Dialogues on Country presents
THE POSTCARD PROJECT
31 July – 15 August
Eight EWB volunteers are travelling through the Murray Darling Basin to talk to Aboriginal people about water and land management.
Their aim is to:
- Create positive change in the engineering profession through a dialogue between professionals in the water industry and Aboriginal
communities within the Murray Darling Basin - Gain an understanding of Aboriginal knowledge and values of land and water management in the Murray Darling Basin.
- Determine ways to embed our gained understanding in land and water practices, management and policy.
Click here for more information about the Dialogues on Country Trip
The team sent regular postcards back telling us about what they've been up to, who they've met and what they're learning.
Have a great idea about water and land management?
Send us a postcard with your idea at:
EWB
PO Box 708
North Melbourne VIC 3051
River queen – Dear Jillie Gillie, Wish you’d told us a few months ago that you were planning to fix all the MDB’s problems. Would have saved us a lot of trouble! Love, Ryan
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Nefertiti Murra Murra – Please look after our mother earth + Father sky – Oohh the Nebine is so fine on our Gwamu (Kooma) Country. We had some lovley visiters here that was nice. Enjoyed the time. O.K. Must go now. Nefertiti Murri Love Murra Murra Caretaker Gwamu Person. Yoway. (Thanks.)
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Caretakers home – 3/8/10 – Caretakers house, shirts & cups go flying – we are off to town - got to pick up some sheep first – chilly my dog can’t be found – Anyway no time for poetry lessons got to go drive around – pack the car first -Before the sun goes down- LVV Murra Murra Mob
Cultural flows – 11/8/10 – We’ve arrived in the Coorong + having wonderful discussions with Tom Treorrow + Matt Rigney. I’m understanding more about cultural flows – the seemingly subtle yet significant distinction from environmental flows is now clear. Keen to talk more about where to from here in terms of action. Seems like an amendment to the Water Actwill certainly help… K.
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The 100yr old bore – 2/8/10 – PP, Left for Murra Murra today along the long, red + dusty road to nowhere. Amazing to reach the homestead + Jeffrey, Nash, Nef + Co. Wonderful sense of community + knowledge here. Saw the 100t y. old bores + piping (see over) on the property (41°C constantly! – damn out of the G.A.B). Looking forward to a bore bath! Spent the night spotting. Jeffrey shot + butchered a kangaroo + we chatted camp stories over a fire next to the Nebine River. A harsh + demanding life – but not without its perks..
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Goodooga telephone – Welcome to Goodooga! There’s no internet café as Misko would say. Stayed with Melinda + looked around Goodooga -> not a lot going on. 50 out of 51 of the Kids Melinda teaches at the local school are indigenous – absolutely lovely. The larger social problems in town stem largely from welfare dependency – so Government seems to be key for change. (Fingers crossed)
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Tom – This is Tom Trevorrow, manager at Camp Coorong. He has shared his time + knowledge about ngarrindjeri peoples – about water, plants, morals. “Don’t be grady!, “care”, “respect” come back again + again. He has helped us see the change in the land + waters + shared his vision of how we can work together to build a future. At Camp Coorong, the focus is the next generation with school groups visiting. A place to break my first preconceptions + build understanding. I#ll be back. K. 13/8/10 Thank you Tom!
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Murra Murra Fish – Community Engagement in Action! The Melbourne Water gang is coming up to Murra Murra soon! This initiative is part of their partnership with Kooma. Claire
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River shot – Dear PostCard Project Welcome to Cunnamulla! Couldn’t quite make it to Murra Murra today – wet roads! – but we’re happy to be here in the warmth of Uncle Dave’s very comfortable, inviting home. Today: Lawn bowled, bought b+d, got bogged, pub lunch, fired headlight, found coffee, DROVE, DROVE, DROVE, and learned a lot from Uncle Dave! Ryan
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Bowls rained in – In Cunnamulla – Spending the night with Uncle Dave! Spent the day in the ‘Jilly Gilly’ Brekkie in Bourke – Thanks to our shopping adventures in the IGA. Coffee from a cheery bailer, then bpwling with Brian the soft drink truckie. Upon passing a number of haul trucks we reached Mary – the 99y.o publican. Amazing woman. After bogging a AWD, got to talking re:water. Doesn’t seem to be a big topic in Bourke (lots of water on the ground) – but as we progree to Murra Murra we’ll be much more in touch with those concerned with it! Fabulous Masterchef tonight in the comforts of Uncle Dave’s house! Chloe.
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Coombah Station – This brief stop at Coombah amused me. You are REQUIRED to buy something in order to wee. The restroom sides are labeled “blokes” + “sheilas”. And grainwaves are sp DELICIOUS. –e.g.
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Ranger Geoff – Ranger Geoff talking us through how the shields + bowls + canoes can be made using the scartree. Renaming a section of the bark the shield can be carved for use. We learnt also of the grinding grooves natural wells + bush foods. Amazing to think how many people once lived here. Spent much of the day shearing double Arlpl cout sheep. Solar panels move fascinating – great to see it all underway. Very, very, insightful man! Learning a lot about the circle of life..
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Bourke – July 31, 2010 – All day in the car & more tomorrow – to Bourke, in fact! Where we hope we’ll find a juicer, which we’re bringing to Murra Murra as a thank you. We’ve been listening to My Family & other Animals, + lookingout the window A lot – wow- The DOC begins! – E.G.
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Gorgeous country – DOC Day! – Tragedy: dropped ice cream cone “wah” And no Clip video! Triumph: The printer works! And the tents are (we think) pitched on Flat, Dry, Ground And wow, gorgeous country!!! Ryan
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Nyngan – 31.7.10 – Dear postcard project Nyngan marks the end of a 13-hour journey from the streets of Fitzroy in Melbourne. We’ve spent the day travelling through endless flat pasture in Australia’s biggest food bowl. Now for some food at the local pub! Claire
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An elder greeting – Friends, 
Greetings from Cunnamulla. As an Elder of the Kooma/Gwamu people I was happy to meet the E.W.B members on their way to my ancestoral landsM-Murra. I would welcome any E.W.B. people if they are out their way. I invite you to check out the add less (ovu) of our Canadian aboriginal who have asked for our support. Wishing well & my thanks for your assitant David Carline
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The super trooper – 31/7/10 – Dear 7pm postcard project The Photo is my trooper. She drove me, Keryn & Chloe 1000km today. She’s a real trooper. In Nyngan pub now.. Need a beer after such a day.
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Bowls – 01.08.10 This morning we heard that we wouldn’t get through to Murra Murra today due to the wet roads. A local advised that if we had some time to spare, we should drop by the Bourke Bowling Club for a good yarn in the sunshine. We shared a few rounds with Brian who showed us the ropes and reflected on the influx of people in Bourke since the rains have returned. Needles to say, Brian kicked our arses on the greens. Claire
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Flooding roads – Lizzy told us yesterday theat it had been bucketing down with rain in the Basin. This is some of the evidence: “flood water” over the road. We’ve passed many paddocks partially submerged and others turning green. Not much alse really; just paddocs and water. And sheep. And cows. And galans. 31/7/2010
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Mary at the bar – This is 89y/o Mary who singlehanded runs the lary pub before the ouD border – a bright character who told us some stories about the change in water use over the years, particularly in relation to cotton crop irrigation. Today I parted from Super Trooper + rode in comfort in Jills Gills until we got bogged on a muddy road verge… and arrived in Cunnamulla to meet with Uncle Dave. I am taken by his big heart and deep spiritual connection to his country. He is a joy to be around and we feel very welcome I n his home where we will stay tonight while the roads dry for access to murra murra. – Keryn.
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Cockatoo – I made a new friend today. We had a great chat and a game of follow the leader. Apparently a cockatoo can live for over 100 years!
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A smile for a long day – 31st July 2010 Will, Been on the road for around 1000km’s today, travelling through country Victoria + NSW. Final destination Nyngan. Süent the day with Mirko + Keryn discussing all-important things in the ‘Super Trooper’. Surprised to learn that Menindee Lakes was originally portrayed as an inland sea by early settlers, which has contributed to it’s damming + consequential environmental impacts. Keen to learn more + brush up on my karaoke skills! Nyngan -> Cunnamulla tomorrow! Wath this space…
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The butter factory – Want the truth? Outback gelato in Parkas is actually kind of gross (Inserted comment: Liz is so wrong. She choose badly! Chocolate was delicious!) although it was fun to look forward to. Also, this means that I am a snob L Can’t wait to start learning!
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Road – 31/7/10 Dear Postcard Project, we travelled 1000km today and crossed the mighty murray River followed by the murrum bigee and Lachless Rivers – to various soundtracks. It’s great to cross the landscape overland, our trip has formally begun…. There’s a lot of water on the land up here at the moment – tomorrow could bring some interesting crossings… Keryn
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50 Dollars – Aug 12, 2010 – Today we toured around the northern Coorong, including a visit to Ravkhan, where there used to be a mission + the church pictured on the $50 note still stands. The culture clashes we’ve been learning about are still going on … we just don’t even realize they are. In the U.S. too…! I feel embarrassed that I know so little about the Indigenous people who lived around the places I grew up – I want to change that but I don’t know how. So much cultural change so fast…
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A nice set of shears – Everyone is super immature + can’t appreciate the simple facts of life: after having 3 kick men must undertake a simple “rechanneling” of penis tubes, which are consequently filled with mud (or so Ray Barker explained to us). It’s suggested that those tools (see over) are shears. Spent the day talking to Peter the farmer, Ray + then onto a 2 hour tour at the lakes water storages at Cubbie Station. Good to hear the contrasting views on water use. . .
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Aboriginal cave paintings – We camped in Gundabooka national park between Goodooga and Menindee Lakes. A trail took us to a small stream and paintings in a cave. The paintings shared animals, weapons + dancing. The streams + rivers of this area have sustained Aboriginal people over a very long period of time. Oh, and more beautiful stars tonight! . Keryn 9/8/10
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Brenda Station – Brenda Station has detailed records extending back to 1897! 1 hour with Farmer Pete could not have been more illuminating. Pete doesn’t think that reducing stock has lessened impacts to the land, ‘cuz it just makes more room for the ferals: goats, pigs, etc. Wish we could have taken more time. RM
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But a splash of water – 4/8/10 – This is water splashed out of the bore drain by Misko’s surfing. We liked the way the water flowed over the dry ground and up the craks in the soil. Then we shore a sheep that was 3yrs over due.
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Cobar – Used the toilet + bought postcards this morning here [ Great Cobar Heritage Centre] after spending the night at Gundabooka National Park. Now we’re almost at Broken Hill, the country has changed a lot – much redder, drier, scrubbier greener + more barren.
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Cotton drains – We’ve heard from so many how Cubbie Station is to blame for water shortages in N.S.W. rivers, so we want to see it for ourselves. Wow!!! 460,000 ML of water storage – the same as Sydney Harbour. The size was overwhelming + amazing to think it’s all privately owned. But, it’s all legal and by the book [ This does not make sense!!]. A down stream farmer, Pete summed it up – wealth hasn’t been created or destroyed, rather it’s just been moved.
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Cubbie Station – Check this out! You can see why everyone down stream blames Cubbie Station for their lack of water
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Emu Cards – 8.7.10 – Last two nights we were in Goodooga, staying with Melinda, Wayne + Cassandra Gibbs, who were terrific hosts. Went out for a drive yesterday, first stop was a small scale farm manager named Pete. He talked about attending an auction where it appeared that the government was selling new H2O licenses to the water OZ is saving through the bore-capping program… That really depressed me. But the car had some spirited discussions about it.
Fishtraps – This photo is taken at Brewerring fish traps. Brewerring means “meeting place”. I could just imagine local tribes congregating around the traps eating lots of fresh fish. [Love] Misko
Fruit – Fruit anyone? Feeding the bin at the fruitfly exclusion zone in NSW…
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General Store – Spent a few days exploring around Goodooga A.K.A. Googh! Melinda & Wayne were so hospitable to us all! Karaoke on all the bumpy roads around town! Amazing how much water is in Cubbie Station! [Love] Misko
Goodooga – Beautiful Country out here. Wasn’t a blade of grass this time last year.
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Hydraulic Jump – slow, sub-critical; Fast!, super-critical; SLOW, sub-critical; critical depth; --lake depth; depth. Hydraulic jump as explained by Misko
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I love a good weir – I DO love a WEIR!
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Levees at Cubbie Station – August the ninth, 2010 – This is us, standing on one of the levees at Cubbie Station, looking at volunteer cotton plants at the edge of a field, checking out storage systems, drainage ditches and diversion channels… Oh yeah, + there’s a river out there somewhere too. What strikes me about Cubbie is: A) the difficulty of figuring out what the “truth” about Cubbie is. B) the difficulty of figuring out the truth about the whole H2O situation in the MDB. C) the way in which the SYSTEM of H2O management is …………….Failing.
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Misko – “I haven’t washed my hair since 1997.” – Misko
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Paddlers, grey nomads – Um, paddle-kayaking looks fun. Will I one day be a grey nomad….? I hope so.
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Ranger gets light on his feet – Uncle Geoff is surprisingly light on his feet! It surprised us, and REALLY surprised this baby emu. It feels like much more than three days have passed since we left Murra Murra on a highly emotional note, after a generous, heartfelt session with Cheryl. As we journey south some threads are emerging… Ryan
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Ryan says hi to internet – Dear everyone I’m sending you this card because: x we have no power, so can’t print our own cards! Don’t forget to: x post this on the web. I’ll be home: x much edified. Love to: x the internet! Ryan
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Stories in a dry river bed – We’ve shared a few very special days with Ranger Geoff here in Murra Murra. “Water is life” says Uncle Geoff, and many cultural activities take place near a place of water – a river, spring, or natural bore. Ranger Geoff has taught us so many things about Indigenous culture + knowledge, history – both past + recent, water + connection to country. And it’s been FUN! Ranger Geoff – THANKYOU! J Keryn 4/08/10
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Story of the Murra Murra – Dear Postcard Project, It was amazing to see Cheryl at Murra Murra. She arrived at 8.30pm after her long day. Over breakfast the next day she shared the Kooma story from first contact to their visions of Murra Murra + their people. She made us laugh + cry. She was honest and inspiring. She is truly an amazing woman.
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Talking with farmers – We spoke to a farmer about managing a farm across the NSW/QLD border with different water regulations + misaligned with natural water functional scales = challenge. How do you sink a bore in QLD to supply water in NSW? On the same farm? Peter the farm manager says “you don’t”. An interesting day learning about changing communities out here with social + water challenges. K. 7/8/10
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Thanks Ranger Geoff and Cheryl – Been thinking a lot over the last couple of days about how to apply our learnings in my life/job. Cheryl + Ranger Geoff, pictured here on the Nebine River in Murra Murra play such a big role in this – helping to make their culture, living + breathing, accessible to understand for us. I’m still so touched by their stories + big hearts. Looking forward to the other end of the MDB - the Coorong, and learning with the Ngarrindjeri. We arrive in the Coorong tomorrow! K. 9/8/10
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The gang at Murra Murra – Today we said good-bye to Cheryl, the Chair of the Kooma Traditional Owners, and Rangers Geoff. Cheryl’s words this morning made us laugh, cry tremble with rage and feel optimistic about our shared FUTURE. I know I will return soon, Claire
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The itinerary – Hey People! From Murra Murra to Doodooga (Friday) (Wed.) (Thurs) _ Brenda Sation – Lightning Ridge -Cubbie Station – and now Brewarrina (Fri) gonna check out some FISH TRAPS then Bourke and Gunbooka National Park! Ryan
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The locusts are in droves – Dear Postcard Project, We’ve spent the last decade lamenting the lack of water in the Basin. Now that the rains have come, we are lamenting the proliferation of pests – wild pigs, goats … and plagues of locusts. It’s TOUGH living on the land. Claire
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The old station divisions –Late in the 19th Century Qld & NSW were divided into a patchwork of pastoral leases. Today we visited BRENDA station, which today is an amalgamation of multiple leases, on the state border. Nowhere left for TRADITIONAL OWNERS. So many fences… Claire
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Wading through a normally dry river – Dear Postcard Project, Today we waded across the usually dry Nebine River to see the fish traps running. Uncle Geoff showed us the workshop site on the bank – explaining how Kooma people used to live. Hearing Uncle Geoff’s stories and knowledge highlighted the cultural significance of water to the Kooma people. I’ve been learning about the importance of water but today I really felt it. Lizzy
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What are these? – Aug. 9, 2010 – I wanted to take some with me but they make your hands smell funny. ‘Remind me of rambutans. I’d love to photograph them again (we found them at Menindee lakes).
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Work at the station – 8.4.10 – Shearing (not to mention catching, lifting, holding + herding) a sheep is no mean feat – MY GOD, I was transfixed by the whole process today. The thud of a huge dag (dreadlock of wool + poo + maggots) hitting the floor after it was shorn is still ringing in my ears. Intense and amazing.
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August the first 2010 - E.G
August the First 2010 - E.G Day 2 of the DOC is ending well. We're in Cunnamulla with Uncle Dave and it is a treat to meet him and hear stories and see this town. I've loaded film and hoping to get up early enough to make pictures here before we move on in the morning. Highlights today included seeing hundreds of emus running around in the bush as we drove along (a few were even charging along down the road itself at one point). We saw black cockatoos too - a large group - first time we've seen them in larger numbers - and pink cockatoos and one sulphur-crested in a cage that creaked like the gate and said 'hello cupcake' again and again.
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