Toodyay Herald

Toodyay Community Garden
Rosemary Madacsi, Secretary
THE TOODYAY Community Garden has been busy since first meeting on May 28 and membership continues to grow.

Professional concept designs have been completed, money pledged and alternative sites considered by the membership.

The last hurdle is to find a site with location central to meet our objectives – To create a harmonious environment in which to bring community together, to garden and share knowledge and skills of sustainable food production.

A central location with level and disabled community access and basic amenities is critical to achieve inclusion of children and our seniors.

The aim of this project is not just gardening but a place to socialise, support physical activity and community connections

The garden will provide opportunities to learn sustainable living skills and acquire local knowledge and lived experiences by being accessible and inclusive.

The vacated Fiennes Street tennis courts are the first choice due to its central location and existing infrastructure.

The group submitted an interest in this site on May 30 following council’s April resolution to seek expressions of interest.

The resolution to consider the site use and any expressions of interest at the August 28 council meeting was delayed until a Facilities and Building review was completed.

Huge thanks to Fiona and Rory Davin of Stirling House for their generosity in providing the rear of their property as a place to store needed resources.

We also thank others who have offered help.

Unfortunately, the delay in finding a site has meant the winter and spring opportunity to start the gardens was lost as was community garden funding on offer.

Our focus is now on moving forward and how to provide activities and a range of learning opportunities for the community, while we wait for a home.

Concept design

Noongar Kaartdijin Aboriginal Corporation

THIS month we highlight some bush foods traditionally used by Noongar moort (families) across the Toodyay Valley.

Contrary to colonial misconceptions that Noongar people relied mainly on large djaat (game), about 80 per cent of their traditional diet came from mereny (plant foods) and small djaat (small game).

Including vegetable roots like yanget (bulrush), warrany (yam), and djubak (orchid tuber), as well as yerenburt (fruits/berries), kwolak (grains/seeds).

Included also were animals like yerderap (duck), djidong (small lizards), kaarda (goanna), noorn (snakes), kwenda (bandicoot), and minga (insects/larvae).

KAARDA (Goanna)
Kaarda is valued for its taste and nutritional benefits and after removing the internal organs and cleaning, it is cooked in the ashes of a kaarla (campfire).
The oil from kaarda is also used to treat skin ailments and though difficult to catch kaarda are often found in burrows.
Noongar people have used rock slabs on granite outcrops to create kaarda-mia (goanna shelters) designed to trap them.
Many of these shelters once common across Noongar country, have been removed or damaged due to various factors, including land development and the use of granite slabs for gardens and construction.

Toodyay Agricultural Society
Alison Wroth

ONE THING a country town needs is an event that brings individuals and businesses together.

One of those special events, our historic 170th Anniversary Toodyay Agricultural Show occurred on Saturday October 5.

Gate numbers of over 5000, the smiles and constant activity showed the committee
efforts had been worthwhile – put your hand up if you agree.

We are very proud of our history and since the Society’s establishment in 1853, the iconic Toodyay Agricultural Show has played a key role in our community and we always aim to celebrate this.

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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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