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.
NSW Department of Primary Industries - NSW Fisheries
This study region is associated with the Valuing Coast research project. There are 7 de-identified transcripts of participant interviews for this study region. Batemans Marine Park covers approximately 85,000 hectares, extending from the north end of Murramarang Beach near Bawley Point to Wallaga Lake in the South. It includes all of the seabed and waters from the mean high water mark on the coast to three nautical miles offshore. It includes all estuaries, creeks, rivers and lakes (except Nargal Lake) to the limit of tidal influence.
Copyright NSW Marine Parks Authority April 2009
Water temperature
Fishing--Australia
Lure fishing
River engineering
Fishes--Migration
Irrigation
Water quality
Stream restoration
Water resources
An interview in three parts with Geoff Brennan. Geoff was a construction contractor but has been working with water management for twenty years. He talks about his understanding of the cross over from recreational fishing to management of water, and about Lake Makoan being decommmisioned 2009. Geoff grew up on the Broken River. He shares his earliest memories of learning to fish with his father and sister; camping on the Murray River; his desire to pass on a sense of ownership of the rivers to his children and grandchildren; what to look for in the river when fishing for trout and Macquarie Perch; fly fishing; which parts of a snag different fish prefer; lake fishing compared to river fishing; fish behaviour depending on temperature and time of day; and what he likes about fishing. He discusses the benefits of fresh bait; where to collect scrub worms; catching yabbies; attracting shrimp with orange peel; decline of Catfish; changes to the Broken Rivers structure (de-snagging programs, the construction of the Nillahcootie 1967, the floods of 1974); fish migration and fishways; changes in fishing technology; the opening cermemony of Lake Nillahcootie; the changes in water quality due to the introduction of Carp; the Broken River Irrigators and their advocacy that a dam be build on the Broken River; the dams effect on the local ecology; Lake Mokoan water turbidity; and how the Broken River earnt its name. He goes on to discuss community engagement and the future of the River. Mention of "Barragunda" a place at the head of the Broken River (Vic), "Green Swamp" or "Green Wetlands" near Winton Wetlands (VIC). Mention of scrub worms, mud eyes, black crickets, grasshoppers, bardie grubs, shrimp, yabbies Mention of Sedges, ribbon weed
Copyright University of Technology, Sydney
Culgoa - Balonne: Oral History of Cheryl Buchanan
Native title
Cultural exchange
Guwamu nation
Environmental flows
Water--Symbolic aspects
An interview with Cheryl Buchannan. Audio only. Cheryl Buchanan is a woman from the Guwamu (or Kooma) nation located in southern Queensland. Cheryl is a representative for Northern Basins Aboriginal Nations (NBAN) and in this short interview she briefly discusses growing up on the rivers with her Aunties; the interactions her people had with other Aboriginal Nations, and how these meetings fostered cultural exchange and helped the continuation of their respective cultures; the quality of the water; and how she views the water as a force that brings peace and people together. Cheryl mentions Warrego (western), Balonne (eastern), Culgoa (southern) as the river boundaries of her peoples' Country.
Goulburn: Oral History of David Chalmers
Plants--Identification
Aboriginal fish traps
Winter solstice
Summer solstice
Moieties
Totems
Kangaroo hunting
Aboriginal calendar
Wurundjeri (Australian people)
Aboriginal history
Woiwurrung / Wurundjeri / Woiwurung people
An interview in two parts. Audio only. David Chalmers is associated with the Goulburn River Men's Group Inc. and is interviewed on the site of a Kangaroo farm. Throughout the interview, David identifies the native plants and vegetation present and the history of the area with special regard to the Aboriginal people who are the traditional owners of the area. David tours the site in the interview, describing the numerous historical Aboriginal artifacts such as tool-making areas, elaborate Kangaroo traps, calendars, caves, and what he believes to have occurred in this time period. David also speaks about his interaction with the Department of Aboriginal Affairs in trying to obtain an assessment of the Aboriginal site and how he sees this site as a significant piece of history. Plants mentioned: wild oats, senecio, ajuga, kangaroo grass, dianella, isotoma, cypress pine, grevillea, cumbungi, kurrajong, iron bark.
Goulburn: Oral History of Charlee Campbell and Faye Crowe
Stream flow
Water levels
Floods
Droughts
Springs (Groundwater)
Riparian restoration
Erosion
Revegetation
An interview in three parts with Charlee Campbell and Faye Crowe. Charlee and Faye talk about Hollands Creek; growing up along the creek; memories of swimming and playing in the river; the cycle of flooding and the dry; and Aerial maps. Faye mentions learning to fish with her uncles; and both Charlee and Faye talk about horse riding; picnics; water levels and flow rates; changes in the river structure due to floods; walking on the creek bed; a large flood; the 2004, 2005 drought; their efforts to warn Benalla (Victoria) of the approaching flood; natural springs; sand deposits; erosion; their involvement with Holland's Creek Demonstration Reach; re-snagging work; collaboration with Goulburn Broken Catchment Authority; riffles; field days; re-vegetation; historical popularity of fishing ; and water rats. Mention of "McGregor's Bridge"; "Crowe's swimming pool" - a local waterhole. Mention of Koala, Platypus, Water rats, Frogs, Echidna, Wombat, Deer, Snakes, Blackberry
Goulburn: Oral History of Raymond Donald and John McKenzie
Fishes--Identification
Fish hatcheries
Fieldwork
Fishing nets
Camping
Diet
Fishes--Diseases
Fish traps
Captive breeding
Fishes--Breeding
Billabongs
Fisheries
Physical characteristics (Animals)
Fishes--Monitoring
Scientific methods
An interview in four parts with Raymond Donald and John McKenzie. Born in 1926, Raymond Donald was a technician at the Snobs Creek Hatchery for thirty-five years. During fieldwork trips, which could last for several weeks, not only did Raymond set nets, angle for brood stock, and process fish, but he also ensured camp life on trips went well. Renowned as a great camp cook, teams would catch game to supplement the provisions they carried with them. Raymond talks about: growing up in Eildon and living at Rhonda on the Goulburn River; working on the Goulburn River from the headwaters to the Murray; working on Trout Cod at Snobs Creek Hatchery; finding diseases in fish species; stations at Yarrawonga, Echuca, Mildura, where they trapped fish; being the first in Australia to artificially breed Macquarie Perch; migration of fish from Lake Eildon to Jamieson, Goulburn; water temperatures and spawning; plankton surveys in billabongs and flooded rivers; days before radio transmitters, tagging and tracking over twelve-hundred Golden Perch; the effect of 1956 and 1958 floods on fish species; camping and cooking bush tucker on field trips; translocating Murray cod from Lake Charlegrark; impact of European Carp on Catfish, 1970s. Born 1947, John McKenzie initially worked at Fisheries and Wildlife, and then Freshwater Fisheries on the Murray. He was involved in early development of radio tracking, and was involved in fieldwork with Snobs Creek Hatchery. John talks about: his work with Fisheries and Wildlife, and Freshwater Fisheries on the Murray; sampling fish for growth rates, age, stomach content; tagging and tracking native fish with radio transmitters; work with Arthur Rylah Institute; techniques and chemicals used to catch/sample fish; coexistence of Redfin and Catfish species; disconnection of billabongs from rivers; and electrofishing revolutionising sampling. Other fish mentioned (species unspecified): galaxias, grayling.
Upper Condamine: Oral History of Noal Kuhl [TREELINE]
Restoration ecology
Bait fishing
Fish surveys
Fish stocking
The fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh parts of a twelve part interview with Noal Kuhl. Noal discusses the section of Oakey Creek (above where it meets Westbrook Creek) known as the Treeline. He explains how the Oakey Freshwater Fish Stocking Association's good recordkeeping (of fish releases and catch surveys) informs our understanding of fish variance and habits. He talks about the use of Blood Worms as bait and where they can be found. He also mentions the old system of wiers along Oakey Creek. Mention of: Cooby Dam (Queensland), Oakey Freshwater Fish Stocking Association, Queensland Department of Primary Industries (http://trove.nla.gov.au/people/518348?c=people) Golden Perch, Siver Perch, Murray Cod, Yellowbelly, Eel-tailed Catfish Blood Worms (Glyceridae), Red Bellied Blake Snakes, Golden Orb Spiders, Chironomidae Johnson Grass, Bottlebrush, Melaleuca, Red Gum, Willow Trees, Casuarina ("Sheoaks")
Upper Condamine: Oral History of Noal Kuhl [JONDARYAN RESERVE]
Riparian areas--Management
Grazing
The eighth and ninth parts of a twelve part interview with Noal Kuhl. Noal discusses the history of Jondaryan Station and the creek surrounds, and covers subdivisions; grazing; floods; and land clearance. His talks about his extensive research into the prior state of the local ecosystem and discusses his efforts to return the river to a prior state (Noal is a member of the Oakey Freshwater Fish Stocking Association). He also talks about stocking impoundment permits; negotiating with local land holders to stock the river; and cleaning up the river. Golden Perch, Silver Perch, Murray Cod, Eel Tailed Catfish, European Carp, Rainbow Fish, Blackfish Shrimp, Mussels, Yabbies Marijuana Environmental Protection agency, Napco
Upper Condamine: Oral History of Noal Kuhl [NAPCO]
Fishes--Effect of water levels on
The tenth and eleventh parts of a twelve part interview with Noal Kuhl. Noal introduces his favourite spot and talks about fish migration; fish travelling; land subdivisions; and Bowenville Reserves history as a public site for livestock watering because of its favourably deep water holes. He adds that when the water recedes all that is left is confined to the deep holes. He discusses re-stocking, re-snagging, and ring tanks. River Trust, Department of Natural Resources (http://trove.nla.gov.au/people/535814?c=people) Red gums Eel Tailed Catfish (Tadanus tandanus)