Recognition

From the show bench to the Parliament floor

A small, chemical-free, no-kill bee rescue in South East Melbourne — recognised by Victorian agricultural shows, the state parliament, local press, leading chefs and the wider food community.

Awards

Judged against the district’s best

Seven placings across four Victorian agricultural shows and the Beekeepers Club — including three first prizes, for honey, naturally granulated honey and beeswax.

3First prizes
7Total placings
5Shows
’24–’25Seasons
1st

Naturally Granulated Honey

Red Hill A&H Society

2025

1st

Honey

Berwick & District A.H. Society

2025

1st

Beeswax Stalagmite

Beekeepers Club

2024

2nd

Creamed Honey

Pakenham A&H Society

2025

2nd

Honey

Bunyip & District Ag Show

2025

3rd

Light Beeswax

Red Hill A&H Society

2025

H.M.

Honey

Bunyip & District Ag Show

2025

Government & civic

Oct 2023Parliament of Victoria · Hansard

Named in a Members’ Statement to the Legislative Assembly

BeesFriend was recognised on the floor of the Victorian Legislative Assembly, acknowledging Laszlo Kun’s ethical model of relocating bees rather than exterminating them, and the hives he had established across Melbourne’s south-east.

“There are currently 125 beehives spread across 11 sites in our area because of BeesFriend — it is a fantastic operation that operates at night.”

Read the Hansard record →

In the kitchen

ChefStokehouse, St Kilda

Used by Executive Chef Jason Staudt

Jason Staudt, Executive Chef at Stokehouse St Kilda, uses our raw honey in his kitchen — including a duck glaze finished with a touch of cayenne.

“If we don’t have bees, I don’t get amazing produce — and the rest of the world doesn’t eat properly. It’s very simple.”

Executive Chef Jason Staudt of Stokehouse St Kilda on why he uses BeesFriend honey
ChefMiddle Ground, Beaconsfield

Honeycomb on the menu, chosen by Head Chef Paul Rosanes

Paul Rosanes, Head Chef at Middle Ground in Beaconsfield, uses our full frames of honeycomb exclusively on his menu. What won him over: unlike most honeycomb, ours isn’t chewy — the cappings are so thin and delicate the comb melts in the mouth, with barely any wax left behind.

Press & community

Aug 2023Star News (Berwick / Dandenong)

“No hive left behind”

A feature on Laszlo’s after-hours swarm removals, his homemade bee vacuum, his commitment to ethical relocation, and his concerns about the spread of Varroa mite in Australia.

Read the article →
Dec 2025Cranbourne Star News

“Bees need our help”

Coverage of BeesFriend’s rescue work and the wider challenge facing honeybees across Melbourne’s south-east.

Read the article →
FeatureCERES Fair Food

“Bee friendly”

CERES Fair Food, one of Melbourne’s leading ethical food distributors, featured BeesFriend’s rescue work and self-funded model, and stocked the raw honey as a featured product.

Read the feature →

Video

2025The Eastern Melburnian

Filmed on-site at a Melbourne apiary

The Eastern Melburnian — an independent local newsroom and member of the Local and Independent News Association (LINA) — featured Laszlo in a video reel series filmed at one of the BeesFriend apiaries.

Watch the reel →

Science & community

AnnualWorld Bee Day

Hosts CSIRO’s annual World Bee Day event

Each year Laszlo organises and presents the World Bee Day event held at CSIRO, sharing the work of BeesFriend and the wider challenge of the Varroa mite with an audience of scientists and staff.

Taste what the fuss is about.

Award-winning raw honey from rescued, chemical-free hives — and every jar funds the next rescue.