For Aboriginal peoples – including in Toodyay – Australia’s colonial history was characterised by devastating land dispossession, violence, and racism.

Over the last half-century, however, many significant steps towards reconciliation have been taken, including locally.

Developing a shire reconciliation action plan is part of that ongoing journey.

Corporation chairperson Robert Miles said he was very encouraged by recent talks with the shire about developing a practical action plan built on relationships, respect and opportunities.

In other news, the corporation is working closely with the shire to install a plaque to commemorate a State-registered Aboriginal burial site behind the historic Toodyay Showgrounds grandstand.

It was used as a hockey pitch from 1979 until 2013, when the shire was informed by the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council that the site had been gazetted since 1916 as an Aboriginal Cemetery.

An older plaque hidden in nearby trees is not visible from the burial site, which was cordoned off by a line of large rocks in 2013 when hockey playing stopped.

We are progressing well with this project, which will in future include other nearby cultural facilities, and hope the new plaque will be installed in time to be celebrated, along with the shire’s new reconciliation action plan, during National Reconciliation Week which runs from May 27 to June 3.

Medical authorities say ‘herd immunity’ to end the pandemic can be achieved in Australia if more than 80 per cent of the population is vaccinated.

Toodyay is due to receive 50 doses of the vaccine every week, with plans to increase this number over time to immunise the more than 1200 eligible people – about a third of the shire’s population – during the first phase of the mass roll-out.

They include people aged over 70, emergency service volunteers, those with chronic disease and Aboriginal people older than 55.

Some GP clinics in other parts of the state have chosen not to administer the vaccine, resulting in increased demand in other GP medical centres.

The Wheatbelt Health Network says it will call all eligible Toodyay patients to offer them local Covid-19 shots as fresh doses arrive from Perth.

Bookings will be made in groups of 10 because each vial of the AstraZenica vaccine contains 10 doses.

The Toodyay clinic says it is balancing standard medical appointments with Covid-19 vaccinations to enable a doctor to be present when shots are administered.
The AstraZenica vaccine requires two doses to be given 12 weeks apart.

The local vaccination roll-out coincides with the start of WA’s annual flu season, for which separate shots are due to become available in Toodyay at the end of this month.

Covid-19 and flu vaccines need to be administered at least two weeks apart.
The Wheatbelt Health Network said people who didn’t want to wait for a local booking could contact Perth respiratory clinics that are providing dedicated immunisation programs.

The public competition for the favourite busker was awarded to C & J Rockin’, brothers Charlie (14) and Jack (11) (below) who have been performing for the past three years at festivals, markets and fetes.

They were extremely excited not only to have won the spot performing between James Blundell’s first and second sets, but the time James spent with them before and after their set.

It was great to have Emma Pettemerides, a principal of the WA Opera who has regularly performed for the company’s outreach program and is an ambassador for Healthways’ Smarter than Smoking campaign.

Emma is also a regular soloist with local companies Freeze Frame Opera, Perth Symphony Orchestra, Lux et Veritas, Art Song Perth and performs for events around Australia as The Perth Soprano as well as being one of Toodyay’s own.

She facilitated a number of fellow artists, including Jun Zhang (below) in opera and musical theatre to appear and St Stephen’s Anglican Church was at capacity seating all day.

Our evening entertainment was provided by country music singer James Blundell who is no stranger to WA.

In his early 20s he mustered cattle in the West Kimberley and way before that, his great-great-grandfather was the surveyor for the fledgling Swan River Settlement, so the connection goes back a long time.

Once music became his career, WA has always been an important tour component providing inspiration for his song writing.

James (below) was joined on stage in the second part of his show by WA locals Johnny Taylor and Trent Matheison, and his son Briar Blundell.

Duidgee Park was well patronised all day and it was great to see the numbers swell as we moved into the evening’s entertainment.

Food and merchandise stalls were located within the two parks with our Toodyay businesses providing for both locals and visitors.

This free community event could not have gone ahead without the support and funding from a number of people.

To our major sponsors Lotterywest, Shire of Toodyay and Toodyay and Districts Bendigo Community Bank we give the community’s sincere thanks.

The local Op Shop, RSL, Community Resource Centre and Makit Hardware, Shane Love, MLA, Darren West, MLC, Laurie Graham, MLC, LJ Hooker and Country Realty all supported this event along with Northam’s Coles and Woolworths.

Finally, this event would not have happened without The Toodyay Music Fest Working Group and our enthusiastic volunteers who stepped up to help make this a great day.

I joined this group in June last year, after the disappointment of having the 2020 festival cancelled due to Covid-19 and what I found was a small group of enthusiastic, dedicated people who worked tirelessly to provide Toodyay with an event that is a credit to the community.

If you would like to provide feedback on how you as the general public saw the event or should you be interested in getting to know your fellow Toodyayians, have an interest in music or working within the community, we would love to hear from you.

The planning for the next Toodyay Music Fest starts soon. Please contact toodyaymusicfest.secretary@gmail.com or phone 0419 869 927.

“Ambulance volunteers have no one to advocate for their interests,” Mr Love said.
“Workers in paid jobs have protections and procedures but ambulance volunteers feel they cannot speak out without a risk of ramifications

“I have heard the same thing from other ambulance volunteers elsewhere – Toodyay is not an isolated case.

“St John’s ambulance volunteers are the state’s only emergency service volunteers without a representative body.”

Mr Love said regional WA St John Ambulance staff and volunteers serviced the world’s largest health jurisdiction and answered 43,000 call outs last year.

“Regional paramedics and volunteers play a vital role in keeping our communities safe and responding to emergency incidents,” Mr Love said.

“However, the workload can be onerous, and the situations they encounter can be challenging, leading to volunteer burnout.

“It’s the role of government to support this iconic organisation so that its members can continue to answer the call when needed.”

If elected, the Nationals WA plan to commit $1 million to create the state’s first volunteer association to advocate for and protect the interests of ambulance volunteers, $29 million for an additional 18 community paramedics across regional WA in areas of need and $10 million to ensure some of WA’s smallest ambulance sub-centres remain sustainable and well equipped.

“We’ve seen how effective community paramedics are, and volunteers tell us they appreciate the extra support on the ground,” Mr Love said.

“Our commitment will boost the total number of community paramedics across regional WA to 45 to ensure they can continue to provide that support.

“Giving volunteers a voice will help to create a better work environment, improve workplace relations and create a greater awareness of the role volunteers play within and outside the health sector.

“St John Ambulance plays a huge role in regional WA, and volunteers often encounter very difficult and challenging circumstances in their volunteer roles.

“This will give them much-needed support and advocacy and will also help to guide organisational and government decisions to ensure WA’s ambulance and health services remain world class.”

Mr Love won a primary vote majority of nearly 35 per cent in the 2017 State Election, with Labor’s Barni Norton on 21 per cent and Liberal candidate Darren Slyns 19 per cent.

All three are again contesting this month’s State Election and Labor hopes its cash splash in Moore will at least force Mr Love to rely on preference votes to retain his seat.

In January, Labor pledged $100,000 for Toodyay RSL’s new headquarters.