Share your story about the Murray-Darling BasinThe Australian government has announced a new agreement to deliver water promised for rivers and wetlands in the Murray-Darling Basin. It’s the biggest sign of progress we’ve seen in more than a decade, but it still needs to pass through the Senate. Public pressure right now can influence what this deal is – and push our governments to make it better for rivers, wetlands, communities and wildlife. That’s why we’re collecting stories from up and down the river, from the city to the country, that show people’s connection to the Murray-Darling and why they want it protected! We’re not just going to speak up. We’re going to make sure politicians listen, by bringing these stories straight to Canberra on a giant map. Together, we can show our governments the huge, diverse support across the country – and push them to negotiate a strong deal for healthy rivers and communities.
Share your storyVisit this website to share your story and upload any photos, videos or audio clips. Scroll down for some tips of what you could include, and don’t forget to leave details about who is in the video/photo and where you are. Having trouble uploading your file? Email us at [email protected] instead, or send us a direct message on Facebook.
Tips for sharing your story:Share your river story however you feel comfortable – it could be a video, photo, written story or voice message. It can be 10 seconds long, or 5 minutes long! The more visual the better, but the most important thing is to explain your connection to the Murray-Darling or your local river in your own words, and why you want to see rivers thriving with life. We want to see your personality and passion! Here’s a few ideas and prompts to get you started:
Get some inspiration from these stories from across the Basin: |
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Nicki“I grew up swimming in the Murray River at Mildura. We moved there when I was 10, and I’m now 54. Every summer, my brother and I would swim down at Lock Island, down from our house. As a parent now, I take my son down to the Lock Island, and this summer he swam while I marvelled at the beautiful old eucalypt trunks sculpted into the island, and wished I could live there once again. We walked through the peace and beauty of Kings Billabong, watching the birdlife. I miss that river. I want it to be protected for generations to come, for those children, who now swim in pools because of the blue-green algae, to have the same love and connection to the lifeblood of the Mallee. |
Ruby“The Murray creates and defines Albury-Wodonga. She sustains me daily. Backstroke, looking up at the river red gums and the sulphur crested so-australian cockatoos, the sky… is better than any hospital medical treatment. or, if I have to go to hospital, the Murray is my first port of call when i get out. Home. End of March, I was sitting next to my tree-ramp where i usually swim, back of the Hothouse theatre, watching a turtle, the apex of it’s shell poking thru the surface of the water. I watched for a good 10 minutes, wondering why turtle wasn’t swimming. Eventually they poked their head out enough for me to see that a fish-hook was caught it their cheek! and wrapped round the neck. I jumped in and brought the turtle out, and with the help of a mate working at theatre, and pliers, was able to unhook the turtle. Turtle promptly swam off into the deep, once returned to the river. … big lessons for me about getting unhooked from unhealthy emotions or behaviours.” |
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Kate"As a kid, I took school holiday houseboat trips along the Murray with my family. Inspired by the birds we saw on our daily walks, I used my newly-acquired Christmas present (a watercolour paint set) to create my first ever 'grown-up' painting at the ripe age of 8, kick-starting a lifelong love of art. Our Murray must be protected for the wildlife that call it home, the people who rely on it for their livelihoods, and the future generations of little artists who will fall in love with nature on our great river." |
Angela“Rivers are our life source and we need to protect them. My family have always been drawn to rivers for their calming effect. One of our happiest family memories is camping on the banks of the Murray in Mildura when our kids were only 3 and 5 years old. Now we live on Steele Creek which runs into the Maribyrnong. We volunteer for our local sustainability group and regularly clean up the Maribyrnong and its surrounding creeks. We are deeply committed to regenerating our waterways and ensuring there is biodiversity and balanced ecosystems for future generations. This photo was taken on the Barwon River in Ocean Grove with a group of dear friends. We have spent many holidays together on rivers around Victoria and South Australia.” |
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Jane“The Murray-Darling evokes fond memories for me. I love it when I visit a new place on the Murray River and think of how this water and landscape is connected with other places on the river which I know. When our children were young, we spent a delightful holiday in the magnificent river red gum forest of Barmah State Park. We saw spoonbills, egrets, herons, and myriads of native ducks flying low over the floodplains. Recently we went walking in Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, where we heard the delightful songs of the scrub and forest dwelling birds and were lucky enough to see endangered wrens unique to this area. The Murray-Darling is one of the largest waterways in the world. It needs to be protected, for its natural beauty, for the many species which call it home, and because its water is the precious lifeblood of our dry continent. The government must deliver the water it has promised for rivers and wetlands in the Murray-Darling Basin. This is a photo I took of a magnificent old red gum by the river near Mildura.” |
Liz“I spent many childhood holidays on the banks of the Loddon river in Central Victoria. As an adult the Ovens and King Rivers have been an important part of my life. They are all part of the Murray – Darling basin which is critical to the health of so much of our country. Please ensure all these rivers receive enough water to secure the life which depends on them.” This photo is a polaroid from 1970, of me fishing in the Loddon river near Serpentine with my cousin and my brother.” |
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