Friends of Dale River is a non-profit organisation formed in 2011. The group is committed to restoring one of Beverley’s iconic sites, the Dale River Reserve, to its former glory.
A restoration site within the Reserve features a permanent pool and 43 hectares of surrounding land, which is home to a variety of birds and other native fauna. The permanent water body was once used as the town’s swimming pool and was popular among local trout fishers. In 1955 the area was gazetted as an “A” Class Reserve by the State Government.
The Reserve was neglected over the years and became overrun with weeds and feral animals. In response, Friends of Dale River was formed by concerned local landholders. Since the community group’s formation in 2011, countless volunteer hours have been invested into planting trees, building fences, baiting rabbits and foxes, and involving the community, including the local Men’s Shed and school, who have built and installed nest boxes for native birds.
In October 2025, FVC was honoured to be the Biodiversity Steward sponsor of the biannual Biodiversity Conference held at the University of Western Australia. The financial contribution of FVC’s sponsorship committed funding towards three projects awarded as runners-up for the Sponsored Restoration Project for the conference. FVC’s contribution promises extended to lending hands-on support to the worthy irestoration projects. For the Friends of the Dale River, this has included getting boots on the ground and hands in the dirt.
On Saturday, 27 June, FVC team members with friends and family were delighted to join other volunteers at Dale River Reserve for the Black Cockatoo Revegetation Planting Day. Despite the forecast for wet and cold weather, the day turned out to be ideal for planting, with only a couple of mild showers.
The day ran smoothly thanks to the excellent groundwork completed by the Shire of Beverley works crew, whose site preparation made planting much easier. The use of two tractor-mounted planting machines, generously provided by Cliff Doncon and Mike Eviston, also helped ensure the ambitious planting target was achieved.
It was fantastic to see such a strong turn-out to support these important restoration actions. Working alongside the Friends of the Dale River, proudly coordinated by Linley Thompson, and other community groups and volunteers, the FVC Vollies helped to plant more than 10,000 seedlings! The planting in the last remaining cleared area of the Reserve will replace valuable habitat for Black Cockatoos and other native wildlife.
One of the highlights of the day was the strong community spirit on display. Volunteers were kept warm and well-fed with hot drinks, homemade biscuits and cakes, warming soup, and freshly cooked sausages, while sharing stories and enjoying the opportunity to contribute to a meaningful environmental outcome.
FVC is committed to supporting projects that protect and enhance Western Australia’s important biodiversity and restore our local natural environment. It was rewarding to be part of such a successful community-led initiative.