By Greg Warburton
I must apologise to members and The Herald readers for the lack of a TNC article last month. Now I’m back in Toodyay and feverishly catching up on all the happenings.
While I was away, Wayne Clarke phoned me to report on the results of the AGM. He casually mentioned I had been voted in as the club’s co-patron. I thought he was joking. Although I feel totally unqualified for the title, I’m very proud to accept the honour and sincerely thank the members for their vote of confidence. I’m certainly in esteemed company, given the legendary status of my fellow patrons.
Our indefatigable secretary, Desrae, grappled and navigated her way through the many challenges of securing a speaker for August. Despite special dates scheduled and constant communications, the planned event did not occur. However, our impromptu members’ night, as always, was entertaining and informative. Wayne presented his wildlife photos from a tour he and Desraé had done in East Africa in 2009. Many spectacular locations and animals were featured, including the Masai Mara National Park, home to the greatest herds of grazing animals on the planet.
I then showed digitised 8mm movie footage of the WA Naturalist Club’s excursions and activities in 1974. That movie was made for the club’s 100-year celebrations last year, and it offered a glimpse into a very different time. Not to mention a young and hairy version of myself.
Another highlight in the film was a huge community (and local government) project to remove a serious Salvinia infestation from Tomato Lake in Belmont. This aquatic weed covered every inch of the lake in a thick layer that had completely killed the ecology. Spearheaded by the WA Naturalists’ Club, the scale of the operation was truly immense.
The removal of hundreds of tonnes of biomass required a fleet of machinery and an army of soaking wet and very muddy volunteers, working over several months. The lack of safety during the work, compared with today’s stringent requirements, was all too obvious. However, the results speak for themselves. Today, Tomato Lake is home to many species of water birds and other wildlife and a popular place for visitors. Thank you to Sylvia Tetlow, who, as a teenage club member, made these precious film records. Sylvia is now one of the longest-serving members of the WA Naturalist Club.
Vale Douglas Blandford
I’d like to acknowledge the contribution that Doug made towards our conservation campaigns in Toodyay. He provided expertly researched submissions and articles on many of our environmental issues including Opal Vale, Helena and Aurora Range mining proposal, and Main Road’s Toodyay Road upgrades. More recently Doug helped with a ‘Julimar for National Park’ campaign. Doug’s profession was geology, and he was a remarkable man with a prodigious knowledge of earth sciences.
His work had taken him all over the world, including Antarctica. He was always entertaining, informative and willing to share his knowledge and insights. Doug never failed to captivate his audience with mind blowing geological facts. A few years ago, I worked with him to create a book and signage project on the geology of Pelham reserve. He will be missed and always remembered by his Toodyay friends. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.
Members are reminded of the upcoming excursion to Drummond Reserve on Old Plains Road on September 20. Remember to visit our new website for information and to record sightings.
Doug Blandford.
This article was published in the September 2025 edition of the Toodyay Herald, p. 29.
The Toodyay Naturalists’ Club welcomes sightings and observations of flora, fauna and all areas of natural history. To add your sightings, email secretary@toodyaynats.org.au or submit a sighting via our online form.
