Paroo: Images from interview with Paul Wheeler
An informal interview with Paul Wheeler. No audio or transcript of oral history was deposited by researchers. Images taken on the day by the Talking Fish project team.
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
Hamish Sewell
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-10-16
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
Copyright University of Technology, Sydney
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Paroo: Images from interview with Gordon Warner
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/4120' target='_blank'>Local history</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/6010' target='_blank'>Family histories</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/6272' target='_blank'>Floods</a>
Historical images of the Warner family. Gordon Warner has spent most of his life in the Eulo district, and thirty years on a cattle property at Wandilla on the eastern side of the Paroo River. The district is sheep and cattle country; the Paroo used as a water source for stock.
Images were sourced by the Talking Fish project team from Gordon Warner on the day of his oral history interview.
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
Hamish Sewell
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-10-16
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
All rights reserved
image/tiff
Paroo: Oral History of Gordon Warner
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048775' target='_blank'>Fishes--Identification</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85102861' target='_blank'>Plants--Identification</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2007102025' target='_blank'>Birds--Identification</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/832' target='_blank'>Irrigation</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/127' target='_blank'>Agricultural land</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/8796' target='_blank'>Siltation</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/5150' target='_blank'>Physical characteristics (Animals)</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh96006425' target='_blank'>Introduced fishes</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh90001846' target='_blank'>Artesian basins--Australia</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/255' target='_blank'>Aboriginal peoples</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/4120' target='_blank'>Local history</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/5367' target='_blank'>Dust storms</a>
<a href='http://dharmae.research.uts.edu.au/items/show/403' target='_blank'>Blackwater</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/6272' target='_blank'>Floods</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/3312' target='_blank'>Environmental flows</a>
An interview in two parts with Gordon Warner.
Gordon has spent most of his life in the Eulo district, and thirty years on a cattle property at Wandilla on the eastern side of the Paroo River. The district is sheep and cattle country; the Paroo used as a water source for stock. He comments on the health of the river in comparison with Murray Darling rivers used for irrigation.
Gordon talks about: Yowah country; overstocking and changes in vegetation and siltation as a result of smaller land settlement blocks; recreational fishing methods and popular water holes for Murray cod; different types of Yellowbelly species in the Murray Darling compared to Balloo; siting carp in the late 1970s, early 1980s; Eulo spring systems; interconnection between Artesian Basin and springs (Stratton Basin controversy); GABSKI Scheme and government subsidies for Artesian bore closures; Aboriginal peoples in the district; history of local land owners; dust storms from western New South Wales; changes in water bird life and a noticeable decline in ducks; black floods; Eulo in the 1930s and its highest population in its opal mining days, early 1900s; Kopai clay mineral; floods and the pattern of water flow from Warrego.
Mention of: Mulga weed, Lapunyah; water birds; 'moon fish'.
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
Hamish Sewell
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-10-16
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
Copyright University of Technology, Sydney
application/msword
audio/mpeg
English
Paroo: Oral History of Colin Tud Murphy
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/6272' target='_blank'>Floods</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85039663' target='_blank'>Droughts</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/8797' target='_blank'>Silt</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/9669' target='_blank'>Hunting</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/973' target='_blank'>Water quality</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/2381' target='_blank'>Social customs</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/16447' target='_blank'>Indigenous knowledge</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/4006' target='_blank'>Colonisation</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/16304' target='_blank'>Stock and station agents</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2008120678' target='_blank'>Fishing--Australia</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/266' target='_blank'>Aboriginal history</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/255' target='_blank'>Aboriginal customs</a>
Colin Tud Murphy is an Indigenous man who grew up on Tilbaroo Station in the Paroo region where he credits his family, particularly his grandfather, for teaching him about fishing and droving.
In the interview Tud describes the changes he has noticed in the Paroo River, mentioning that the river itself has not changed much, while the vegetation has. In spite of this, Tud remains rather upbeat about the condition of the river adding that silting is a natural and inevitable process. Tud also tells of his culture including the hunting techniques used to lure and catch native Australian animals and the friendships between the Aboriginal Nations of the Paroo and the Warrego Rivers.
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-10-20
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
Copyright University of Technology, Sydney
application/msword
audio/mpeg
English
Paroo: Oral History of Lorna McNiven
<a href='http://indigenous.sl.nsw.gov.au/communities/badjiri' target='_blank'> Badjiri / Budjari / Badyidi people
</a>
<a href='http://indigenous.sl.nsw.gov.au/communities/muruwari' target='_blank'>Muruwari / Murrawarri people
</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/6272' target='_blank'>Floods</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/8797' target='_blank'>Silt</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/4676' target='_blank'>Cultural heritage</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/15435' target='_blank'>Connection to Country</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048782' target='_blank'>Fishes--Migration</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/3693' target='_blank'>Water pollution</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2008120678' target='_blank'>Fishing--Australia</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85145985' target='_blank'>Weirs</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/16447' target='_blank'>Indigenous knowledge</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/3654' target='_blank'>Storytelling</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/260' target='_blank'>Aboriginal spirituality</a>
Lorna McNiven is an Indigenous woman who was born in Eulo in south-western Queensland. Her family, known as river people, are the Budjari and Murrawarri peoples. Lorna discusses her life along the Paroo River and the great source of life, leisure and belonging it brings - that cements her spiritual and cultural connection with the land. She states that the Paroo was a central to her and people's lives.
Lorna recollects the condition of the Paroo from her childhood, and again upon her return after her absence of a few decades. She discusses the changes in the surrounding environment, the aquatic life and her yearning and love for Country.
Mentioned: Yapunyah trees, swans, swan eggs, ducks, 'bream', crayfish: 'boogalie', cattle/livestock
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-10-17
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
Paroo: Oral History of Douglas MacGregor
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/7885' target='_blank'>Soldier settlement</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048775' target='_blank'>Fishes--Identification</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/5366' target='_blank'>Droughts</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/6272' target='_blank'>Floods</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/2981' target='_blank'>Bushfires</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/8796' target='_blank'>Siltation</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/3333' target='_blank'>Grazing</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/3312' target='_blank'>Environmental flows</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh96006425' target='_blank'>Introduced fishes</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/255' target='_blank'>Aboriginal culture</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2009123209' target='_blank'>Depressions--1929--Australia</a>
An interview with Douglas (Dougie) MacGregor, who has lived in Cunnamulla for over eighty years. Dougie’s father fought in World Wars I and II. He bought his father’s town carrying business as a young man, and shares extensive knowledge of road and river systems in the Paroo area.
Dougie talks about: the effects of drought and economic depression on communities; government property ballots,1951; soldier settlements; cycles of drought, floods, and bushfires; silt build up in water holes from grazier activities, changing river and creek flows; relationship between Warrego and Paroo; periods when water ran from Paroo into the Darling (1950, 1956); Aboriginal fishing methods, catching ‘sleepy cod’; siting carp in river branches connected to the Murray; gelignite used to erect power lines throughout Paroo. Drought events discussed: 1930, ending 1947, 1957. Flood events: 1942, 1947, 1950, 1956.
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
Hamish Sewell
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-10-14
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
Paroo: Images from interview with Beryl and Colin Leigo
<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/665' target='_blank'>Family life</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/1267' target='_blank'>Livestock</a>
A selection of historical images from the family archive of Colin and Beryl Leigo, from 1926-1985. They show the Paroo River and Willara during flood periods 1926, 1932, 1942, and 1949; flooded shearing sheds; getting food supplies; boating sheep across the river for shearing.
Images were sourced by the Talking Fish project team from Colin and Beryl Leigo on the day of their oral history interview.
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-10-19
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
All rights reserved
image/tiff
Paroo: Oral History of Beryl and Colin Leigo
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048775' target='_blank'>Fishes--Identification</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2007102025' target='_blank'>Birds--Identification</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/665' target='_blank'>Family life</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/264' target='_blank'>Communities</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/1480' target='_blank'>Swimming</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://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh96006425' target='_blank'>Introduced fishes</a>
An interview in two parts with Colin and Beryl Leigo.
Colin and Beryl live on the Mooreland Downs sheep property, half way between Wanaaring and Hungerford, west of the Paroo River.
Colin talks about: family history at Moorland Downs; land ballots of the 1920s; growing up on the river picnicing, swimming, fishing, and yabbying with friends and family; variety of floods experienced; drinking water quality; water colours (milky, red, black); water and other bird species; changes in vegetation; recreational fishing methods; records of major flood events since 1941; first siting of European Carp in 1970s (after Paroo connected with Darling in 1974 flood).
Beryl talks about Paroo as a driving force, connecting communities; and her ‘love-hate relationship’ with the river.
Also mentioned are: flood events 1950s, 1970s, 1990s, 2010; dry periods 1958, 1960s, 1965, 2002, 2003.
Caiwarro, Cuttaburra, Eulo, Hungaton, Yandabulla, Wilcannia – mentioned in the context of flood patterns.
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
Hamish Sewell
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-10-19
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
Copyright University of Technology, Sydney
application/msword
audio/mpeg
image/tiff
English
Paroo: Images from interview with Ron Heinemann and Ron Gardiner
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/4120' target='_blank'>Local history</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/6010' target='_blank'>Family histories</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/6272' target='_blank'>Floods</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/1267' target='_blank'>Livestock</a>
Historical images of the Heinemann family. Ron Heinemann was born in 1922, and grew up on a sheep property in Springvale, west of Eulo, on the Paroo River. Ron’s parents moved to the area in the 1920s.
Images were sourced by the Talking Fish project team from Ron Heinemann on the day of his oral history interview.
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-09-22
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
All rights reserved
image/tiff
Paroo: Oral History of Ron Heinemann and Ron Gardiner
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/4120' target='_blank'>Local history</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/6010' target='_blank'>Family histories</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/3312' target='_blank'>Environmental flows</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/1267' target='_blank'>Livestock</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2003006652' target='_blank'>Traditional ecological knowledge</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/6272' target='_blank'>Floods</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048621' target='_blank'>Fishes--Breeding</a>
<a href='http://dharmae.research.uts.edu.au/items/show/403' target='_blank'>Blackwater</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/8796' target='_blank'>Siltation</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048655' target='_blank'>Fish stocking</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh90001846' target='_blank'>Artesian basins--Australia</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh96006425' target='_blank'>Introduced fishes</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/832' target='_blank'>Irrigation</a>
Cousins, Ron Heinemann and Ron Gardiner, talk separately about their memories of growing up on the Paroo River. Both men owned properties along the river and were fishers. Ron Heinemann was an especially keen fisher and has an intimate knowledge of the changes that the system has undergone.
First interview with Ron Heinemann, in three parts.
Ron Heinemann was born in 1922, and grew up on a sheep property in Springvale, west of Eulo, on the Paroo River. Ron’s parents moved to the area in the 1920s. He was taught to fish by his mother and cousins’ family.
Ron Heinemann talks about: 1942 and 1964 floods; Aboriginal knowledge of vegetation and floods; a black flood in 1935 which killed fish in the local water holes; how fish spawn before they die (before a flood); kangaroo and emu shooting; the 'diaries of Caiwarro Currawinyahere', written 1860-1950s, from a sheep and cattle property; siltation in Warrego River; restocking Warrego River with Murray Cod fingerlings in 1985; artesian water and basin; introduction of European Carp 1950s (originally brought to clean irrigation channels); bird life.
Mentions 'grunter' fish, however species unspecified. Also mention of: Cane grass, Mitchell grass, Flinders grass, Yapunyah tree, Hyacinth, Duck weed, Didgee tree, Lucerne.
Second interview with Ron Gardiner, in two parts.
Ron Gardiner, the cousin of Ron Heinemann, was born in 1918 in Cunnamulla. Ron learned to swim in the Paroo River. In 1980 Ron moved from Paroo to Clifton, on the Condamine River.
Ron Gardiner talks about: history of the Eulo bridge, built in 1928; history of families and people in the area; abundance of Yellowbelly fish at Caiwarro; black flood at Five Mile hole; abundance of crayfish yabby and shrimp post-flood; saving sheep stock; two times the Paroo River reached the Darling; how vegetation requires rain to survive after a flood to remove silt; salty and freshwater bores; mud springs in Eulo; introduction of European Carp; concerns about irrigation; the relationship between the Warrego and Paroo Rivers.
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
Hamish Sewell
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-09-22
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
Copyright University of Technology, Sydney
application/msword
audio/mpeg
English