Iole and Alberto Poli feeding the swans at Jackadder Lake in Woodlands

This photograph, together with the story below, was entered into the City of Stirling's 2018 History and Heritage Awards.

Long-time Woodlands resident Iole and husband Alberto, feeding the swans at Jackadder Lake circa 1972. This photograph captures the north eastern side of the lake, close to what would now be the corner of Jackadder Way and Blackbutt Road.

Regularly sending photos of her Australian home to family in Italy, images of Jackadder Lake always featured prominently. From her residence on Willow Road, pictured in the background of this snapshot and located opposite the intersection at Willow Way, she enjoyed an unobstructed view of the lake.

Iole resided in her Woodlands home from 1969 until her death in 2013 at 99 years of age. For the better part of her active years, she visited Jackadder Lake almost daily. She would often be sighted of a late afternoon or evening in summer, particularly throughout the 1980s and 1990s, walking around the lake; armed with a Willow branch stripped of most of its foliage and batting at a plague of maddening midges that seemed to share her love of Jackadder.

Back in the 1970s and 1980s, before we knew the harm it could do, feeding the ducks at Jackadder Lake was common practice. Iole particularly enjoyed feeding her stale bread to the swans. As these waterbirds steamed towards and surrounded her one by one, it was Iole's grandchildren who were forced to run the gauntlet of savage swans that sometimes, on a whim, would turn and charge at the youngsters, with outstretched necks, trumpeting cries - and wings spread in an intimidating display of voracious aggression.

Today, Iole's children, grandchildren and great grandchildren continue to delight in the serenity and charm of Jackadder Lake and its wildlife, but minus the stale bread!