The Toodyay Friends of the River (TFOR) was inaugurated in 1994 with an aim to undertake the restoration of the Toodyay section of the Avon River, and its environs. In the following years, consolidation of the membership, and development of action plans were the focus. In 1998, members of the TFOR began the process of cleaning up weeds along the river. These weeds included what we thought at the time was Athel pine, a species of tamarix (Tamarix aphylla). This was a major task, as the weed was not easy to remove, and had established in the riparian vegetation through the townsite, through the popular picnic destination, Duidgee Park, and downstream toward the caravan park.

community;