The beekeeping community has lost one of its most genuine and loving members with the passing of Rosemary Doherty on the 18th May, 2020.
Warmly remembered by both Capilano suppliers and staff for being the first Female Director of Capilano but also for her interest in staff and suppliers. Rosemary was a truly dedicated supporter of Capilano.
I well remember first meeting Rosemary in the early 1970’s when she became engaged and later married to Irwyn. (My first meeting with Irwyn was at a Hawkesbury Agricultural College Summer School in 1970.) That friendship with Rosemary & Irwyn was to last for 50 years.
Rosemary and Irwin were a beekeeping team basing their operation in Mudgee. Both were heavily involved in industry affairs. Rosemary served as Secretary of the NSWAA Western Plains Branch for 13 years. She played a huge role in one of the most memorable beekeeping field days ever staged in Australia, the 1997 National Field Day that followed the NSWAA Conference in Dubbo. Rosemary was involved in many facets of the industry some of which included the Honey Bee Research and Development Committee (HBRDC), Honeyland at the Sydney Royal Show, as mentioned a Board Member of Capilano, she attended the Apimondia Congress in Ireland in 2005 representing Capilano. Rosemary and Irwin did not limit their interests to just the beekeeping industry but had many outside interests as well, all of which she threw herself into with enthusiasm and efficiency.
Possessed of quick wit, inquiring mind and a gregarious nature she was loved by many but none more so than her husband of 47 years Irwyn.
Rosemary had endured many years of ill health, having had kidney issues from her early twenty’s, in 2015 she underwent a kidney transplant (donated by Irwyn’s niece) and along with that, had problems with cancer. Sadly it was kidney failure that took her from us.
We extend our sincere condolences to Irwyn and her friends and relatives, we grieve with them and yet remain uplifted having shared memories of Rosemary’s life and accomplishments, being proud to have been part of a wonderful life, lost all too soon.
- Bill Winner
(Special thanks to Margaret Blunden for supplying a number of details for Rosemary’s obituary.)