Anabranch: Oral History of Carmel Chapman
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85145985' target='_blank'>Weirs</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/6272' target='_blank'>Floods</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/4120' target='_blank'>Local history</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/5366' target='_blank'>Droughts</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/973' target='_blank'>Water quality</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/832' target='_blank'>Irrigation</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85045491' target='_blank'>Eucalyptus camaldulensis</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/7885' target='_blank'>Soldier settlement</a>
An interview in four parts with Carmel Chapman, who works at the Wentworth Information Centre.
Born in 1941, Carmel talks about her life growing up in Merbein, near Mildura, on the Victorian side of the Murray River. She recalls fishing with family and swimming as a teenager in the Murray, "...we used to be able to see our feet in the water...". In her youth she did research on the floods; and as an adult she communicates her extensive knowledge of the river through her employment.
In the interview Carmel discusses: local history of the Murray-Darling; water allocation and building of weirs; a cofferdam; soldier settlements in Wentworth; the 1956 flood and assistance by soldiers during this time; seasons; water volumes; rainfall patterns; dependence of the Murray River on Darling River flows.
She mentions weirs at Wentworth, Burtundy, Mildura and the unique Perry Sandhills, 400 acres of shifting dunes, marked by a Murray River Red Gum Tree (Eucalyptus camaldulensis). Called the God Tree, it is over 500 years old, and covered so much by the sand that you can stroll through its canopy.
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-11-11
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
Copyright University of Technology, Sydney
application/msword
audio/mpeg
English
Anabranch: Images from interview with Trish Johnson
<a href='http://indigenous.sl.nsw.gov.au/communities/paakantyi' target='_blank'>Paakantyi / Paakantji / Barkindji people</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/6272' target='_blank'>Floods</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/2645' target='_blank'>Boats</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh94007041' target='_blank'>Riparian areas</a>
A selection of photographs provided by Trish Johnson on the day of interview with Trish by the Talking Fish project team. No audio was recorded.
Trish Johnson, a Paakintji woman, was an executive on the Northern Basin Aboriginal Nations (NBAN) commitee, however, she resigned in order to care for her family. Trish moved back to Pooncarie to re-establish ties to her Paakantji Country.
The State Library of New South Wales holds the original photographs in the Talking Fish Collection. Many are annotated on the back with names and places.
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-11-12
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
All rights reserved
image/jpeg
Anabranch: Oral History of Bill Lever
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048775' target='_blank'>Fishes--Identification</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/1353' target='_blank'>Crustaceans</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85145985' target='_blank'>Weirs</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh86001095' target='_blank'>Dams--Australia</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/1455' target='_blank'>Fishing industry</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/5361' target='_blank'>Fishing nets</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/973' target='_blank'>Water quality</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048694.html' target='_blank'>Fishing regulations</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048782' target='_blank'>Fishes--Migration</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/6272' target='_blank'>Floods</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/5366' target='_blank'>Droughts</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/4510' target='_blank'>Cotton</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/3226' target='_blank'>Introduced species</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/9962' target='_blank'>Billabongs</a>
An interview in four parts with Bill Lever.
Bill, a professional fisher since 1953, resides in the small town of Wentworth in northern Victoria. Born in 1926, his life experiences of the neighbouring areas of the Murray, Darling and the Great Darling Anabranch reveal numerous changes to the region in terms of fish, crustaceans, the fluctuating commercial demand of fish, and the health of the river systems. Bill also discusses his preferred fishing techniques, areas he likes to fish, government regulations, and the impacts on his region that are a result of irrigation and farming further up the basin.
He also talks about: yabbying in the Paroo River; finding large mussel populations in billabongs; drought and flood cycles of the 1960s, 1970s; differences in water quality and its decline since the 1950s; reduction in water quality in the Culgoa River since the St George Weir was built; the impact of European Carp on Catfish, little water snails and mussel beds.
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-11-08
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
Copyright University of Technology, Sydney
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audio/mpeg
image/jpeg
English
Anabranch: Oral History of Rodney Stone
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048775' target='_blank'>Fishes--Identification</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/1353' target='_blank'>Crustaceans</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2007102025' target='_blank'>Birds--Identification</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2010110819' target='_blank'>Reptiles--Identification</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85102861' target='_blank'>Plants--Identification</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/3313' target='_blank'>Dams</a>
<a href='http://dharmae.research.uts.edu.au/items/show/403' target='_blank'>Blackwater</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85145461' target='_blank'>Water--Law and legislation</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/5366' target='_blank'>Droughts</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/2477' target='_blank'>Weeds</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048655.html' target='_blank'>Fish stocking</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/9962' target='_blank'>Billabongs</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/3226' target='_blank'>Introduced species</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/973' target='_blank'>Water quality</a>
An interview in three parts with Rodney Stone, President of the Wentworth Fishing Club.
Born in 1955 at Mildura, Rodney grew up on the Darling. He has witnessed the changes in the native fish population, particularly relating to the arrival of the European carp; the decimation of Catfish; restocking; fish kills at Wakool; the removal of Willow trees; the disappearance of bird life following the wave of the calcivirus; blackwater and its impacts on the region; yabbying; fishing techniques; the way fish behave during droughts; the Darling floods of 1956 and 1976, and the various flora and fauna present in the region.
He also shows the research crew Fort Courage and talks about fishing at the junction of the two systems, including a description of a "mini delta" in the Anabranch when it runs.
Mention of 183 Dam and a fish species 'Minnow' (unspecified).
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-11-10
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
Copyright University of Technology, Sydney
application/msword
audio/mpeg
image/jpeg
English
Culgoa - Balonne: Oral History of Michael Anderson
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048775' target='_blank'>Fishes--Identification</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/15435' target='_blank'>Connection to Country</a>
<a href='http://dharmae.research.uts.edu.au/items/show/397' target='_blank'>Cultural flows</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/260' target='_blank'>Dreaming (Spiritual)</a>
<a href='http://dharmae.research.uts.edu.au/items/show/400' target='_blank'>Aboriginal kinship systems</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2003006648' target='_blank'>Riparian areas--Management</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/6272' target='_blank'>Floods</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/3313' target='_blank'>Dams</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85145985' target='_blank'>Weirs</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/4510' target='_blank'>Cotton</a>
<a href='http://dharmae.research.uts.edu.au/items/show/402' target='_blank'>Water allocations</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048782' target='_blank'>Fishes--Migration</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2001000758' target='_blank'>Fishes--Cannibalism</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2003006652' target='_blank'>Traditional ecological knowledge</a>
<a href='http://indigenous.sl.nsw.gov.au/communities/yuwaalaraay-euahlayi-yuwaaliyaay' target='_blank'>Yuwaalaraay / Euahlayi / Yuwaaliyaay language </a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/3312' target='_blank'>Environmental flows</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/1049' target='_blank'>Ecological sustainability</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/260' target='_blank'>Aboriginal spirituality</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2008008351' target='_blank'>Water--Symbolic aspects</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/8796' target='_blank'>Siltation</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/5257' target='_blank'>Wetlands</a>
Station-owner and Ualarai man Michael Anderson provides a rich and in-depth interview on his personal experience with the Murray-Darling Basin from his current base by the Bokhara River. As an executive member of the Northern Basins Aboriginal Nations (NBAN) group, Michael is concerned about the health of the basin and wetlands and attributes much of the basin's issues on poor water flows, poor management of available water and the siltation caused as a result. He urges that the wetlands be registered with an international treaty: the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, in order to help ensure its survival.
Michael explains the cultural and spiritual importance of the river systems to Indigenous peoples, delving into the history, language and stories of his Ualarai people. The changes in the fish population, and the traditional practices of his people that were implicit in the flourishing of the basin prior to colonisation.
Mentioned: water rat, mud crab.
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
Hamish Sewell
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-10-13
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
Copyright University of Technology, Sydney
application/msword
audio/mpeg
image/tiff
English
Culgoa - Balonne: Oral History of Keith Codrington, George Thomas, and Robert Worboys
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048775' target='_blank'>Fishes--Identification</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/1353' target='_blank'>Crustaceans</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh90001846' target='_blank'>Artesian basins--Australia</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85145985' target='_blank'>Weirs</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85027727' target='_blank'>Cofferdams</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/6272' target='_blank'>Floods</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/8796' target='_blank'>Siltation</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/8796' target='_blank'>Turbidity</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/255' target='_blank'>Aboriginal culture</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/3226' target='_blank'>Introduced species</a>
<a href='http://dharmae.research.uts.edu.au/items/show/401' target='_blank'>Aboriginal fish traps</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/2752' target='_blank'>Bore water</a>
An interview with three local fisherman Keith Codrington, George Thomas, and Robert Worboys.
With over 50 years experience fishing in the region, Keith, George and Robert share their knowledge of the Culgoa-Balonne region. They discuss floods, particularly the 1950 flood; the turbidity and silting of the river; the arrival of European Carp and the resulting impacts on vegetation, Catfish and Black Bream populations; Aboriginal rock corrals; fishing, spinners and their favourite fishing holes.
Mention of the Gapski Scheme (GABSI? Great Artesian Basin Sustainability Initiative?), the replacement of bore drains with 'poly piping', and the resultant changes in the Yabby population.
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
Hamish Sewell
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-10-07
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
Copyright University of Technology, Sydney
application/msword
audio/mpeg
English
Culgoa - Balonne: Oral History of Pat Cross
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/6272' target='_blank'>Floods</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85145985' target='_blank'>Weirs</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/4315' target='_blank'>Water conservation</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/4510' target='_blank'>Cotton</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85145461' target='_blank'>Water--Law and legislation</a>
An interview with Pat Cross.
Pat Cross and her husband, George, are the owners of the Mehi Station, a 16,000 acre property previously owned by George Hatfield. They have lived on the station since 1952 and in the interview Pat revisits her experiences of the lake with her children and views some old photos that shed some light on the history of the region. Pat also advises of the changes in the water quality in the Narran River, particularly after the introduction of cotton farming, and its impacts water flows.
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
Hamish Sewell
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-10-12
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
Copyright University of Technology, Sydney
application/msword
audio/mpeg
English
Culgoa - Balonne: Oral History of Pat Stephens
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048775' target='_blank'>Fishes--Identification</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/1353' target='_blank'>Crustaceans</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/6272' target='_blank'>Floods</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/3313' target='_blank'>Dams</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/973' target='_blank'>Water quality</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/4510' target='_blank'>Cotton</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh96006425' target='_blank'>Introduced fishes</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/3312' target='_blank'>Environmental flows</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/3333' target='_blank'>Grazing</a>
An interview with Pat Stephens, a local butcher.
Born in 1933, Pat talks about fishing in the Dirranbandi area and the changes he has noticed over the last 60 years. Having fished since he was a boy, the biggest changes have been a reduction in the smaller, regular floods since E.J. Beardmore Dam was built. These small floods used to wet a large area of the country, which were essential for grazing purposes. He notes the effect of the dam on river flow, and how the water does not clear up like it used to.
He also talks about: the impact of European Carp on fish populations over the last 30 years; a flood in the 1890s; floodplains and the effect of river water levels on trees; fishing techniques, such as lures; and the decline in Crayfish since bore drains were removed.
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-10-10
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
Copyright University of Technology, Sydney
application/msword
audio/mpeg
English
Culgoa River, QLD
Balonne River, QLD
Dirranbandi, QLD
Bokhara RIver, NSW
Narran River, NSW/QLD
St George, QLD
Condamine River, QLD
Cawildi, QLD
Killarney, QLD
Surat, QLD
Mitchell, QLD
Roma, QLD
Culgoa - Balonne: Oral History of Ned and Lynette Underwood
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048775' target='_blank'>Fishes--Identification</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/1353' target='_blank'>Crustaceans</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/9862' target='_blank'>Native animals</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85102861' target='_blank'>Plants--Identification</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85145985' target='_blank'>Weirs</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/3313' target='_blank'>Dams</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/6272' target='_blank'>Floods</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/973' target='_blank'>Water quality</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/266' target='_blank'>Aboriginal history</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/4120' target='_blank'>Local history</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/1267' target='_blank'>Livestock</a>
An interview in two parts with Ned and Lynette Underwood.
Born in 1932, Ned grew up as a child on the property Warroo, a sheep and cattle station on the banks of the Balonne, owned by his grandfather since 1890.
In the interview, Ned describes how the river was a significant part of his life growing up - like a playground, swimming and fishing. He recalls what the river was like prior to the E.J. Beardmore Dam being built downstream and how it increased the river level along much of their property; the turbidity of the river; and the history of the station as a site of importance for the Aboriginal peoples of the region - recalling stories of tribal warfare, and several locations with remains of shell middens.
Ned has kept records of flood locations and heights, which have been helpful in predicting how flood waters might affect the local area. He also discusses 'gilgais' - an Aboriginal word for small water hole or lake, thought to be formed in vertisols.
Mention of Warroo Station as a sacred Aboriginal site.
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
Hamish Sewell
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-10-09
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
Copyright University of Technology, Sydney
application/msword
audio/mpeg
image/tiff
English
Upper Condamine: Oral History of Ray and Olive Shooter
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2007102025' target='_blank'>Birds--Identification</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2010110819' target='_blank'>Reptiles--Identification</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85102861' target='_blank'>Plants--Identification</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048775' target='_blank'>Fishes--Identification</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/1353' target='_blank'>Crustaceans</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85145461' target='_blank'>Water--Law and legislation</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/839' target='_blank'>Tools</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85092131' target='_blank'>No-tillage</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/6272' target='_blank'>Floods</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh96006425' target='_blank'>Introduced fishes</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048782' target='_blank'>Fishes--Migration</a>
An interview with Olive and Ray Shooter.
The Shooters speak of their experience living next to Dalrymple Creek, a tributary of the Condamine. Ray talks about the changes he has observed in the creek over almost 80 years, its transformation, and the changing patterns of fish migration and sizes. The Shooters reflect fondly on their continuing recreational use of the creek.
Mention of the River Improvement Trust and The Tulgai Skull documentary made in the 1960s, investigating the history of the Indigenous peoples in the region.
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
Hamish Sewell
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-09-27
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
Copyright University of Technology, Sydney
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audio/mpeg
image/tiff
English