Marine protected areas]]> Spear fishing]]> Diet]]> Social values]]> Economic aspects]]> Aboriginal culture]]> Fisheries]]> Poaching]]>
Originally from Sydney, he moved to the far south coast for its affordability. He and his partner also wanted to live near the water. His partner swims and snorkels at the beach; he notes the social aspect of these recreational activities for family, friends, and children.

The interviewee monitors seasonal changes and migration patterns of crayfish, in monthly moon cycles. He has observed an increase in crayfish populations, crediting regulations implemented by fisheries in the late 1990s, rather than marine parks. While he supports marine parks, he feels that selective exemptions in sanctuary zones, such as shore-based fishing, results in their ineffectiveness due to people taking advantage. He has observed a polarisation in the community with respect to marine parks, and feels that more education is required, as well as concerted coordination between Fisheries, Marine Parks, and Local Government Areas in order to have better outcomes for everyone in the community. For instance, marine environments cannot be considered in isolation – they are impacted upon by terrestrial, land-based development, hence the need for holistic governance. He mentions the Murray Darling Basin Plan consultation as an example of community ‘disengagement’.]]> CC BY]]> Narooma, NSW [populated place]]]> Fishes--Identification]]> Birds--Identification]]> Family life]]> Communities]]> Swimming]]> Floods]]> Water quality]]> Introduced fishes]]>
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.]]> CC-BY]]> Livestock]]> Grazing]]> Feral animals]]> Local history]]> Fishes--Identification]]> Remote communities]]> Aboriginal peoples]]> Aboriginal culture]]> Swimming]]> Introduced fishes]]> Bushfires]]>
Fay and Donald talk about: the impact of floods at Eulo prior to the bridge; a time before motorised transportation and telephone communications; the ‘flood truck’ which used to transport goods and people across flood waters; the river as a place of recreation for children and a stock route for graziers; swimming, playing, and yabbying with Aboriginal children; Donald’s father’s recollection of Aboriginal corroborees that took place at water holes at Caiwarro and Tilbaroo; the introduction of European Carp; how bore drains reduced the amount of stock along the river; bushfires in the 1950s; impact of feral cats on water rats and bird species; Paroo as the ‘last river going west that had the Murray cod’; being able to predict a flood’s size by the sound of frogs.]]> CC-BY]]> Floods]]> Weirs]]> Dams]]> Cotton]]> Camping]]> Aboriginal spirituality]]> Water pollution]]> Introduced fishes]]> Storytelling]]>
Pearl and Joe Trindall are an Indigenous couple who have lived in the Namoi region for most their lives. Pearl was born in Boomi, while Joe was born in Narrabri and they both, along with their children, have spent a lot of time travelling around Australia droving.

Pearl and Joe talk at length about a number of topics including growing up on the river and how it was central to their lives - it was a source of food, meeting and socialising, as well as a means for passing on Indigenous knowledges by the Elders. The Elders told the younger generation that they were to practice sustainable fishing and were only to take what they needed. The Elders also taught language and spirituality, told stories and were respected members of their community.

Pearl and Joe also speak about the changes in the region they have witnessed. They both say that the pollution from cotton farming has had the greatest impact on the deteriorating health of the river, compared to when they were younger when the water was clean enough to drink. They also mention the impacts that the installation of weirs and dams have had.

Mentioned: carp impacts, and 1956 floods.

Animals mentioned: Worms, gudgeon, goanna (neebie), black snake.]]> CC BY-NC]]> Fishes--Identification]]> Family life]]> Camping]]> Swimming]]> Weeds]]> Fishing boats]]> Water sports]]> Environmental flows]]> Introduced fishes]]> Floods]]>
Born in 1964, Tracy is Manager of the Loxton Information Bureau. She moved to Loxton when she was about 11, and spent a lot of time at Katarapko Creek. Tracy saw her interview as a way to honour her father Colin Shultz, his love of the river, and the way the river became integral to their life once they moved to Loxton. Tracy’s interview is short but rich in terms of showing how recreational fishing, family life and place making environments are intertwined.

Tracy talks about: camping, fishing, swimming, and skiing on the river; recreational fishing methods from boat and river bank; yabbying methods; changes in water quality (visibility and colour); changes in water vegetation (weeds and reeds); worm farming; observations of change sin water flow and current; snags and debris in the river; an occasion when carp became stuck in wetlands after a high water event; the differences between the river at Albury and Katarapko Creek; floods 1970s.]]> CC BY-NC]]> Fishing--Australia]]> Bait fishing]]> Fishing nets]]> Stream flow]]> Water levels]]> Water quality]]> River engineering]]> Stream restoration]]> Riparian restoration]]> Fishes--Speciation]]> Depressions--1929--Australia]]>
Gary grew up in Gunbower and has spent most of his life on the Murray. He talks about how to lure and bait different types of fish and describes the river conditions that make for good fishing and eating. He also shares his experience with aeroplane spinners, floppies (lures), drum nets, gill nets, cross lines and springers. He recalls selling bait to tourists with his brother and talks about his father selling fish during The Great Depression.

Gary discusses man-made and environmental changes in water quality, river flows and and river height and talks about their effect on fish and crayfish behaviour. He says that the Willow has an outsized effect on the shape and path of the river and talks about his efforts to replace them with native plants. He goes on to talk about the hybridisation of Murray Cod and non-native cod.

Mentions 'greasies', galaxiids, bardi grubs, deer, cypress, phragmites

Mentions of Myrtleford Sewerage Farm, timber industry, pulp mill, sulphites, phenols (chlorophenol wood preservative), algae, Catchment Management Authority (CMA), Murray River Trust]]> CC-BY]]> Swimming]]> Local history]]> Family life]]>
The photos show family activities such as learning to swim in the Narran River in the 1920s. ]]>