Mainstem Murray River
The data from this study region includes 12 oral histories (audio as mp3s, and transcripts) and 4 image galleries, as well as a georeferenced hand-drawn map of the area.
The Murray River is the boundary between NSW and Victoria. The river both defines boundaries and unites them with the waters that sustain townships, irrigation and the floodplain forests, including the 70,000ha of the iconic Barmah and Millewa Forest. The river and its floodplain are the traditional lands of the Yorta Yorta and Bangerang people. The Murray is a very different river to the one the Yorta Yorta and Bangerang peoples once knew and fished.
Today, flows in the river are controlled by Hume Dam – the first of 15 structures on the main channel. By the time it reaches Corowa, the Murray has changed from a small clear stream to a fast flowing river, its waters tea brown. Near Yarrawonga the Murray enters Lake Mulwala, where the skeletons of old drowned red gums are a stark memorial to the way the river’s changed.
(Source: Frawley, J., Nichols, S., Goodall, H. and Baker, E. 2011. Murray: Talking fish, making connections with the rivers of the Murray‐Darling Basin. Murray‐Darling Basin Authority, Canberra.)
<span>Map image attribution: Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Talking Fish Project </span><a href="http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/442140/FINAL-Talking-Fish-booklet-compilation-Jan-2013_for-web.pdf">see details...</a>
2015-06-10
<a href="http://geonode.research.uts.edu.au/layers/geonode%3Afrawley2012page080">http://geonode.research.uts.edu.au/layers/geonode%3Afrawley2012page080</a>
Frawley, J., Nichols, S., Goodall, H. and Baker, E. (2011). Murray: Talking fish, making connections with the rivers of the Murray‐Darling Basin. Murray‐Darling Basin Authority, Canberra. <a href="http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/411756/Murray_FINAL_Jan-2013-for-web.pdf">View or download from publisher...</a>
eng
Dataset
1671e122-0ff1-11e5-8eb9-005056a4d06a
POLYGON((144.3 -36.39999999909851,144.3 -35.39999999910874,146.8 -35.39999999910874,146.8 -36.39999999909851,144.3 -36.39999999909851))
Murray: Oral History of Wally Cooper and Pat Larkin
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2003006652' target='_blank'>Traditional ecological knowledge</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh96006425' target='_blank'>Introduced fishes</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/6272' target='_blank'>Floods</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2008120678' target='_blank'>Fishing--Australia</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/973' target='_blank'>Water quality</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh95001501' target='_blank'>Traditional fishing</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85145985' target='_blank'>Weirs</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh98006030' target='_blank'>Snags (Forestry)</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/15435' target='_blank'>Connection to Country</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/5361' target='_blank'>Fishing nets</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85128574' target='_blank'>Riverflow</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/255' target='_blank'>Aboriginal culture</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/4510' target='_blank'>Cotton</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85135735' target='_blank'>Tobacco industry</a>
An interview in five parts with Wally Cooper, a Moitheriban man, and Pat Larkin.
Wally talks about traditional fishing, fishing women, tickling fish, fishing with spears, hand lines, baiting, canoe fishing and diving for Crayfish. He also mentions cross lining and the use of drum nets in floodwaters. He marvels at the dexterity and play habits of water rats, and reflects on their scarcity. He discusses their history of being hunted, skinned, exported, and in some cases, eaten; He says it is customary that only male elders eat water rats and use their skins (men's-business).
Of the river, Wally and Pat discuss sustainable fishing practices, and talk at length about the Basin's wider management. They consider local agriculture, irrigation, habitat management, water allocation, floods, droughts, pests, weeds, silviculture, as well as the rivers' recreational and fish industries.
Wally and Pat refer to a chemical era, when DDT and Dieldrin were used as a pesticide on vinyards and Tobacco crops along the River. They talk about the chemicals, their effects on native fish, the contamination of farmland, and the ecological footprint of Tobacco growing itself.
Mention of Moira Forest, King River, Ovens River, Glenrowan, Yielima Station, Barmah Forest, Yarrawonga, Echuca, Nathalia, Barmah Lake, Wodonga, Oxley, Docker, Wangaratta, Fifteen Mile Creek, Mokoan, Hume Weir, Mulwala Weir, Namoi River, Lake Cargelligo, Broken River, Rose River, Lake Buffalo, Goulbourn River, Upper Murrumbidgee River, Warby Ranges, Swan Hill, Moira Station, LaTrobe Valley, Charlton.
Mentioned: silver bream, mountain galaxias, cormorant, worms, Bardi Grubs, platypus, water rat, white mussel, black mussel, swan, mice, tiger snakes, frog, foxes, cats, pigs, rabbits.
Plant life mentioned: Red gum, willows, bottlebrush. blackboys, tobacco, cotton, St. John's Wort, blackberries, grey box, kabungi, water hyacinths, blue gum.
Also mentioned: Flemington; Barmah Muster; River Improvement Trust; Department of Sustainability and Environment; Rex Hunt; Erni Briggs; Charlie Carp; the huge influx of silver perch in either 1954 or 1957; the changing structure of the river influenced by the removal of snags and willows.
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-11-23
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
Copyright University of Technology, Sydney
application/msword
audio/mpeg
image/jpeg
English
Murray: Oral History of Graham Ellis, Ken Strachan, and Pete Tidd
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048775' target='_blank'>Fishes--Identification</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/264' target='_blank'>Communities</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/3312' target='_blank'>Environmental flows</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/6272' target='_blank'>Floods</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048655' target='_blank'>Fish stocking</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2002006397' target='_blank'>Licenses</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh93005906' target='_blank'>Lure fishing</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048629' target='_blank'>Fish habitat improvement</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85074038.html' target='_blank'>Water temperature</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/2645' target='_blank'>Boats</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/1463' target='_blank'>Water sports</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/5397' target='_blank'>Erosion</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/10453' target='_blank'>Fieldwork</a>
An interview in three parts with Graham Ellis, Ken Strachan, and Peter Tidd.
Graham, Ken and Peter are members of the Corowa Angling Club, and have lived in the Corowa area since the 1970s. Graham has worked as a water bailiff, a law enforcement officer responsible for the policing of bodies of water. They are concerned about restricted access to the river as time goes on.
The group talk about: Corugan Pumps (Hans’ Creek), an anabranch of the Murray River; changes in the Murray’s course as a result of floods, early 1980s; fishing at Jerilderie and Deniliquin; increases in Yellowbelly species since restocking; decline in Redfin species since 1980s; club travels; fishing licences; lure fishing; changes in fishing equipment; snags and fish habitat; types of bait; river health; collecting data for Arthur Rylah Institute; restocking activities, since 1988; changes in fishing culture, ‘catch and release’; changes in vegetation from boating activities; use of pylons and stones to stop river bank erosion; changes in width and depth of the river; mammals, birds, reptiles, snakes; blue-green algae and pollution; temperature differences.
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-11-25
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
Copyright University of Technology, Sydney
application/msword
audio/mpeg
image/jpeg
English
Murray: Images from interview with Graham Ellis, Ken Strachan, and Pete Tidd
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh93005906' target='_blank'>Lure fishing</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85136273' target='_blank'>Tournament fishing</a>
Images were sourced by the Talking Fish project team from Graham Ellis, Ken Strachan, and Pete Tidd on the day of oral history interview.
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-11-25
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
All rights reserved
image/jpeg
Murray: Oral History of John Douglas
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/5257' target='_blank'>Wetlands</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048621' target='_blank'>Fishes--Breeding</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/1455' target='_blank'>Fisheries</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/264' target='_blank'>Communities</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/10453' target='_blank'>Fieldwork</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/3312' target='_blank'>Environmental flows</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85074038.html' target='_blank'>Water temperature</a>
An interview in five parts with John Douglas. Fern Hames is also present at the interview.
Born in 1960, John grew up in Melbourne, visiting with extended family around the Mildura area. He worked at Snobs Creek as a technician, becoming an expert in breeding Murray Cod. When the research side of Snobs Creek was relocated he took a job with Fisheries Department of Primary Industries to stay in the Alexandra area. He discusses in depth cultural changes in fishing and recreational activities from his perspective as a field naturalist.
John talks about: memories growing up fishing; fishing techniques; changes in fish species around Myall and Mildura; fishing techniques; types of bait; changes in the Murray’s flows and depths; changes in Murray Cod numbers; his work with Fisheries; environmental flows; de-snagging at Hume; anabranches between Hume and Mulwala; changes in water temperature; bush tucker. Mention of Bardi grub, turtle, platypus.
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-11-22
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
Copyright University of Technology, Sydney
application/msword
audio/mpeg
image/jpeg
English
Murray: Oral History of the Green family
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048775' target='_blank'>Fishes--Identification</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/665' target='_blank'>Family life</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/4120' target='_blank'>Local history</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/830' target='_blank'>Pesticides</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh87001020' target='_blank'>Acid sulfate soils</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/3927' target='_blank'>Lagoons</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85135735' target='_blank'>Tobacco industry</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/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/sh85045491' target='_blank'>Eucalyptus camaldulensis</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/973' target='_blank'>Water quality</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/255' target='_blank'>Aboriginal culture</a>
An interview in six parts with the Green family.
The Green family grew up at 'Chinaman's Lagoon', in one of the original homesteads in the district. The lagoon and acreage became their backyard, and is were they spent all their holidays and afternoons after school.
The Green family talk about: local history; stories of people that lived in the Red Gum forests; Chinese market gardens; ecological changes in Chinaman’s Lagoon (now known as Dairy Lagoon); the impact of European Carp on vegetation, 1970s; changes in water clarity and levels in the lagoon as a result of canal construction; flood events; Dartmouth Dam; an Aboriginal canoe tree; use of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) on tobacco plantations in the area, 1950s; fish with spinal deformities; acid sulphate; fishing techniques.
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-11-26
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
Copyright University of Technology, Sydney
application/msword
audio/mpeg
image/jpeg
English
Murray: Images from interview with the Green Family
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/3927' target='_blank'>Lagoons</a>
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-11-26
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
Copyright University of Technology, Sydney
image/jpeg
The Green family grew up at 'Chinaman's Lagoon', in one of the original homesteads in the district. The lagoon and acreage became their backyard, and is were they spent all their holidays and afternoons after school.
Murray: Oral History of Richard Kennedy
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048775' target='_blank'>Fishes--Identification</a>
<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://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85016274' target='_blank'>Brackish waters</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85049162' target='_blank'>Floodplain ecology</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/4006' target='_blank'>Colonisation</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85033302' target='_blank'>Cotton</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/15435' target='_blank'>Connection to Country</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/357' target='_blank'>Aboriginal technologies</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2003006652' target='_blank'>Traditional ecological knowledge</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/4605' target='_blank'>Rice</a>
<a href='http://archives.samuseum.sa.gov.au/tindaletribes/ngemba.htm' target='_blank'>Ngiyampaa / Ngemba people</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh87004578' target='_blank'>Restoration ecology</a>
Richard Kennedy is an Aboriginal man residing in Wodonga, Victoria. Born in 1959, Richard grew up on the Lachlan River in central New South Wales with his family and currently works with the Catchment Management Authority (CMA) in the Wodonga area.
In the interview, Richard discusses his life growing up around the river with his family and how it was a central part of his life. He tells of his cultural connection with the land and the need to maintain and pass on that connection and knowledge; something that is being done through his CMA work with Aboriginal men. He says that Aboriginal people are losing their connections to Country and culture where colonisation played a pivotal role. He notes that his situation is not helped by the declining health of the land and rivers that he says have been affected by introduced fish and plant species such as the European carp and willow trees.
Richard also speaks extensively about floods and how withholding the water impacts on the nature of the land as a floodplain; the types of fish, animals and plant life that are present; and his work in conservation, largely influenced by the sustainable practices embedded within his Aboriginal culture.
Richard also mentions also where he has found Trout Cod: Murrumbidgee, Murray River, Yarrawonga, Old Man Creek, Hay.
Also mentioned: Worms, Rabbits, Fish, Kangaroos, Emus. Possums. Antechinuses. Barking owl, Sugar Gliders. Platypus. Willows. Blackberry. Osage Orange. Briar Rose. Patterson’s Curse. Scotch Thistle.
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-11-15
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
Copyright University of Technology, Sydney
application/msword
audio/mpeg
English
Murray: Oral History of Dennis Lean
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048775' target='_blank'>Fishes--Identification</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/3927' target='_blank'>Lagoons</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/9962' target='_blank'>Billabongs</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85102861' target='_blank'>Plants--Identification</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/6010' target='_blank'>Family histories</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/5531' target='_blank'>Tourism</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/2645' target='_blank'>Boats</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85145985' target='_blank'>Weirs</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048782' target='_blank'>Fishes--Migration</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/3312' target='_blank'>Environmental flows</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/8796' target='_blank'>Siltation</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh96006425' target='_blank'>Introduced fishes</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048745' target='_blank'>Fishes--Diseases</a>
An interview in five parts with Dennis Lean.
Born in 1943, Dennis Lean is a third generation shop owner in Yarrawonga. His grandfather came to the area in 1917 and opened a barber shop. The shop was predominantly for hairdressing, but Dennis's father started selling fishing tackle and other items. Dennis expanded this aspect of the business, both as a result of his own interest in recreational fishing, and due to the increase in fishing related tourism. Dennis was also president of the Cobram Fowl and Game Club.
Dennis talks about: learning to fish on Lake Mulwala; fishing methods; different types of boats; draining of the lake for weir maintenance; movement of Murray Cod and Yellowbelly; fish preservation; relationship between Ovens River, Murray River, and Hume Weir; siltation in the Ovens River; displacement of Catfish by European Carp; a virus carried by European Carp; important differences between silver and black species of Willow tree; impact of Willow removal on platypus.
Other fish mentioned: 'silver bream' (species unspecified).
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-11-25
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
Copyright University of Technology, Sydney
application/msword
audio/mpeg
image/jpeg
English
Murray: Oral History of Merrilyn Strachan and Kelli Cunningham
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048775' target='_blank'>Fishes--Identification</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85136273' target='_blank'>Tournament fishing</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/973' target='_blank'>Water quality</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85074038.html' target='_blank'>Water temperature</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/5397' target='_blank'>Erosion</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048655' target='_blank'>Fish stocking</a>
An interview with Merrylin Strachan and Kelli Cunningham.
Merrylin and Kelli are members of the Corowa Angling Club, Merrylin a champion women's fisher. Kelli is manager of the Corowa Motor Inn and grew up fishing around the Menindee Lakes. They meet with a group of women in Pomona every year for a week long fishing trip.
Merrylin and Kelli talk about: fishing places and trips; fishing and baiting techniques; mammals, snakes, lizards, birds; changes in water quality and temperature; river bank erosion; restocking activities (fundraising).
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-11-25
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
Copyright University of Technology, Sydney
application/msword
audio/mpeg
image/jpeg
English