Toodyay Herald

THE NAME change of the Freemasons Hotel to the Toodyay Hotel is all but done with the new name now hanging from the front of the heritage listed building on Stirling Terrace.

For locals with an affinity for the old hotel name the Freemasons sign has been retained and can be found displayed on the pub’s wall.

The local watering hole has had a few names since its original licence starting as the Newcastle Hotel in 1861 then owned by William Tregoning a local publican.

A year later Tregoning sold the pub to Thomas Mead of Northam who changed the name to the Freemasons’ Hotel – this was due to a name-clash with another Newcastle Hotel just up the road (that hotel was subsequently renamed the Toodyay Tavern).

The naming of the Freemasons Hotel back then had nought to do with the secret society that is the Freemasons with its origins in medieval guilds and rituals of ancient orders.

Not that you would necessarily know if a Freemason did drop in for a beer.

Fast forward to 2024 to that recent name change which has caused some local chatter, over the bar and on social media.

For many locals the newly named Toodyay Hotel will remain the Freemasons.

Other locals support the name change and point to the promotional benefits for the town in having a pub with the same name.

THE TOODYAY Cup made its return to the Avon Valley on September 22 when the Toodyay Race Club hosted its first meeting at the local race course since 2021.

An estimated crowd of 3000 racegoers attended the course on what was a sunny Spring Day to see the return of familyfriendly picnic-racing to the Avon Valley.

The efforts of the club and community volunteers to put the event on paid off with
good odds as the friendly crowd enjoyed the warm ambience of the country race event.

The smiling faces and colourful fascinators on the heads of frocked up ladies were almost
matched by the glammed-up besuited blokes crowding around the bar.

Which is to say the fashions in the field went off like a firecracker with a good dose
of humour (and strutting) thrown in.

As for the cup.

The Toodyay Cup that was won by a horse named Zaza Rock – and he did – as did his
jockey and owners.

Tod Johnston and PeaceLove then had the crowd dancing as the sun went down.

Toodyay Football Club
Patrick Thompson

THE TOODYAY reserves capped off a brilliant 2024 season winning the reserves Mortlock Football League premiership by defeating Goomalling 10.15.75 to 3.3.21 in the grand final held in Goomalling on Sunday September 8.

A Toodyay reserves premiership was long overdue as it had been 15 years since the last one back in 2009.

Toodyay local Steven Cousins was the sole player to play in both the 2009 and 2024 premiership sides.

Toodyay entered the game as strong favourites but were challenged early by Goomalling who kicked three of the first four goals.

The match was evenly poised at half time with Toodyay holding a narrow two point lead 3.4.22 to 3.2.20.

After half time the midfield, lead by the Sullivan brothers (Jimmy and Ryan), gained ascendency and Toodyay took control of the match kicking five third quarter goals to lead by 35 points at final break and eventually running out 54 point winners.

Patrick Thompson was awarded best on ground kicking three goals across wing and half forward.

Ben Corbey kicked two and was busy in the forward line, while Connor McBride intercepted all day across the half backline.

The week earlier, Toodyay’s league side went down to Dowerin in the Preliminary final 12.13.85 to 11.7.73 to end their finals run.

On the awards front, Toodyay was well represented at Mortlock Football League awards night, winning the following awards:

League Bendigo Bank Player of the year – Reece Richardson.
League Rising Star – Seth Clarke.
Reserves Best and Fairest – Jimmy Sullivan.
Reserves Leading Goal Kicker – Luke Alexander.

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THE VIETNAM War was Australia’s longest military engagement of the 20th Century.

The nation’s involvement in the war began with the arrival of the Australian Army
Training Team in South Vietnam during Julyand August 1962.

By the time the war ended, almost 60,000 Australians had served during a decade of
conflict between 1962 and 1972 with 523 of them tragically dying and about 3000
wounded or injured.

Last month the Toodyay RSL led a service to commemorate the 55th anniversary of
Vietnam Veteran’s Day.

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THE DAY before the 2024 Avon Descent the water level at Extracts Weir outside of
Toodyay looked too low for competitors to shoot over the weir.

Race day came around and Mother Nature saved the day with water flowing at a rapid rate of knots over the weir.

What had been dry riverbed barely 24hours before was now under water and still rising as spectators jockeyed for viewing spots overlooking the weir.

The Avon River is renowned for rising rapidly, and just as suddenly dropping.

“The weather gods were good to us this year”, said Greg Kaeding, Chair of Northam’s Avon Descent Association.

On race day, the Avon was rising with ample water flowing over Extracts Weir.

More than enough to tempt competitors to take on the weir, and most successfully
navigated the rock-laden torrent of water.

Not a single competitor was seen by this writer to carry their watercraft around the weir and past the throng of spectators.

Those competitors that came to grief at Extracts with some cartwheeling through the air may in hindsight have preferred the carrying option.

These incidents unfortunately resulted in one powerboat and two minijet participantssustaining non-life-threatening injuries shortly after entering the formidable whitewater rapids in the area.

The Avon Descent Safety Unit (ADSU) responded with impressive speed and efficiency providing immediate medical attention where required.

St John Ambulance services were also on-site, ensuring the injured participants received the highest possible standard of care and professionalism.

The competitors passed by the Toodyay International Food Festival en route to the overnight camp at Cobbler Pool, before finishing the race the next day.

The Food Festival was a busy event with both Stirling and Duidgee Parks packed with visitors, food vans, stilt walkers and bands pumping out renditions of covers and no doubt some original tunes as well.

The skateboard park was abuzz with a skating competition and many of the young competitors were getting “air” with some landing to plan and others not so much.

On what was a fine and sunny day it would be fair to say August 10 was a successful day for Toodyay.

After all, it is only once a year that river racers pass through town, and crowds throng Duidgee and Stirling Parks, as well bustling down Stirling Terrace, all on the same day.

In a little less than one year Toodyay does it all again, and why not?

By Noongar Kaartdijin Aboriginal Corporation

THANKS to all who visited our recent NAIDOC event “Keep the Fires Burning” where Noongar information about local flora and fauna and food resources was on display.

Many visitors to our town dropped in on the day and headed home more informed about
the cultural heritage of this area.

A huge thanks to our corporation members and to Dudja Dreaming services who helped
out, and to The Toodyay Herald for use of the courtyard space.
It is with great sadness this month that we write about the passing of Sandra Harms – friend and graphic designer who had been supporting us with the developing Noongar Trail.

A compassionate, intelligent, and kind human, Sandra was a rare combination of all the best of humanity.

Her support helping with graphic design on the Noongar Trail and other projects (including the National award winning Gnulla Karnany Waangkiny) was hugely appreciated.

Sandra immersed herself and her creative talent into these projects alongside our trail
coordinator, Elders and research team.

Her respect, and growing understanding of Noongar culture was something she spoke
about often.

What a sad loss for her family, and everyone who had the pleasure of knowing
this most wonderful lady.

Rest in peace Sandra as you go to the place of your ancestors.

By Andrew St John
Secretary – The Toodyay Herald

THE TOODYAY Herald would like to expand its membership.

This is an invitation for more of you in the community to be part of one of the most
successful regional newspapers in WA.

The Toodyay Herald operates in a similar way to many special interest associations.

Any member of the community can apply to be a member of The Toodyay Herald (Inc).

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VETERAN local Toodyay real estate agent Tony Maddox reckons it’s the hardest rental market in his 34 years in the industry.

“It’s real tough in Toodyay and even tough in Merredin with no chance of improvement”.

Even when you can find local rental accommodation some places “are not fit for human habitation” according to Roz Davidson from Toodyay Locals Care.

She knows of a number of substandard rental properties where “people feel threatened to speak out” for fear of being evicted.

Online real estate sites showed that on 25 July 2024 there were three rental properties
listed in the Toodyay area with rents from $360 to $850 per week.

Mr Maddox confirmed that one of those rentals had in fact “gone”, indicating that rentals are quickly snapped up and the situation in Northam is no different.

The lack of rental properties is hurting local employers with many facing higher staff turnover.

Many newly recruited staff find the commute from Perth expensive with the high cost of fuel and also time consuming.

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Toodyay Football Club
Patrick Thompson
THE TOODYAY Football Club enjoyed its biggest day of the season on June 22 when it hosted Gingin and celebrated a combined premiership reunion marking the 50, 20 and
10 year anniversaries of the 1974, 2004 and 2014 premierships.

A feature of the day was the ‘Classic Clashes’ country footy scoreboard truck
stationed on the wing, which filmed, commentated, conducted interviews and
live-streamed the league match.

The reserves kicked off the day in a tightly contested match with a four goal lead to
Toodyay in the third term vanishing as Gingin took the lead in the final quarter.

A late final quarter five minute surge by Toodyay to kick the final three goals saw
them run out winners 12.6.78 to 9.9.63 and move to equal top of the ladder.

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Toodyay Race Club
Stephen Ferguson, Chairman

WE ATTRACTED 6500 people to the Club’s 150th anniversary meet in 2015, and will
perhaps exceed 7000 this year.

All 20 bays in the long marquee sold early and demand for smaller 3 x 3 and 6 x 3
marquees is very strong.

The track looks amazing after a little rain, and I would personally like to thank Racing
WA for aerating the track in preparation for us to seed it with ryegrass.

We have recently seeded the track and I request locals who exercise their dogs at the
course to please use the area in the middle so the track lawn can grow.

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