Upper Murrumbidgee: Oral History of Darren Rosso
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/2981' target='_blank'>Bushfires</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2008120678' target='_blank'>Fishing--Australia</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048646' target='_blank'>Fish populations</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048655' target='_blank'>Fish stocking </a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048636' target='_blank'>Fish kills</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048621' target='_blank'>Fishes--Breeding</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85114241' target='_blank'>River engineering</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2001000600' target='_blank'>Stream restoration</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048629' target='_blank'>Fish habitat improvement</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/973' target='_blank'>Water quality</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh87004578' target='_blank'>Restoration ecology</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048745' target='_blank'>Fishes--Diseases</a>
An interview with Darren Rosso in three parts.
Darren has worked in the Murrumbidgee Corridor since 1988.He talks about the Murrumbidgee Rivers historical fame as a Trout Cod fishery and discusses the practice of restocking fish. He describes the decline of Trout populations, recalling a large die-off event along the Murrumbidgee, Lower Cotter and Paddy's Rivers in 1998. He also talks about Trout Cod breeding in marginal conditions.
He discusses his efforts to restore and sustain river habitats and ecosystems with the ACT Parks and Conservation Service, and National Heritage Trust (NHT). Initiatives to restore resilience to the river system included the Million Trees Program, Willow poisoning, and the construction of groynes, rock deflectors and debris clusters.
Darren also discusses the 2003 Canberra Fires, variance in water quality and some of the differences between managing mountain stream systems and flood plain systems.
Mention of Atlantic Salmon, Galaxids, Plague minnows (Gambusia holbrooki)
Mention of Fishing Act 2000 (ACT), Australian Capital Territory Parks and Conservation Service, National Heritage Trust (NHT)
Mention of Pobblebonks (Eastern Banjo Frog), Alpine Litoria lesueuri Rocky River Frogs, broad-palmed frog (Litoria latopalmata), Platypus, EHN Virus, simazine (chemical), Groynes, rock deflectors, electro fishing, Willow, phragmities, blackberries, briars, casuarinas, manna gum, cumbungi, typha, blackwoord, Red Stem Wattle, Muellerina bidwillii, Microcystis and anabaena, and spirogyra algae
ACT NPWS officer. Known for taking his Kayak and little else to do site work on the Upper Bidgee - lives off the land during such trips. Rec fisher, but with a lot of cross over into his work along the river.
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-10-06
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
Copyright University of Technology, Sydney
application/msword
audio/mpeg
English
Upper Murrumbidgee: Oral History of Bryan Pratt
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048646' target='_blank'>Fish populations</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048782' target='_blank'>Fishes--Migration</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048621' target='_blank'>Fishes--Breeding</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048809' target='_blank'>Fishes--Speciation</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048655' target='_blank'>Fish stocking</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048636' target='_blank'>Fish kills</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048745' target='_blank'>Fishes--Diseases</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh93005906' target='_blank'>Lure fishing</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85011046' target='_blank'>Bait fishing</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2008120678' target='_blank'>Fishing--Australia</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/1455' target='_blank'>Fishing industry</a>
An interview in four parts with Bryan Pratt.
Brian came to the Murrumbidgee in 1965. He talks about seasonal variations in the prevalence of fish, and their breeding and migration habits. He remarks on regional variations within species and cross-breeding (e.g. how the Clarence River Cod differs from the "Fitzroy Cod"). He discusses the annual mass death of Silver Perch and Murray Cod, speculating that its cause is a pathogenic. He also speaks about population decline, and weighing the social and ecological consequences of translocating and re-stocking fish. He offers a strong endorsement of the Native Fish Strategy and talks about his efforts to advocate for native fish in the media.
He shares his knowledge of lures; their colour, size and patterning, as well as other ways that their design replicates nature. He also talks about bait; what it's used for, where it comes from, and how it's collected.
Mention of Fitzroy Cod, Brook Trout, Atlantic Salmon, Nile Perch, Barrumundi, Midget Barrumundi, mussels, scrub worms, bardy grub, witchetty grub, wood grub (variant?), yabby, squid, pilchards, prawn, beach worms, abalone, EHN Virus, pathogens, Lernaea (parasite)
Current owner of a fishing and tackle shop in Belconnen. But this is only a retirement enterprise. He started life as a scientist, but was lured to the public service firstly by Gough Whitlam. When the Whitlam government fell- he went to work for the territories conservation department and so was an early cross over of science and bureaucrat. But all the time he was an avid recreational fisherman. He has been a long time advocate of building bridges between science and recreational fishing and strongly believes that mass communication is the way to go. He has written for popular Rec fishing magazines and newspapers for decades. He also has a regular spot on radio. He sees the tackle shop as a type of liminal space where he can translate science for fishers and gather information and knowledge from fishers for science. I think that Bryan's interview has lots of gems - but the section that I particularly liked was when he and I went over to the lures and he talked to me about how they work; their design and the ways that they replicate nature. He gives very strong endorsements of the Native Fish Strategy.
Heather Goodall
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-10-06
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
Copyright University of Technology, Sydney
application/msword
audio/mpeg
English
Upper Murrumbidgee: Oral History of Gay and Dick Lawler
<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/sh87004578' target='_blank'>Restoration ecology</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/973' target='_blank'>Water quality</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2003004809' target='_blank'>Riparian restoration</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85114241' target='_blank'>River engineering</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048646' target='_blank'>Fish populations</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2008120678' target='_blank'>Fishing--Australia</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2001000600' target='_blank'>Stream restoration</a>
An interview in five parts with Gay and Dick Lawler.
Gay and Dick talk about the arrival of Carp and St John's Wort following a big flood in 1991. They stopped fishing soon afterward. They discuss their efforts to reintroduce native plants, and their involvement in replanting schemes organised by the Murrumbidgee Demonstration Reach and LandCare. They also talk about fish populations, local wildlife, water turbidity, and man made changes to water flows and the River's character. They briefly discuss fishing canoeing, camping and their experience with theft.
Mention of Black Snakes, Brown Snakes, Platypus, Water Dragons, Turtles, White Sea Eagle, Cormorants, Wombats, Echidna, Rosenberg's Monitor/Goanna (Varanus rosenbergi), Eastern Water Dragons
Also mentions St John's Wort, Vipers bugloss ("Salvation Jane") , Hoarhound, Hemlock, African Love Grass, Eucalyptus, Manna Gums,
Mention of Upper Murrumbidgee Demonstration Reach, LandCare, Snowy Mountain Scheme
Younger son of one of the early Europeans in the area. Negotiated 100 acres on the river from the family and restored a stone shepherds outbuilding in the 1980s which he uses regularly with his wife Gay.
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
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
Upper Murrumbidgee: Oral History of Vern Drew
No speech was recorded during this interview. The recording is a sample of ambient noise (mainly birdsong) in Michelago (NSW).
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-10-06
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
Copyright University of Technology, Sydney
audio/mpeg
English
Upper Murrumbidgee: Oral History of Adrian Brown
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/1511' target='_blank'>Places of significance</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/581' target='_blank'>Community cooperation</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/280' target='_blank'>Land custodianship</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/255' target='_blank'>Aboriginal culture</a>
<a href='http://indigenous.sl.nsw.gov.au/communities/wiradjuri-0' target='_blank'>Wiradjuri people</a>
<a href='http://indigenous.sl.nsw.gov.au/communities/Walgalu' target='_blank'>Walgalu / Walgal people</a>
<a href='http://indigenous.sl.nsw.gov.au/communities/ngarigu#' target='_blank'>Ngarigo / Ngarigu people</a>
<a href='http://indigenous.sl.nsw.gov.au/communities/Ngunawal' target='_blank'>Ngunawal / Ngunnawal people
</a>
<a href='http://archives.samuseum.sa.gov.au/tindaletribes/kurnai.htm' target='_blank'>Kurnai / Gunai people</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/2955' target='_blank'>Burial sites</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/6865' target='_blank'>Sacred sites</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2003006652' target='_blank'>Traditional ecological knowledge</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/15435' target='_blank'>Connection to Country</a>
An interview in five parts with Adrian Brown.
Adrian talks about growing up along the River (around Queanbeyan River, Jumping Creek, and Wanna Wanna Creek) and the way that he and his brother learnt the land by walking it and fishing the river with their Dad. He talks about historical sites and significant sites; expressing continuity with Country; making Coolamons; the significance of Country; traditional ceremony; initiation rites; right of passage; the duty of care for different animals as part of an interconnected environment; and recognising law and responsibility for Country. He also discusses the interaction and movements of peoples along the catchment (relaying the history of the Ngunawal and their responsibility to the Murrumbidgee corridor and their relation to coastal peoples); trading; and shared vocabulary across language groups from the top of the Murrumbidgee to Lakes Entrance.
Adrian covers the effects of housing developments on cultural practice; weeds; variance in fish population according to river flow; lighting fires; cultural burns; site management; discrimination; ignorance; and work with the ACT government to promote the recognition and understanding of Indigenous Australian interests.
Adrian also shares his experience as an Aboriginal Liaison Officer with the ACT National Parks and Wildlife Service and his sense of pride and belonging. He talks about efforts to refocus the connection to Country of Indigenous Australians employed as rangers, and to promote a cultural mindfulness among them. He speculates how Indigenous people could again be welcomed by the Ngunawal as National Parks officers - all learning and walking the land together.
Adrian discusses how fish travel up the river when it floods; mixing traditional and modern fishing methods; sources of sediment (sand from Tharwa, dirt from Cooma, Bredbo and Numeralla Rivers); clay baking fish; mussels (saltwater and freshwater); abalone; native plants.
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-10-05
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
Copyright University of Technology, Sydney
application/msword
audio/mpeg
English
Upper Murrumbidgee River
The data from this study region includes 5 oral histories (audio as mp3s, and transcripts) and a georeferenced hand-drawn map of the area.
The Upper Murrumbidgee meanders through the Snowy Mountains in south‐eastern New South Wales, snaking its way south, then turning north before dropping into the lowland and heading west to join the Murray downstream of Swan Hill. The Upper ‘Bidgee floodplain is only a couple of hundred metres wide, a stark contrast to the kilometres‐wide floodplains in other parts of the Murray‐Darling Basin. When the floods come, they come up quickly and roar through the narrow valleys.
Since Europeans arrived the health of the river and its fish has been shaped by the people who came to live there and the industries that developed. Mining and grazing, and the development of Canberra brought new people with new needs. Once, river levels would rise with the spring snow melt before falling slowly over the summer. Today the snow melt is collected in Tantangara Dam before being returned to the ‘Bidgee below Burrinjuck Dam. The river between these dams is a shadow of its former self.
These are the traditional lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngarigo peoples. They fished the river and surrounding waterways and the seasonal rise and fall of the water guided their travels and featured in their stories.
(Source: Frawley, J., Nichols, S., Goodall, H. and Baker, E. 2011. Upper Murrumbidgee: 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
Frawley, J., Nichols, S., Goodall, H. and Baker, E. (2011). Upper Murrumbidgee: 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/0004/411772/Upper-Mbidgee_FINAL-Jan2013-for-web.pdf">View or download from publisher...</a>
<a href="http://geonode.research.uts.edu.au/layers/geonode%3Afrawley2012page140">http://geonode.research.uts.edu.au/layers/geonode%3Afrawley2012page140</a>
Eng
Dataset
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POLYGON((148.2 -36.299999999099484,148.2 -34.749999999115985,149.50000000000003 -34.749999999115985,149.50000000000003 -36.299999999099484,148.2 -36.299999999099484))