Windsor Siding Park: Dog lovers bonding with ‘happy hour’ catch-ups

A problem-plagued inner east park has also been a ‘godsend’ for isolated dog lovers, who bonded during the coronavirus outbreak.

Adaire Jobson, second from right, was able to beat isolation by joining a group of dog lovers at Windsor Siding Park during the coronavirus outbreak. Picture: Supplied.

A Windsor resident has revealed how bonding with fellow dog lovers she met at her local park helped her beat isolation during the coronavirus pandemic.

Adaire Jobson is one of more than 20 members in a group of dog walkers which formed at Windsor Siding Park when the virus outbreak began in March.

She said they communicated in a WhatsApp group and often met for a ‘happy hour’ after work.

Ms Jobson said she and other park visitors were able to discuss the highs and lows of lockdown life while the dogs, including her japanese spitz Zuki, ran around the park.

She said it allowed her to make new friends and deal with the challenges stemming from the pandemic.

“I moved into Windsor last year but didn’t really know any of my neighbours until lockdown this year,” Ms Jobson said.

“I have been living and working from home alone since March this year so being able to talk in person to my friendly neighbours each night at the dog park has been a godsend.”

The park has previously made headlines for the wrong reasons with revellers dumping glass and rubbish in rowdy night-time parties earlier this year.

Stonnington Council was also left red-faced after it splashed cash on a redundant gate at one of the park’s playgrounds, which children could easily walk around.

But Ms Jobson said the formation of the group at the park had provided her with plenty of happy memories, with up to 20 members getting together for a Christmas party in December.

“We definitely created a community of familiar faces and dogs at Windsor Siding,” she said.

“I think we’re often too busy or in a rush to slow down and talk to people we don’t already know, but 2020 changed the pace and reminded us how great it is to have local support networks.”