Dr Nicole McCasker from Charles Sturt University shows three year-old Dakota Dunn a fish larvae sample.
The Edward/Kolety Community Field Day held Saturday has been hailed as a “huge success” by organisers and attendees.
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Held on the banks of the Edward/Kolety River at Four Posts Camp near Deniliquin, more than 75 people came together to share knowledge, learn about the river monitoring and research being undertaken in the area by different organisations.
They also took part in the “hands on” activities such as looking at water bugs and fish larvae under a microscope.
“There was a good turn up with a range of people from different organisations and from Deniliquin and the surrounding area,” said Charles Sturt University Professor Robyn Watts.
“The day was a great success in terms of collaboration, people sharing knowledge and learning, and everyone just having fun and enjoying the day.”
Dr Xiaoying ‘Shasha’ Liu and Judy and Frank Bond from Deniliquin.
The field day was co-hosted by Charles Sturt University, Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre, Murray-Darling Wetlands Working Group, Werai Land and Water Aboriginal Corporation, Streamology, Edward-Wakool Angling Association, Murray Local Land Services, NSW DPI Fisheries, NSW Planning and Environment, La Trobe University, and the Department of Agriculture Water and Environment.
Funding for the event was provided by the Edward/Kolety-Wakool Flow monitoring, evaluation and research program.
The day’s activities began with a Welcome to Country by Wamba Wamba Pereppa Pereppa Nation woman and Yarkuwa chair Jeanette Crew, OAM. It was followed by a traditional smoking ceremony.
“The message I want to get across is the importance of people working collaboratively or in partnership, not in isolation of each other,” Mrs Crew said.
“Days like this field day are extremely important in terms of sharing knowledge and experience, seeing the outcomes of all the work that has been done and is being done in this geographical area and in emphasising the joint arrangement between Western science and our science where our science gets the recognition it deserves.”
Ebony Mullin (left) and Kate Reid (right) from the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office chat with Traditional Owner Jeanette Crew on the banks of the Edward/Kolety River.
Mrs Crew said this combined knowledge will be beneficial in terms of the future management of “not just the Werai Forest but all our country.”
She also said how proud she was of the Kolety Werkul River Rangers Team - the good work they were doing - and how she hoped they will be the first of numerous teams doing the same kind of work “because we really need them”.
~ Contributed by Margrit Beemster
Michael Clark, from the Edward Wakool Angling Association, and Professor Robyn Watts, from Charles Sturt University. Michael has assisted with golden and silver perch monitoring.
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