA BROWN: Once in the hive, the mites drop into the cells to breed and feed on the baby bees, slowly weakening and killing the entire colony. They are nasty little things.
DENIS ANDERSON: Oh yeah.
TARA BROWN: They're nasty and they are too close for comfort. Like Australia, New Zealand was proudly free of Varroa but then eight years ago the mite somehow breached strict quarantine to invade almost every hive in the North Island. It has very nearly destroyed beekeepers like Russell Berry. So as a beekeeper, when you see your hives have the Varroa mite, what is your reaction?
RUSSELL BERRY: The reaction when we first got Varroa was absolutely devastating. The first week you are so depressed. And every beekeeper in New Zealand is the same way. It's very serious depression that you see Varroa Mite eating your bees.
TARA BROWN: Russell and his bees produce the most honey in New Zealand. But the cost of continuing to do so has almost crippled his company. He now spends more than $500,000 a year on pesticides, trying to keep the mite under control, hoping the chemicals will continue to work. If the Varroa mite becomes resistant to the chemicals you use what happens to the bee population in this country?
RUSSELL BERRY: It dies, simple as that.
TARA BROWN: So, in Australia we have a lot to lose if Varroa strikes. At risk is our healthy bee population, our agricultural industry, and our treasured chemical-free honey.
DENIS ANDERSON: I think Australia has the best honey in the world, not just because I'm an Australian and I love our honey, you know, but when you eat that honey you know that it is, it's as pure as you're ever going to get and it's clean.
TARA BROWN: Is there anything we can do to stop Varroa coming here?
DENIS ANDERSON: It's a matter of time before one of those swarms swarms off and it's here.
TARA BROWN: It sounds like a miracle it is not here already.
DENIS ANDERSON: You said it. It's a matter of 'when' not 'if'.
TARA BROWN: The prospect of Varroa in Australia is so catastrophic because of the job the bees do. Bees are one of nature's most efficient work gangs and for Denis, one of the most intriguing.
DENIS ANDERSON: You know, they're social, they're like us and, like us, they've got behaviours and diseases, and they do things. There's 80,000 individuals in that. It's like a city in a box.
TARA BROWN: In this city there are defender bees who, like air traffic controllers, guide the bees back to the hive after a day amongst the flowers.
DENIS ANDERSON: And so, then the bees just home straight in and come straight in at the entrance.
TARA BROWN: Uh huh, they're the beacons. Come on home.
DENIS ANDERSON: That's right. But they also protect.
TARA BROWN: There are the drones, the stingless males who do nothing but eat and breed.
DENIS ANDERSON: They have these areas which they call drone congregation areas all the boys hang out.
TARA BROWN: Their pub, right?
DENIS ANDERSON: Yeah sort of like well... ..I don't know, it's like sex, there's nothing else. Not much booze going on there.
TARA BROWN: Not much booze, a lot of sex. Right. Of course, the females do all the work. They are even known as worker bees. They are the nurses, cleaners and pollen collectors, and they can all sting. And then there is the bee that it's all about - the Queen Bee. The only bee in the hive that can lay eggs. She's laying something like 1,500 - 2,000 eggs a day?
DENIS ANDERSON: About 2,000 eggs a day, yeah.
TARA BROWN: That's incredible. Because our bees are still Varroa-free they are in hot demand overseas where bee populations have been decimated. The millions of bees on this pallet are about to fly long distance to the United States, to help boost the dwindling numbers there. Terry Brown sends three loads of Australian bees each week. So how would you describe the work these bees are off to do?
TERRY BROWN: These bees are off to do a job that in the US they need desperately, otherwise they are not going to have food to put on their plates. Simple as that.
TARA BROWN: That is a pretty big statement. They wont have food to put on their plates?
TERRY BROWN: Bees are a part of the human race surviving. People just don't realise how much, how important they are for the pollination industry which we have to have.
TARA BROWN: I hope they've got a good work ethic.
TERRY BROWN: They have. Very good, very good.
TARA BROWN: These bees may deserve to fly first class but they'll spend the next 15 hours in the cargo hold on their way to their new home. When the Australian bees get to the US they are brought here to California to help their American cousins. This is the biggest bee pollination operation in the world. Scattered amongst the hundreds of thousands of flowering almond trees there are more than 50 billion bees busy at work. It is quite a sight, the almond orchards of California, and the bees only have a couple of weeks while the trees flower to get to work.
SHAD SULLIVAN: The bee will come along and actually bounce from blossom to blossom and in the process they rub pollen off on this female stem which makes the pollination process.
TARA BROWN: Which means there will be a nut?
SHAD SULLIVAN: You will have a nut.
TARA BROWN: There will be an almond there.
SHAD SULLIVAN: Yes.
TARA BROWN: Shad Sullivan has been in the bee business since he was a kid. If you didn't have bees, what would this orchard look like?
SHAD SULLIVAN: This orchard would not exist.
TARA BROWN: He has never seen it so bad. Varroa has wiped out up to 80% of the country's hives and the very existence of many of the nuts, vegetables and fruits we take for granted is now under threat. There are simply not the local bees to pollinate them. Now, you've got quite a few Australian bees here.
SHAD SULLIVAN: Yes, we do.
TARA BROWN: Are they good little workers?
SHAD SULLIVAN: They're very good workers, one of the best that weve found so far. Bringing these bees in is the only thing that has kept a lot of beekeepers alive so far.
TARA BROWN: It is a year-round, 24-hour-a-day operation. Bees are trucked across the States from orchard to orchard, crop to crop to pollinate. But it is an expensive exercise. Varroa mites have seen the cost of pollination skyrocket - a cost Americans pay at the supermarket. How lucky do you think we are in Australia?
SHAD SULLIVAN: You are the only place that doesn't have them now and your country is blessed. The need to keep your country clean and clear of these is crucial. The price of everything... Food, the price will double.
TARA BROWN: It is a big responsibility, but Dr Denis Anderson is the one man standing between Varroa and our bees. Here in his CSIRO lab in Canberra he is working on gene technology which he hopes will turn off the signal that tells the mites to breed when they are in the bee hive. So even if the parasites make it to Australia, they're doomed. He is horribly under-funded and success is at least five years away but we can't afford for Denis not to get it right. Nor can the bees. Do you feel like you are doing important work?
DENIS ANDERSON: Absolutely, absolutely. I'm dealing with one of the most important animals on the planet. You know, it contributes to every one of our lives, In fact, the saying is that one in every three mouthfuls of food we eat, in some ways bees have contributed to that, so if I am trying to keep the bees healthy, then I'm keeping you healthy too.
TARA BROWN: Thank you very much.
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