Marine protected areas]]> Sustainability]]> Water pollution]]> Water quality]]> Surf lifesaving]]> Social values]]> Poaching]]> Intangible assets]]> Overfishing]]> World heritage sites]]> Spear fishing]]> Diving]]> Kayaking]]> Marine parks]]> Populations (Ecology)]]> Sailing]]> Fishing industry]]> National parks]]> Biodiversity]]> Environmental science]]> Ecotourism]]> Estuaries]]> Litter (Trash)]]> Siltation]]> Sewerage]]> Compliance]]> Regulatory officers]]> Environmental stewardship]]> Environmental degradation]]> Environmental attitudes]]> Environmental responsibility]]>
Throughout his life he has enjoyed ocean-based sporting activities such as snorkelling, spear fishing, swimming, and kayaking. He continues to engage in these activities, spending a couple of times a week at the beach, with the surf club, and comments on the positive social aspect/value of these activities.

He discusses the coastal environment of Port Stephens, changes since 1950s, and talks about his son’s work as a marine biologist in the area, studying environmental impacts such as tourist boats, on dolphins.

Marine protected areas and sanctuary zones on the far south coast are discussed, in particular Burrewarra Point, which the interviewee has known since the 1970s, before it became a marine park. He vigorously supports marine protected areas and laments the lack of political will to enforce sanctuary zones. Personally, he is prepared to pay in economic terms for protective environmental measures. On the south coast he has observed illegal activities such as abalone poaching, and comments on the rubbish recreational and professional fisherman leave behind. His biggest concerns however are government complacency, and issues such as silt running down from the river and occasional raw sewage overflows.]]>
CC BY]]> Batemans Bay, NSW [bay]]]> Malua Bay, NSW [bay]]]> Burrewarra Point, NSW [point]]]>
Fish populations

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Streamflow]]> Irrigation]]> Water levels]]> Fishing industry]]> Fishing licences]]> Water quality]]> Introduced species]]> Floods]]> Siltation]]> Salinity]]> Fishing regulations]]> Tournament fishing]]> Blackwater]]> Fishes--Speciation]]> River engineering]]> Fish kills]]> Fishing--Australia]]> Baraba Baraba people]]>
Greg McNeil:, an irrigator, suggests that recent floods might have made unecessary plans to re-snag and reclaim the river. He advocates for a hands-off approach to river management and says that irrigation across the basin has matured while becoming more 'intense'.

Unannounced: recalls professional fishermen; swimming in the river; and observes that there was less recreational fishing in the past. Remembers that the Loddon was different when backed up by a weir from 1923 to 1964 and also talks about water levels and the river's improved health more recently.

Rodger Reilly: remembers fishing with his uncle. Mention of Woods Point. Worked with Fisheries and Wildlife, transferred to the Lands Department, and ended up in Kerang. He talks about needing to change where he goes angling because of the poor quality of water (caused by Cumbungi, siltation); frontage licenses and the advantage of local knowledge.

Esther Kirby; (of the Baraba Baraba people) used to fish at the weir with her brother sister and partner, catching Redfin and Yabbies and sharing the spoils. She talks about the decline in fish diversity (especially catfish) with arrival of Carp; and how she learnt a technique to call fish up from one of her Aunties. She has fished the Edwards, Wakool, Niemur, and Goulburn rivers, among others.

Elaine Jones; learnt to fish for Flounder on the coast and only later stared fishing on the Loddon. She discusses the 1973 flood and the arrival of European Carp; the disappearance of Tortoises; irrigation, water efficiency and the salinity problem.

Ross Stanton: remembers fishing for Redfin out of Gunbower Creek. and talks about schools of small Carp.

Rob O'Brien: learnt to fish with his Uncle in the lower Kerang. catching Yabbies with "roly-poly" woodlice. He talks about the colour of the water; fishing with spinners; and recalls that people used to fill half a wheat bag with Redfin dragging a spinner while walking from the old Kerang bridge to Kerang. He mentions the arrival of Carp in 1974; swimming; siltation; and using drum nets.

The group goes on to discuss the return of Murray Cod; the use of Murray Cod to control Carp; size limits; catch and release; changing attitudes; competitive fishing; blackwater (in 1986); different species of trout cod; and fish lanes.

Esther mentions that the (Wadi Wadi?, Wodi Wodi?) group met with Parks and Wildlife and the Water Catchment Authority to raise the issue of fish being killed by irrigation.

Mention of Murray Darling Freshwater Research Centre; "Water Catchment Authority"; "Fisheries and Wildlife"; "Lands Department"

Also mentions: Red Azolla (Azolla filiculoides); Myriophyllum ("watermilfoil", "cat tail"); Cumbungi (Typha latifolia).]]>
CC BY-NC]]> Loddon River, Vic [stream]]]> Woods Point, Vic [point]]]> Wakool River, NSW [stream]]]> Merran Lake, NSW [lake]]]> Gunbower Creek, Vic [stream]]]> Barr Creek, Vic [stream]]]> Lake Charm, Vic [lake]]]> Kangaroo Lake, Vic [lake]]]> Barmah Lake, Vic [lake]]]> Moira Lake, NSW [lake]]]>
Weirs]]> Floods]]> Traditional ecological knowledge]]> Fishing--Australia]]> Racism]]> Cotton]]> Silt]]> Water quality]]> Water pollution]]> Cultural Flows]]> Coalbed methane]]> Aquifers--Australia]]> Cyanides]]> Riparian areas]]> Ecological sustainability]]> Environmental conservation]]> Salinity]]> Sacred sites]]> Connection to Country]]> Land custodianship]]> Aboriginal spirituality (Baiame)]]> Wiradjuri people]]> Gamilaraay / Gamilaroi / Kamilaroi language]]> Water--Symbolic aspects]]>
Phil Duncan is an Aboriginal man with both Wiradjuri and Gamilaraay heritage. He identifies predominantly as a Gamilaraay man who grew up in Moree in northern New South Wales. Born in 1963, Phil is Chair of the First Peoples' Water Engagement Council and has witnessed a number of important changes in this region regarding cotton farming, weirs and dams, and the water quality.

Phil is knowledgeable in his heritage and emphasises the importance of Aboriginal connection to Country, and caring for Country as an important responsibility for Aboriginal people. He recommends that traditional Aboriginal knowledges be adhered to regarding the conservation of Country as Western land management methods have had a detrimental impact.


Mentioned:

Turtles, sheep & cattle (farming), worms.

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CC BY-NC]]> Moree, NSW [populated place]]]> Terry Hie Hie, NSW [populated place]]]> Terry Hie Hie Creek, NSW [stream]]]> Mehi River, NSW [stream]]]> Boomi Nature Reserve, NSW [reserve]]]> Mungindi, Qld [farm]]]> Barwon River, NSW [stream]]]> Narrabri, NSW [populated place]]]> Gwydir River, NSW [stream]]]> Boolaroo, NSW [section of populated place]]]> Copeton Dam, NSW [dam]]]> Namoi River, NSW [stream]]]> Cubbie, Qld [homestead]]]> Keepit Dam, NSW [lake]]]> Narran Lake, NSW [lake]]]> Macquarie Marshes, NSW [marsh(es)]]]> Boolaroo, NSW [populated place]]]> Mungindi, NSW [populated place]]]>
An archival version of the Talking Fish Collection is managed by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Data Archive (ATSIDA).]]>
Fishes--Identification]]> Floods]]> Weirs]]> Aboriginal fish traps]]> Aboriginal art]]> Water quality]]> Ngiyambaa / Ngemba language]]> Silt]]> Totems]]> Rock paintings]]> Paakantyi / Paakantji / Barkindji people]]> Muruwari / Murrawarri people]]> Wiradjuri people]]> Gamilaraay / Gamilaroi / Kamilaroi language]]> Connection to Country]]> Aboriginal kinship systems]]>
Phillip passionately discusses a wide range of topics that include growing up along the river; the impacts on the Upper Darling and surrounds caused by weirs and restrictions; Aboriginal history; the significance of connection to Country and water; Aboriginal law and personal responsibilities; and the relationships between neighbouring Aboriginal nations. He also points out the cultural shifts he has witnessed; from that of a group-focused, collectivist culture, to a more Western-aligned culture of individualism with its self-focused culture, and its consequences on Aboriginal kinship values, society and the environment.

Mention of: King Brown Snake. Eastern Brown Snake. Long neck turtles.

Quandong. Gum trees. Coolabah trees. Spinifex.]]>
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Places of significance]]> Community cooperation]]> Land custodianship]]> Aboriginal culture]]> Wiradjuri people]]> Walgalu / Walgal people]]> Ngarigo / Ngarigu people]]> Ngunawal / Ngunnawal people
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Kurnai / Gunai people]]> Burial sites]]> Sacred sites]]> Traditional ecological knowledge]]> Connection to Country]]>
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.
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Electronic records have been made private as per the request of Adrian Brown. As part of our data access requirements, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Data Archive (located at the University of Technology, Sydney) requires an applicant to sign an undertaking before access to material can be approved. These undertakings may include a request for information about the intended use of the data. The depositor and/or family may be informed of the application.

Preliminary applications may be made to:
atsida@lib.uts.edu.au.]]>
Fishes--Identification]]> Plants--Identification]]> Birds--Identification]]> Irrigation]]> Agricultural land]]> Siltation]]> Physical characteristics (Animals)]]> Introduced fishes]]> Artesian basins--Australia]]> Aboriginal peoples]]> Local history]]> Dust storms]]> Blackwater]]> Floods]]> Environmental flows]]>
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'.]]>
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Floods]]> Droughts]]> Silt]]> Hunting]]> Water quality]]> Social customs]]> Indigenous knowledge]]> Colonisation]]> Stock and station agents]]> Fishing--Australia]]> Aboriginal history]]> Aboriginal customs]]>
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.
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Badjiri / Budjari / Badyidi people
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Muruwari / Murrawarri people
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Floods]]> Silt]]> Cultural heritage]]> Connection to Country]]> Fishes--Migration]]> Water pollution]]> Fishing--Australia]]> Weirs]]> Aboriginal fish traps]]> Indigenous knowledge]]> Storytelling]]> Aboriginal spirituality]]>
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]]>
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Soldier settlement]]> Fishes--Identification]]> Droughts]]> Floods]]> Bushfires]]> Siltation]]> Grazing]]> Environmental flows]]> Introduced fishes]]> Aboriginal culture]]> Depressions--1929--Australia]]>
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.

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Local history]]> Family histories]]> Environmental flows]]> Livestock]]> Traditional ecological knowledge]]> Floods]]> Fishes--Breeding]]> Blackwater]]> Siltation]]> Fish stocking]]> Artesian basins--Australia]]> Introduced fishes]]> Plants--Identification]]> Fishes--Identification]]> Irrigation]]>
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.]]>

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.]]>
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