The Toodyay Naturalists Club
our history...
In early 1967, a local farmer, Wally Chitty had an idea of forming some sort of club in Toodyay - along the lines of the Northam Wildflower Club. He discussed this idea with a number of local community members.
Later that year,, Dawn Atwell (a farmer from Woodendale), Ray Paynter (a farmer and botanist from Clackline), Hazel Hastie (a farmer’s wife from Deepdale) and Albie North (a Shire Councillor and farmer from Strathavon) met to further Wally Chitty's idea. They discussed and then formulated the objectives of such a Club.
So began the Toodyay Naturalists' Club, an organisation highly respected in the community for its views on the conservation of natural history. Evidence this in its receipt of the prestigeous 'John Tonkin Greening Award' as far back as 1996.
The full story of the early days of the Toodyay Naturalists' Club through to the present era can be found in the Club's history book 'The Toodyay Naturalists' Club: 40 years of Observation and Education (1968-2008)', published in July 2010 and launched at the Annual General Meeting in July 2010. For more information and details of how to order, click publications on the left (under Club Contacts).
the constitutional objectives of the Club
• the preservation of the native flora and fauna of Western Australia, in particular that of the Avon valley;
• the preservation of the natural environment and habitats within the aforementioned area;
• to assist wherever possible, individuals and government bodies, both local and State, with research submissions, educational and other resource materials that members may bring together and are willing to share in order to support the Club's objects;
• to provide within the Club's own membership an ongoing exchange of ideas and knowledge of the surrounding natural world;
• to publish newsletters, books or any other media concerning the natural environment;
• to encourage and assist others in the publication of scientific papers and any other media that is conducive of the objects of the Club;
• to assist government bodies, both State and Australian, with research programmes and biological surveys; and
• to participate in activities that will encourage the public to be aware of and take an interest in, conservation and the natural environment.