Fishes--Identification]]> Connection to Country]]> Cultural flows]]> Dreaming (Spiritual)]]> Aboriginal kinship systems]]> Riparian areas--Management]]> Floods]]> Dams]]> Weirs]]> Cotton]]> Water allocations]]> Fishes--Migration]]> Fishes--Cannibalism]]> Traditional ecological knowledge]]> Yuwaalaraay / Euahlayi / Yuwaaliyaay language ]]> Environmental flows]]> Ecological sustainability]]> Aboriginal spirituality]]> Water--Symbolic aspects]]> Siltation]]> Wetlands]]>
Michael explains the cultural and spiritual importance of the river systems to Indigenous peoples, delving into the history, language and stories of his Ualarai people. The changes in the fish population, and the traditional practices of his people that were implicit in the flourishing of the basin prior to colonisation.

Mentioned: water rat, mud crab.

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Fishes--Identification]]> Birds--Identification]]> Reptiles--Identification]]> Weirs]]> Droughts]]> Floods]]> Wetland conservation]]> Wetlands]]> Farming]]> Revegetation]]> Water allocations]]>
Hayley Purbrick is a fifth generation member of the Purbrick Family who owns the Tahbilk Winery. She grew up on nearby Lake Nagambie and has interacted with the river since she was a child. She is involved in the conservation and revegetation of the wetlands in Tahbilk, Victoria.

In the interview, Hayley discusses the wetlands and the wildlife she encounters, the difficulties she experiences in her interactions with government, the Goulburn Weir and how she feels it is an asset to the wetlands and surrounds, and the future of farming that is experiencing a shift towards environmental awareness ushered in by the new generation of farmers.

Mention of:
Worms, Mexican Lily, swans, koalas, wallabies, turtles, platypus, wrens, brown snakes, red-belly black snakes, ibis, cranes, ducks, lizards.]]>
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Irrigation]]> Fishes--Identification]]> Introduced species]]> Wetlands]]> Ecological sustainability]]> Geomorphology]]> Riparian areas]]> Billabongs]]> Floodplains]]> Fish habitat improvement]]> Environmental flows]]> Fishing industry]]> Physical characteristics (Animals)]]>
John Koehn is a research officer for the Arthur Rylah Institute, Melbourne, and studies freshwater fish ecology. John Douglas works for Victorian Fisheries, and Roy Patterson is a Taungurung man.

John Koehn talks about: his work recovering Catfish and Silver Perch populations in the Murray-Darling Basin, 2000; a commercial fishery that existed at Barren Box when Catfish abundant; drivers of Catfish decline; strengths and weakness of different fish species; impact of irrigation releases on water flow e.g. Murray River; impact of European carp on billabongs and lagoons; carp removal; importance of billabongs, floodplains, wetlands in the Murray-Darling system, their loss and degradation from human activities; importance of ‘active’ ecological management; geomorphology; importance of 'instability' in creating diverse habitats for fish species; changes in vegetation e.g. Phragmite (Common Reed).

The group add their diverse knowledge to the topics discussed, in particular the variety of Catfish species found across the Murray-Darling Basin.]]>
CC BY]]> ]]> Maryborough, Vic [populated place]]]> Torrumbarry Weir, NSW [dam]]]> Eulo, Qld [populated place]]]> Albury, NSW [populated place]]]> Alexandra, Vic [populated place]]]> Barren Box Swamp, NSW [swamp]]]>
An archival version of the Talking Fish Collection is managed by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Data Archive (ATSIDA).]]>
Fisheries]]> Fishes--Identification]]> Plants--Identification]]> Wetlands]]> Restoration ecology]]> Fish habitat improvement]]>
Rolf talks about: wetland vegetation; role of plants in providing protection for fish and their eggs; Myriophyllum (Water Milfoil) plant species, and the few locations it is found; role of plant bacteria and algae in plant ecosystems; Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act, 1988; change in focus from wildlife to habitat management; lack of information about wetland vegetation; process of species identification.]]>
CC BY]]> Lake Moodemere, Vic [lake]]]>
Weirs]]> Salinity]]> Family life]]> Diet]]> Floods]]> Fishes--Identification]]> Fishes--Speciation]]> Weeds]]> Environmental flows]]> Wetlands]]> Native animals]]> Water levels]]> Physical characteristics (Animals)]]> Lure fishing]]> Water temperature]]>
Born in 1949, Barry lives in Berri, in the Riverland area. Having worked on a pile driving barge and worked most his life on the river, Barry has extensive knowledge of locks and weirs from the Murray mouth to Euston (Lock 15). He currently monitors and models salinity in the Murray and Riverland area and also grows capers and caperberries.

Barry talks about: fishing in the 1950s as a cheap addition to the family diet; changes in fishing methods and equipment, including the exclusive use of lures; boat designs; professional fishing reaches/areas; yabbying – a ‘historic institution’ post flood event; changes observed in fish species, weeds, river flow, temperature, salinity; salt interception schemes; bathometric data; work with the palaeobotany group at Flinders University tracking floods by tree lines; water retention in wetlands; evaporation and disposal basins; wildlife observed over the years (kangaroo, echidna, bat, owl, possum, snake, birds, water rat), including Emu that swim; records of fish caught between 2002 and 2006. Mention of floods in 1956, 1974, 1975, 1981, 1990s. Other fish species mentioned: garfish (at Coffin Bay).]]>
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Fishing--Australia]]> Salinity]]> Indigenous medicine]]> Burial sites]]> Wetlands]]> Dredging]]> Introduced fishes]]> Droughts]]> Birds--Identification]]> Fishes--Identification]]> Fishes--effect of water levels on]]> Erosion]]> Spawning]]> Traditional ecological knowledge]]> Water quality]]>
Kingsley is from the Gerard Aboriginal community in South Australia. Born in 1971, he has always lived on the river; camping with family and extended family, a time for Elders to educate the younger generations about Country. Kingsley shares his knowledge of a changing and interconnected landscape.

Kingsley talks about: teaching family to swim and fish; yabbying methods; a period when Catfish species were rare; salinity (water and ground table) issues and low water levels; lack of ‘decent’ floods; Aboriginal grave sites and culture, native bushes, and native vegetables impacted by environmental degradation (e.g. traditional medicinal methods); the role of wetlands and back creeks (backwaters) as nurseries for all animals; the impact of Willow tree removal on Murray Cod and Callop; different types of soil in the area; changes observed in water colour; hybrid knowledge systems (incorporating Western into Aboriginal), and the desire to learn from each other. Also mentioned: snake species; water birds; vegetation; Crown Land.

Indigenous terms for fish species discussed:
Murray cod - Gadu, Pondi’s Gadu;
Yellowbelly - Thaigai; Pilaki
Catfish - Gaigai;
Bony bream: Thukeri
Silver Bream - Tookaree;
Silver Perch - Bungi.

One of the images in the collection includes a book called 'Tucker' by Ian Abdulla (1947-2011). It is a children's illustrated book about an Aboriginal boy who grows up along the Murray River, when bush tucker was plentiful.
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Wetlands]]> Fishes--Breeding]]> Fisheries]]> Communities]]> Fieldwork]]> Environmental flows]]> Water temperature]]>
Born in 1960, John grew up in Melbourne, visiting with extended family around the Mildura area. He worked at Snobs Creek as a technician, becoming an expert in breeding Murray Cod. When the research side of Snobs Creek was relocated he took a job with Fisheries Department of Primary Industries to stay in the Alexandra area. He discusses in depth cultural changes in fishing and recreational activities from his perspective as a field naturalist.

John talks about: memories growing up fishing; fishing techniques; changes in fish species around Myall and Mildura; fishing techniques; types of bait; changes in the Murray’s flows and depths; changes in Murray Cod numbers; his work with Fisheries; environmental flows; de-snagging at Hume; anabranches between Hume and Mulwala; changes in water temperature; bush tucker. Mention of Bardi grub, turtle, platypus.
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