Welcome to the Friends of Taylor Park Torquay, Victoria, Australia.
News and Activities
Welcome Rain Fills the Duck Pond
After a very dry Summer in Torquay it was a relief to hear the sound of rain again as 18mm rain fell on the 20th March. Before the rain the Duck Pond was completely empty of water and the ducks and Torquay's children were bereft.
However at least the Friends of Taylor Park were able to get in and clean the pond out.
What a difference some rain makes to the pond. And the vegetation received a good drink too.
Working Bee Saturday 8th February
Friends of Taylor Park held their first Saturday morning working bee for the year on 8th February. This followed our very successful midweek corporate working bee the previous Wednesday. We began by removing more weeds from the creek line downstream of the duck pond. We then turned our attention to watering recently planted grasses and shrubs in the South East quarter of the park.
S&C Electric Asia Pacific P/L Working Bee 5th February
Friends of Taylor Park were delighted to have S&C Electric Asia Pacific P/L personnel join us for a working bee on Wednesday 5th February.
The group of 25 from S&C, together with 3 GORCAPA supervisors and 8 FOTP members spent the morning in Taylor Park watering plants and removing guards from now well established plants.
After lunch we all regrouped near the Salty Dog Cafe at Fishermans Beach, where we removed Marram Grass from the sand dunes, to allow Native Spinifex to take over.
It was fantastic to have this corporate group help us in the Park and at Fishos. We were able to get so much more done with their help.
And we all had a great time too.
FOTP Hold Planning Meeting
A group of FOTP met at the Gilbert Street Wine Bar on 11th of December to plan next year's program. The group discussed a wide range of ideas besides our usual monthly Saturday morning working bees. We are looking forward to putting these ideas into practice next year.
Working Bee Saturday 9th November
We held our last working bee for the year on Saturday the 9th of November. This month we concentrated on removing weeds in an area downstream of the Duck Pond. Following the weeding session we all enjoyed morning tea together before going our separate ways. The group will not meet again until February next year. Thank you to all the volunteers who have assisted this year. We are gradually making a significant difference to the environment of the park.
Seen in Taylor Park This Week
It was wonderful to observe a Blue Tongue Lizard in Taylor Park this week. Animals such as these are very vulnerable to attack while moving around on the ground so please exercise caution when visiting the Park with your pets. Hopefully we will see more of our native wildlife returning to the Park in the future.
Working Bee Saturday 12th October
After our working bee in September was cancelled due to the wet and windy weather it was great to get back to work in the park on a lovely Saturday morning for our October working bee.
Tyler from GORCAPA met the group with a load of native grasses which were to be planted in an area near the Duck Pond where we had previously removed invasive shrubs.
Surf Coast Shire Mayor Liz Patterson joined us for the morning to see us in action and to help with planting the new grasses.
Once the new native grasses were planted our remaining time was spent removing invasive introduced grasses from the same area.
Our last working bee for the year will be on Saturday 14 December, meeting at 10am in the usual spot near the table behind the Bowls Club.
Young Trees Vandalised in Taylor Park
I am sorry to have to report that two young trees we planted a couple of years ago were destroyed last night (Saturday 24 August) near a major track junction within the park. It is a sad commentary that visitors to the park feel the need to vandalise beautifully developing young trees. It takes years to establish new trees and only a few thoughtless moments to destroy them. 😟
Working Bee Saturday 10th August
We held our latest working bee on Saturday the 10th of August on a glorious late Winter's morning.
The group was met by Tyler from GORCAPA who brought along the water tanker with lots of buckets and some equipment to help eradicate some invasive plants.
One group spent the morning in the South East corner of the Park watering the Kangaroo grasses we had established last month.
Another group tackled infestations of Watsonia that had been identified in a valuable native grassland area of the park.
Our next working bee will be on Saturday 14 September meeting at 10am in the usual spot near the table behind the Bowls Club.
Working Bee Saturday 13th July
We held our July working bee on a cool but sunny Winter's morning.
Our group was smaller turn than usual with just 8 Friends of Taylor Park and Hamilton from GORCAPA present. Many of the regular members of the group have travelled North to warmer climes to escape the cold of winter in Torquay!
We spent a pleasant morning in the South East corner of the Park planting Kangaroo grasses, watering them in and surrounding them with protective plastic guards.
Our next working bee will be on Saturday 10 August meeting at 10am.
New members are very welcome, so if you interested please get in touch or just turn up on the day.
Working Bee Saturday 8th June
We held another working bee on Saturday the 8th June.
Our local Member of Parliament, Libby Coker, visited us to congratulate us on our successful Volunteer Grant Application and to see in person the great work we do in Taylor Park.
We had a great turn up and four new members come for the first time.
One group spread mulch and established new plants near the Puebla Street Fisher Street crossing and another group spread fallen tree debris on closed informal tracks to help with revegetation.
Friends of Taylor Park Receive Volunteer Grant
Friends of Taylor Park have received a Volunteer Grant of $1000 from the Federal Government through our local member Libby Coker. We plan to use the grant money to establish a cache of tools for members to use on working bees.
Working Bee Saturday 11th May
Big shout out to everyone who joined us for last Saturday's Friends of Taylor Park working bee!
Your hard work weeding is crucial to maintaining the health of our park's native vegetation. Last weekend, we focused on removing invasive species like Bridal Creeper and Shrubby Crassula.
Join us for our next working bee on Saturday, 8 June!
We need your help to continue preserving the natural beauty of Taylor Park. Every little bit makes a big difference. Kids & pups welcomed!.
Working Bee Saturday 13th April
Our April working bee was on Saturday the 13th from 10am to 12noon.
A smaller group than normal met Tyler from GORCAPA in the usual spot, at the table, in the park, behind The Bowls Club. This month we focused on the area alongside Beach Road under the Sugar Gums, removing invasive succulents and tidying up the tree guards protecting last year's plantings.
Taylor Park Centenary Celebration
The Centenary of Torquay's Taylor Park was celebrated on Saturday 24 February. The proceedings were held near the Duck Pond and started with a welcome to country by Wadawurrung Traditional Owner Corrina Eccles. Margie Isom from Torquay's Rotary Club was MC for the day. Councillor Rose Hodge spoke to the gathering about the History of the Park.
Local community groups had been invited to display their organisation's activities. There were displays of the Park's History from the two local History Groups. The Lions and Rotary Clubs and the Men's Shed also had displays. As did the Surfcoast Animal Rescue group.
There were activities for children and Alex Jardine of Heartwood Habitat took walks around the new nesting boxes to see if there were any occupants.
The Surfside Singers, the Torquay Men's Shed Singers, the Star of the Sea Choir and the Surf Coast Old Time Street Orchestra entertained the gathering throughout the day as people enjoyed their picnics.
In all, it was an excellent community day enjoyed by all who attended. And weather was perfect!
Torquay's Taylor Park Centenary
Working Bee Saturday 10th February 2024
Our first working bee for the year was on Saturday the 10th February from 10am to 12noon.
We met in the usual spot, at the table, in the park, behind The Bowls Club. It was good to start back, so that we could check on all the planting we did last year. Those plants needed a bit more mulching and a water. We noticed our arch enemy the “Shrubby Crassula weed” was back , so that also needed some attention. With over 20 thousand square meters of park land to look after, there is never a shortage of work to do. Anyone who would like to join us this year is very welcome.
Working Bee Saturday 12th August 2023
Another very successful working bee last Saturday. Thank you for the first timers who came along Heather, Michael and Amy. Also thank you to Jayden from GORCAPA. With their help we were able to plant and mulch two areas near the corner of Zeally Bay Road and Fischer Street.
Feel free to join our working bees, you are under no obligation to come each month. We appreciate people joining in when they can. All we need is enough people to come along so we can complete our allocated projects for the day.
