Darling River - Bourke to Brewarrina
The data from this study region includes 7 oral histories (audio as mp3s, and transcripts) and 3 image galleries, as well as a georeferenced hand-drawn map of the area.
Bourke was once the end of the line for most of the paddlesteamers that made their way up the muddy Darling. They sometimes had to wait for months before the waters became navigable and when the rains didn’t come, the channel dried to a series of pools.
Since the coming of Europeans, the health of the river and its fish have degraded. The paddlesteamer trade, grazing, and irrigation, all changed the rivers. Weirs were constructed, reaches desnagged, water extracted, foreign animals and plants introduced and new ways to catch fish also had an impact. These changes mean there are now a lot less fish than there were. Before the turn of the twentieth century there are stories of catching great numbers of silver perch, Murray cod, catfish and yellowbelly - and no tales of carp.
These are the traditional lands of the Ngiyampaa, Murawari and Yuwalaraay peoples. They have seen great changes to the river and surrounding waterways where they fished and hunted the wetlands.
(Source: Frawley, J., Nichols, S., Goodall, H. and Baker, E. 2011. Darling ‐ Brewarrina to Bourke: 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). Darling ‐ Brewarrina to Bourke: 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/0007/457036/Up-DarlingB2B_FINAL_Jan-2013-for-web.pdf">View or download from publisher...</a>
<a href="http://geonode.research.uts.edu.au/layers/geonode%3Afrawley2012page178">http://geonode.research.uts.edu.au/layers/geonode%3Afrawley2012page178</a>
Eng
Dataset
0d87a57e-0ff1-11e5-8eb9-005056a4d06a
POLYGON((145.72 -30.199999999179187,145.72 -29.739999999186768,147.09 -29.739999999186768,147.09 -30.199999999179187,145.72 -30.199999999179187))
Upper Darling: Oral History of Keith Coleman and Max Jeffrey
<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/sh85048655' target='_blank'>Fish stocking</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/16447' target='_blank'>Traditional environmental knowledge</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/4315' target='_blank'>Water conservation</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048655' target='_blank'>Fish stocking</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85114241' target='_blank'>River engineering</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85011046' target='_blank'>Bait fishing</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048646' target='_blank'>Fish populations</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh96006425' target='_blank'>Introduced fishes</a>
An interview in two parts with Keith Coleman and Max Jeffrey.
Keith grew up in Brewarrina and learned to fish with his father. He learned to swim in the river, and remembers how clear the water was - clear enough that people could go spearfishing.
Keith and Max talk about using worms, mussels and crayfish as bait and discuss variance in carp populations over time. They also observe that fishing is better in the dry when the water levels are lower. They mention Yellowbelly and Murray Cod restocking programs; talk about de-oxygenated water; changes in attitudes about sustainable fishing (catch and release); how to read the river; what they've learned from Indigenous Australians; the mass of birdlife; weir management; and water restrictions. They talk about boat trips along the river and their sighting of baby catfish in the Bokhara and Culgoa Rivers.
Mention of Goanna, Wallaby. frogs, blacksnakes, brown snakes, carpet snakes, mosquitoes.
Mention of Brewarrina fishing club
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-12-01
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
Copyright University of Technology, Sydney
application/msword
audio/mpeg
image/jpeg
Upper Darling: Oral History of Feli McHughes
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048775' target='_blank'>Fishes--Identification</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/9962' target='_blank'>Billabongs</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/973' target='_blank'>Water quality</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2003004809' target='_blank'>Riparian restoration</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/15435' target='_blank'>Connection to Country</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/9862' target='_blank'>Native plants</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2015000120' target='_blank'>Clean energy</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85048655' target='_blank'>Fish stocking</a>
<a href='http://archives.samuseum.sa.gov.au/tindaletribes/ngemba.htm' target='_blank'>Ngiyambaa / Ngemba language</a>
Feli McHughes is a Ngemba man from the Upper Darling region of Brewarrina. His passion about the Brewarrina Ngemba Billabong and the wider river system has seen him involved in a number of projects with numerous organisations. His visions for the environment are intertwined with the Aboriginal cultural and environmental values that he holds, and his personal views explore further the wider social issues facing Aboriginal people today.
Feli believes that the root of social issues facing Aboriginal people is the lack of culturally appropriate employment. He reflects on his personal experiences where he recalls having to adopt another identity and therefore understands the difficulties this entails. He says that Aboriginal people as instinctive custodians possess valuable skills that are transferable to specialised areas of employment.
Feli’s vision for billabongs, that he says are the antibiotics for the damaged systems, include the revegetation of native bush tucker and restocking the waters with native fingerlings. He is working with scientists from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Industry & Investment (now Department of Trade and Investment), and the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) to help realise these goals.
Feli also discusses the Native Fish Strategy for the Murray-Darling Basin (2003-2013) and the Indigenous Protected Areas (IPA) in which these billabongs are located.
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-12-01
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
Copyright University of Technology, Sydney
application/msword
audio/mpeg
image/jpeg
English
Upper Darling: Oral History of Phillip Parnaby
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2008120678' target='_blank'>Fishing--Australia</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85011046' target='_blank'>Bait fishing</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/5361' target='_blank'>Fishing nets</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85114241' target='_blank'>River engineering</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/6986' target='_blank'>Water levels</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/867' target='_blank'>Water resources</a>
<a href='http://dharmae.research.uts.edu.au/items/show/402' target='_blank'>Water allocations</a>
An interview in three parts with Phillip Parnaby.
Phillip has lived in Bourke his entire life and in this interview he talks about his experience fishing while growing up in a family of eight, when fish were a large part of their diet. He explains his relationship with the river, his family history, his Indigenous Australian heritage, and how fishing and sharing go together. He talks about swimming in the weir, setting lines, using spinners, teaching his kids to fish. He mentions yabbying at Wearrego and Cuttaburra, and explains how yabbies were used as a Chinese aphrodisiac. He discusses different baits: Silver Carp, Kangaroo, Emu, worms, sand worms, Bardi Grubs, tinned tuna, mussels, and yabbies). He explains the differrence between drop nets and overnight nets, and discusses the conditions that are good for Yabby catching. He talks about the river when it dries; salt springs; algae; water allocations; river management; and weir management. He also talks about the future of Bourke and people leaving town, and his involvement with the program Australian Story - Out of the Dust.
Phillip is an entrepreneur and is the owner of the Back O' Bourke Motel, rental accommodation, and he has just purchased the local RSL club and the Memorial Hall - which he wants to redevelop into a Tavern style place to cater to the tourists that come through in the winter. He explains that there are only two eateries in town at present - Port Of Bourke Hotel and Chinese in the local bowling club.
Mention of Silver carp ("forky tails"), Bardi Grubs, worms, sand worms, Kurrajong Trees, Gum trees, algae and Bourke Weir.
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-11-30
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
Copyright University of Technology, Sydney
application/msword
audio/mpeg
image/jpeg
English
Upper Darling: Images from interview with Phillip Parnaby
Images were sourced by the Talking Fish project team from Phillip Parnaby on the day of his oral history interview.
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-11-30
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
All rights reserved
image/jpeg
Upper Darling: Oral History of Phillip Sullivan
<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://dharmae.research.uts.edu.au/items/show/401' target='_blank'>Aboriginal fish traps</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/250' target='_blank'>Aboriginal art</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/973' target='_blank'>Water quality</a>
<a href='http://archives.samuseum.sa.gov.au/tindaletribes/ngemba.htm' target='_blank'>Ngiyambaa / Ngemba language</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/8797' target='_blank'>Silt</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/15541' target='_blank'>Totems</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/3340' target='_blank'>Rock paintings</a>
<a href='http://indigenous.sl.nsw.gov.au/communities/paakantyi' target='_blank'>Paakantyi / Paakantji / Barkindji people</a>
<a href='http://indigenous.sl.nsw.gov.au/communities/muruwari' target='_blank'>Muruwari / Murrawarri people</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/gamilaraay-gamilaroi-kamilaroi' target='_blank'>Gamilaraay / Gamilaroi / Kamilaroi language</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/15435' target='_blank'>Connection to Country</a>
<a href='http://dharmae.research.uts.edu.au/items/show/400' target='_blank'>Aboriginal kinship systems</a>
Phillip Sullivan grew up on the Brewarrina Aboriginal Mission in the 1960s with his immediate and extended family. For Phillip, life on the river as a Ngemba man revolved around the Barwon River with fishing and swimming being favourite pastimes for the entire family.
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.
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-10-18
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
Copyright University of Technology, Sydney
application/msword
audio/mpeg
image/jpeg
English
Upper Darling: Images from interview with Phillip Sullivan
<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://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/6272' target='_blank'>Floods</a>
<a href='http://vocabulary.curriculum.edu.au/scot/2530' target='_blank'>Nests</a>
<a href='http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh94007041' target='_blank'>Riparian areas</a>
<a href='http://dharmae.research.uts.edu.au/items/show/401' target='_blank'>Aboriginal fish traps</a>
<a href='http://dharmae.research.uts.edu.au/items/show/399' target='_blank'>Aboriginal scarred tree</a>
Images were sourced by the Talking Fish project team from Phillip Sullivan and some were taken on the day of his oral history interview.
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-10-18
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
All rights reserved
image/jpeg
Upper Darling: Images from interview with Dwayne Willoughby
Images were sourced by the Talking Fish project team from Dwayne Willoughby on the day of his oral history interview.
Heather Goodall
Jodi Frawley
University of Technology, Sydney
2010-11-30
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
All rights reserved
image/jpeg