Former Navy sailor, Jake Leske, is more than an outstanding Kokoda trek leader, he is Australia’s original ‘Honey Bee’ and a remarkable endurance athlete.
Jake’s enthusiasm for beekeeping started after high school, when he worked for a commercial beekeeper for 18 months before joining the Royal Australian Navy as an aircraft technician.
After six years in the Navy he returned to the bush of his boyhood in rural South Australia where the spirit of adventure, hunting, and fishing were part of his being.
In early 2023 Jake took to a small green kayak and took a month to paddle solo 2,300 km down the Murray River – an extraordinary physical achievement
For the past three years, Jake has focused on building his successful beekeeping business. He has spent his days out in the bush with his bees, pulling honeycomb from his 100 hives scattered around the countryside, making deliveries to customers, and cultivating relationships with local wineries, chefs and farmers, knowing each of them play an important part in helping to fulfil his vision.
In June 2023 Jake was the winner of the inaugural Australian Honey Bee Industry Council Australian Beekeeper Award at the 4th Australian Honey Bee Congress Dinner in Sydney.
According to Jake, the Australian bush is critical to the many beekeepers across Australia producing honey from native flora. Jake said changing weather patterns, droughts and bushfires were increasingly impacting the availability of floral sources, placing native bush land revegetation high on his agenda.
“Focusing on building strong engagement with farmers is key for me. I spend a lot of time planting native trees and shrubs as windbreaks for livestock or on unusable parts of farmers’ land such as swampy areas or sloping hills that aren’t suitable for cropping,” Jake said.
“It’s a win-win for everyone. It provides protection for the farmers’ livestock and ensures access to bee sites for years to come.”
Jake’s tree planting activities to support the long-term sustainability of bee native flora sites also extend to bushland regeneration projects across the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula, with the aim of supporting the region’s environment and creating habitats for wildlife.
Jake first trekked with Adventure Kokoda to learn more about the Kokoda campaign. He returned as a volunteer 2IC and later led his first trek in October 2023.
'Without a doubt we had the greatest trek leaders. Thank you Jake Leske and Brody Murray for your inspiring leadership.'
'Everyone from the trek leaders to the support staff were incredible. Trek leaders Dave sherry and Jake Leske are outstanding. Not only did they support us in the physical aspect of the track but also the mental and emotional. The experience they create by immersing you into the history and sacrifice of those before us is truly life changing and is something that will be remembered forever. A must for all Australians and in my opinion Adventure Kokoda would be the only organisation to share that experience with. I cannot thank each and every individual associated enough they truly are amazing.'