Talking fish Making connections with the rivers of the Murray-Darling Basin
Authors JodiFrawley,ScottNichols,HeatherGoodallandLizBaker The rivers of the Murray-Darling Basin Citation:Frawley,J.,Nichols,S.,Goodall,H.andBaker,E.(2011)Goulburn:Talking fishͲmakingconnectionswiththeriversoftheMurrayͲDarlingBasin,MurrayͲDarling TheriversandcreeksoftheMurrayͲDarlingBasinflowthroughQueensland,NewSouth BasinAuthority,Canberra. Wales,theAustralianCapitalTerritory,VictoriaandSouthAustralia.The77000kmof 2 Projectsteeringcommittee waterwaysthatmakeuptheBasinlink23catchmentsoveranareaof1millionkm . TerryKorodaj(MDBA),CameronLay(NSWDPI),ZaferSarac Eachriverhasitsowncharacteryetthesewaters,thefish,theplants,andthepeoplethat (Qld DEEDI), Adrian Wells (MDBA Community Stakeholder rely on them are all different. Taskforce),PeterJackson(MDBANativeFishStrategyadvisor), FernHames(VicDSE)andJonathanMcPhail(PIRSA). Thebookletsinthisseriesareabouthowtherivers,fishandfishinghavechanged.Themain ProjectTeam storiesarewrittenfromoralhistoryinterviewsconductedwithlocalfishersin2010Ͳ11,and ScottNichols,CameronLay,CraigCopeland,LizBaker(NSWDPI); relateindividuals’memoriesofhowtheirlocalplaceshavechanged.Theyshowcasethree JodiFrawley,HeatherGoodall(UTS);ZaferSarac,GregRingwood waysofknowingtheGoulburnRiver:personalexperience,scientificresearchandhistorical (QldDEEDI);HamishSewell(TheStoryProject);PhilDuncan(Ngnulu Consulting);TerryKorodaj(MDBA);FernHames,PamClunie, research.Justasindividualfishersdonotalwaysagreewithoneanother,sotheir SteveSaddlier(VicDSE);JonathanMcPhail,VirginiaSimpson understandingmightnotnecessarilyagreewithcurrentscientificinformationorhistorical (PIRSA);WillTrueman(researcher). records.Similarly,specificitemsandeventsmightberemembereddifferentlybydifferent ISBN978Ͳ1Ͳ921914Ͳ33Ͳ1 people.Thesevariedperspectivesshowtherangeinviewsaboutfishingandtherivers,each importantinitsownway.Therearemanyothergreatstoriesoutthereaboutfishinginthe ©MurrayͲDarlingBasinAuthority,2011 PublishedbytheMurrayͲDarlingBasinAuthority(MDBA),Canberra. MurrayͲDarlingBasin.Thesebookletsarejustthebeginning. Graphicalandtextualinformationinthework(withtheexceptionof AcknowledgementsͲGoulburn photographsandtheMDBAlogo)maybestored,retrievedandreproduced inwholeorinpart,providedtheinformationisnotsoldorusedfor AveryspecialthankyoutoDrWayneAtkinson,KenGilmore,MickHall,DonnyRichter,Kaye commercialbenefitanditssource(MurrayͲDarlingBasinAuthority,Talking Gibb,GaryGibb,DonCollihiole,GeoffVernon,RonBain,JimHanley,HayleyPurbrick,Wally FishProject)isacknowledged.Reproductionforotherpurposesis Cubbin,JohnDouglas,DarylSloaneandJodyLiversidgewhogenerouslysharedtheirstories prohibitedwithoutpriorpermissionoftheMurrayͲDarlingBasinAuthority orthecopyrightholdersinthecaseofphotographs.Totheextent inthisbooklet. permittedbylaw,thecopyrightholders(includingitsemployeesand ThanksalsotoHartleyandNoelBriggs,DougandLaeliaRogers,JennySheilds,JohnKoehn, consultants)excludeallliabilitytoanypersonforanyconsequences, includingbutnotlimitedtoalllosses,damages,costs,expensesandany DavidChalmers,RolfWeber,RoyPatterson,ErnHolloway,KeithJones,JohnMackenzieand othercompensation,arisingdirectlyorindirectlyfromusingthisreport(in RayDonaldwhogavegenerouslyoftheirtime. partorinwhole)andanyinformationormaterialcontainedinit.The contentsofthispublicationdonotpurporttorepresentthepositionofthe Adviceandfieldsupport MurrayͲDarlingBasinAuthority.Theyarepresentedtoinformdiscussionfor PhilDuncan(NgnuluConsulting),FernHames(VicDSE),PamClunie(VicDSE)andSteveSaddlier(VicDSE). improvedmanagementoftheBasin'snaturalresources. Frontpagephotographs(LͲR) ResearchandeditingbytheNSWDepartmentofPrimaryIndustries(NSW Source:LukePearce. DPI)andtheUniversityofTechnology,Sydney(UTS).Theviewsexpressedin Source:SeymourAnglers. thisbookletarenotnecessarilythoseoftheNSWDPI,UTSorotherproject Source:SeymourAnglers. partners. Source:SeymourAnglers. TheMDBAacknowledgestheintellectualpropertyrightsofthepeople Source:JodiFrawley. whosestoriesarefeaturedinthispublication. Backpagefishimages Aboriginalreadersarewarnedthatthispublicationmaycontainthe Allfishimages:NSWDPI. namesandimagesofAboriginalpeoplewhohavesincepassedaway. TheGoulburnRiver’scold,clearwatersrush westwarddownfromthesteephillsand mountainsoftheGreatDividingRangetoward Seymour.Theriverthenturnsnorthwardand meandersthroughhillsandplainsuntiltheriver …thewaterwasclear;wecouldseethefish meetstheMurrayupstreamofEchuca.Theseare thetraditionallandsoftheTaungurung,Bangerang swimmingabout;thebanks oftheriverweresolid andYortaYortapeoples.However,theGoulburn RivertodayisnottherivertheTaungurung, Bangerang and Yorta Yorta once knew and fished. withtrees.Weusedtofish beneath its shade. SinceEuropeansarrivedthehealthoftheriverand TheArgus(Melbourne,Vic.),Friday8October1937,page12 itsfishhasbeenshapedbythepeoplewhocame tolivethereandtheindustriesthatdeveloped. Thegoldrushesandgrazing,drylandfarmingand horticultureallneededdifferenttypesofworkers, bringingnewpeoplewithnewneedstotheriver andnewwaystocatchfish.Waterisnowstoredin LakeEildonandcontrolledbyGoulburnWeirat Nagambie.Flowspeakinsummertomeet irrigationneedsanddropsoffinwinter/spring. Thesechangesmeantherearealotlessfishthan therewere.Beforetheturnofthetwentieth century,therearemanystoriesofcatching Macquarieperch,Murraycod,troutcod,blackfish andyellowbelly.Therewerenocarp,noredfin andnotrout.Now,thereareveryfewMacquarie perchandnotroutcod. Therearestillthosewholovetheriverandwho lovetofishtheriver.Theirstoriesarepartofthe biggerstoryofchangestotheGoulburnandits fish.Theyhelpusrememberthattheriverwesee nowisnotwhattheriverwasandcanbeagain. Peoplewanttotalkaboutafutureforthe Goulburnandtheirvisionsforahealthyriverthat is,onceagain,fulloffish. Introducing the river and its people newpeopletonorthernVictoria.Chinese Beginnings peoplejoineddiggersandAboriginalpeople DrWayneAtkinson,aYortaYortaman,tells and,bythe1860s,newtownssupportedthe thecreationstoryoftheGoulburnand smalleryeomanfarmschampionedbythe MurrayRivers: government. Baiamecreatedtheriverbysendinghis Problemswereemerginghoweverfrom womandownfromthehighcountrywithher miningactivities.Theshaftminesthathad yamsticktojourneyacrosstheflatand beensunkintheUpperGoulburncaused waterlessplain.Baiamethensenthisgiant heavy metals and silt to be washed into the snakealongtowatchoverher.Shewalked formanywearymiles,drawingatrackinthe river.OneoldͲtimerlamentedin1896: sandwithherstick,andbehindhercamethe WhenmyhusbandandIcameherefirstthe giantsnakefollowinginandoutandall waterwasclear;wecouldseethefish about,makingthecurvesoftheriverbed swimmingabout;thebanksoftheriverwere withhisbody.ThenBaiamespokeinavoice solidwithtrees.Weusedtofishbeneathits ofthunder,fromuphigh.Lighteningflashed shade.Thegoldminesdidthis,theycutthe andrainfell,andwatercameflowingdown The arrival of the Europeans timberdownforfirewoodandpitprops,and thetrackmadebythewomanandthe bushfireskilledthetreesonthemountains, 14 1 2 snake. HamiltonHume andWilliamHovell passed andthenthefloodscameandtoretheriver throughtheGoulburnRiverareain1824, bankstopieces;andyouseewhatfollowed.4 seekingapassagefromSydneytoSpencer Gulf.Theteamcampednearthepresentsite ofSeymourfortwodaysatChristmas‘in orderthattheymightavailthemselvesofthe finefishwhichaboundinitswaters,aswell asrefreshthecattle.’3 EarlyBritishsettlementfollowedtherivers. Allowidgee,picturedfishingusingabarkcanoeand Thefirstgrazingpropertiesweresetupon reed spear in a way common to Yorta Yorta men. He is thebanksoftheGoulburnintheearly1830s. BoatingontheriveratEchuca(dateunknown). shownhereatMalogaonthenearbyMurrayRiver. Imagesource:WangarattaLibrary. Photosource:StateLibraryofSouthAustralia,PRG422.3.704. Thengoldrushesofthe1850sboughtmany
Bythe1890sthelowerreachesoftheriver weresupportingproductionofwheat,fruits, winegrapesandawidevarietyoffoddercrops. Grazing,dairyfarms,piggeriesandbutter factoriescontinuedtoflourishintheupper reaches.5However,thedecadesoflandclearing increasedsiltationandthealteredflowofthe riverchangedthehabitatfornativefish. Inthetwentiethcentury,theriverwasregularly stockedwithnonͲnativefish,suchastrout,and carparrived. TheGoulburnbecameapopularspotfor Fornearly90years,KenGilmorehaslivedbyand people,includingAboriginalpeople,tofishfor fishedintheGoulburnRiver.Photosource:KenGilmore. theintroducedtroutandredfin.Itremainsone ofthemostpopularinlandanglingspotsfor DonnyRichteristeachinghisgrandsontheartof nativefishaswell,includingMurraycod, fishing,notjusthowtofish.Photo:JodyFrawley. yellowbelly,Macquarieperchandblackfish.
CatchingalargeMurraycodisamemorablemoment MickHallisapassionateandcompetitiveflyfisher. foranyfisher,andJodyLiversidgeisproudofthis Photosource:MickHall. beautiful35kgfishshecaughtintheGoulburnRiverin Kaye and Gary Gibb are members of the Seymour 2006.Photosource:JodyLiversidge. AnglingClub.Photo:JodyFrawley.
Ken Gilmore – True story! I’m not telling you a lie! yellowbelly.Blackfishtoo.Weusedtolike KenGilmorewasbornin ‘Bream’werewhatKen’sfamilycalled thatthen,little‘greasys’weusedtocall 1922.Heandhisnine Macquarie perch. Others knew them as them.Theywereverysweet.Nicelittlefish brothersandsisterswere black bream, Murray bream, white eye or toeat. raisedatHughendon,a blackfish.Theywereplentifulinthe grazinganddairyfarm GoulburnRiverwhenKenwasgrowingup. Kenremembersthatotherfishhadtobe andtheonlypropertyleft Theyhavesincebecomeveryrare.Another huntedintheoffͲriverareas. inthedistrictthathasa localfisher,JimHanley,alsoremembers Theyusedtogetcatfishintheolddays.In settler’stitleonitfrom catchingthem. thelagoonsmainly.Theyweren’tintheriver. the1860s. Weweren’tveryfondofthem,though. Photosource:KenGilmore TheMacquarieperchhavebeengonefor Somepeoplelikethem.Ididn’tlikethelook manyyears.I’veneverseenonecomeoutof Catch all the fish you want ofthem.They’rehorrible,horriblelooking theriverupstreamfromNagambieWeir.But things. BoththeRubiconandGoulburnrivers myfatherusedtocatchthemandMacquarie borderthefarmandwerecloseenoughto percharestilllocallylivingintheHughes thehomesteadthatthefamilyfished Creeks. regularlyalongitsbanks. Kids going fishing Weusedtoswimintherivereveryday duringthesummertime.Andwe’dallgo Withabigfamilyofcousinsalllivinglocally, fishing,especiallyiftherewasathunder theGilmorekidswouldoftenhangout stormapproaching.Weusedtogodown amongsttheshadytreesliningtherivers. armedwithwormsandsoforthandwe’d When they were sent to go rabbiting, they getontoashoalofbream.We’dfillasugar baginabouthalfanhourandwhatwe wouldtaketheirrodsalong.Andagameof couldn’teatweusedtoletgobecausewe cricketontheflatforsomeofthekids Melbourne railway workers used to regularly come didn’thaveanyrefrigerationbackinthose meantthatotherscouldthrowalinein toHughendonforweeklongspellsofcampingand days.Thereforeweweren’tgreedy,butyou while they waited for their turn at the bat. fishing.Kenremembers:Wegotalotofpeoplefrom couldcatchallthefishyouwanted. Kenrecallsthefishtheycaught: Melbourne,yearafteryear.Somecameeveryyear for 50 years. They used to pitch their tents on the Therewerealltypes:notmanyyellowbelly, Goulburn, and then they bought their caravans. compared with the cod and the bream. They Photosource:KenGilmore. werethemainones.Butthereweretheodd 1887
Catching fish? The coming of the cold water M acqu LikemanypeoplealongtheGoulburnRiver, TheoriginalweirontheGoulburnRiver, arie Kensawallsortsofwaystofish:rodsand SugarloafReservoir,wasbuiltbetween1915 (MacquariaaustralasicaͲmacca, perMurraybream, blackbream,mountainperch,whiteceye,h blackfish) reels,handlines,gillnets,drumnets,wire and1929.Duringconstructiontheweirhad nettingandsetlines. tobedrainedonatleasttwooccasions, generating ‘blackwater’ events and leading Myuncleusedtohaveapropertyuphere andhehadasetline.Hewasprettyoldand tomassivefishkills. heusedtolikeafishandonedayhelefthis Afterbeingmodifiedin1935,itwas lineinwithawormonit,andhewentback enlargedin1955andrenamedLakeEildon. the next day and there was no sign of a line. Itfilledinoneyearwiththe1956floods. Hesaid‘Wherethehellhasthatlinegotto?’ ThisnewdamservicedtheGoulburnValley Anyway,hehadalookaround,hefoundthe Photo: Luke Pearce. line, he gave it a pull, the next thing a wild irrigators.Italsokepttheriverlevels duckflewup,outoftheblackberryandhe’d constantwithwaterfromthecolddepthsof x Mediumsizedfish:canreach46cm,butusually caughtawildduckonthehookwithaworm. thelake. lessthan35cmand1kg Truestory!I’mnottellingyoualie! NinetytwoyearoldRonBainremembers Found in the cool water in the upper reaches of x Ken remembers the fun he used to have thesechanges. theMurrayͲDarlinginVictoria,NSWandthe ACT withhisfriendswhentheywouldgofishing. Terrificchanges!Thebiggestchangewas x SpawninOctoberͲDecemberwhenadultsmove AYugoslavfriendgavemesomelinesand whentheybuilttheweir.Seetheyhada intotributariesandspawnatthefootofpools theyhadlittlebellsonthetopofthem.Iwas smallwall,anditoperatedforquiteafew a bit of a devil. I used to ring these bells yearsandthenwhentheybuiltthebigger x Eatshrimpandsmall,bottomdwellingaquatic one,itloweredtheflowofwaterdownthe insects myselfandtheyusedtocomeracingupto seewhatIhadonmyline.Nextthing,they riverconsiderably.Andthenofcourseit Potential threats include interactions with trout x wereallsittingbesidemebecauseIwas loweredthetemperatureofthewater;and andredfin,sedimentation,removalofriparian gettingallthebitesanditwasonlyme thecoddidn’tlikethat.Itusedtobea vegetation,barrierstomigrationandcold ringing the bells! beautifulriver,youknow.Itusedtogetabit waterpollution ofafloodeverytwoorthreeyears.Andof x Listedas‘Threatened’inVictoria,andas courseitleftlagoons,sotherewouldbenice ‘Endangered’bytheCommonwealth fishinthelagoonsaswell.Butallthat’s gone,there’snoneofthatnow.
LakeEildonchangedtheriverofKen’syouth. A Hewasusedtoswimmingintheriverbut Cold riv once the weir went in, it was too cold. Ken wa er o x LakeEildonisalargeteimpoundmentr (3334GL) In1884,MLAAlfredDeakinfled wae‘Royal alsoremembershowtheweirchangedthe poll Commission into Irrigation’ and travelledirs to x Insuchlarge,deepimpoundmentsutithewater waytheriverflooded. on CaliforniaandIndiatoinvestigateinfrastructure columncanformdistinctlayers(‘thermal andschemes.Australia’sfirstmajorstructurewas Assoonastheweirwasputin,thewater stratification’)withalayerofcoldwater formingatthebottomofthedam builtontheGoulburnRiverin1887.Thisweir wentdowntoabout10degrees.Youcouldn’t formedLakeNagambie,whichbecameafamous swiminit.You’dfreezetodeathifyou x Thewaterisreleasedfromthedeeppartsof fishingspotforintroducedredfinaswellasfor jumpedin.You’dsoonjumpoutagain.Inthe thedam,whichmeansthewaterthatflows native fish. By 1893 the weir’s channel linked up downstream is colder than would occur olddays,thefloodswouldbeupandgonein 400milesofgravityfedreticulationonthe naturally 5 acoupleofdaysbutwhentheyfilledtheweir westernsideoftheriver. upin’56,whenwehadfloodshereͲthey x Thisisknownas‘coldwaterpollution’(CWP). The impacts of the cold water extend at least SugarloafReservoirwasbuiltbetween1915and wouldlastaboutamonth.Well,itprobably 100kmdownstream11andthisstretchofriver 1929,toincreasethestoragecapacityforthearea. didaffectalotoffish.Ithappenedafterthey Bigger changes were afoot in the 1950s when large isdominatedbycoldwaterspeciessuchas builttheweir. damswereengineeredtomitigatetheimpactof trout floodingandprotectcommunitiesagainstdrought. DonColliholeagreeswithKenthatthecold x CWPcanchangethetypesofplantsand In1955thenewdamͲLakeEildonͲwasopened, waterchangedthehabitatforthenativefish. animalsthatwillliveintheaffectedareasof replacingthereservoir. theriver.Itcanalsoreducegrowthratesin Pre’56,theyusedtocatchheapsofcod Unliketownsfurtherdownstream,thedamhelped fishanddelayorpreventtheirsuccessful downhere.AndthentheyfinishedEildon,the theGoulburnRiverdistricttoescapetheworstof spawningorrecruitment.Thiscanleadto water got that cold coming from down the 9 thehugefloodof1956. increasedvulnerabilityandreducedsurvival bottom,thecodjustcouldn’tbreed. Don’smateGeoffVernon,bornin1950, representsagenerationoffishersthathas neverknowntheGoulburninitsnatural state.Hecaughttheintroducedtrout,rather thanthenativecod,Macquarieperchor yellowbelly.Heremembers: AnoldpostcardoftheGoulburnWeir Mostlytrout,‘causeinthosedays,itwasa LakeEildon.Photo:FernHames. (dateunknown).Imagesource:WangarattaLibrary. prettycoldriverandthat’saboutallthere wasaround.
Mick Hall – Fly flicker extraordinaire MickHallwasthefirst TheyeventookmidͲweekjauntsbyskipping Australiantoreceive outofworkearlysomedaysanddrivingthe theprestigious hourandhalftotheGoulburn.Theywould SportsmanshipAward fishforafewhoursandbebackontheroad atthe‘OneFly’event by9.00pm.Attheweekendsthey’dcamp. in Jackson’s Hole, Ifirststartedcomingupinthe‘50sasa Wyoming,USA,in teenager.Ihadacarandcoupleofmates 1996. andwe’ddothetypicalthing.Camponthe Photosource:MickHall. river,drinktoomuch,fishtoomuch,stayup allnight,drivebackhomethenextday,goto That’salongjourneyfromRelubbusonthe adiscoorsomething,thenofftoworkonthe River Hayle in England where he was born in Mondaymorning.Buteveryweekendwe 1941. usedtocomeawayfishing. BillAustingivingotherwouldͲbeflyfishersadistance castingdemonstrationatEildonin1945.Heis Fishing got hold of me FishingintheGoulburnRiverintheearly handling30yardsoflinewithanAustralianͲmade daysmeantchasingwhateverwasinthe canerod.Photosource:MickHall. Hegotanearlystartwithtroutfishingby water.ButMickdecidedearlyonthatitwas exploringtheriverthatranalongsidethe flyͲfishingthatwasworthpursuing. Reading the river familycottage.Hewasfour!Hecameto And I always wanted to learn to fly fish. I TroutfishingintheGoulburnRiverareaand Australiain1949andasateenager couldseetherewasalotofmeritbecause inLakeEildonismostlydoneoffthebanks, reacquaintedhimselfwithtroutintherivers thereweresomanychallengesinit.Wewere ratherthanfrominboats.ForMick,finding nearMelbourne.Atfourteen,hesays,he attheThorntonBridgeandwe’dhadabig theperfectlittlestreamwheretroutlived washooked: dayfishingsinceveryearlyinthemorning. wasamatteroftrampingaroundtheupper That’swhenitgotholdofme.Youknow, Thisguycameuptheriverandhe’sflickinga reachesoftheriverandlearningasmuch thatdisease–it’slastedallmylife.I’ve flylinearound.Isaid‘there’ssometheother abouttrouthabitatashecould. playedaroundwithotherstuffbuttrout side.I’vebeenwatchingthemrising’.Andhe fishing’sbeenmylove. goesandhecatchesthem.Myjawjustwent Mickremembersthatinthe1960s,asitis baͲboom;‘Igottadothis.Ijustgottado today,itwasthecolourofthewaterthat As a young man Mick lived on the outskirts this!’I’vebeena‘flyflicker’everysince. wasanimportantindicator. ofMelbourne,soheandhismatescould headuptotheriveratamoment’snotice.
1860 1853 Rivertransport Adozensteamboatsworkingtheriveranditstributaries SSMaryAnnmakesfirsttripfromGoolwatoMoama Youcouldreadtheriversbythecolours.In thesmallermountainstreams,you’dsee Abo variouscoloursofkhakithatreflectedback rigi Over the nineteenthnacenturyl Aboriginal people offthebottomandthedeeperthecolour,the Fis continuedtolivealongtheGoulburnhin River. darkerthewater,thedeeperthewaterand g Womencarriedfishhooksmadefromgmusselea that’s where you’d find the fish. Especially if r shellsandusedkidneyfatforattractingthefish. ithadsurfacemovementonitlikebubble Hookswereattachedtocoilmadefromriverreed linesorwherethewaterwastumblingalittle andcastintotheriverortrolledbehindboats bit.Becausethatgaveprotectionforthefish. arounddeeperholesintheriver.Shortspears Theycouldn’tbeseenfromabovebythe wereusedfordivingandlongerspearswereused The‘redtag’ (left) isaclassicflyusedtocatchtrout.Fliesare birds.Whenyougotgoodatit,youreallydid fromcanoes. designedtomimicthefoodthateachfishspecieschases. Mayflies like the Aussie March Brown (Atalophlebia australis), gettheresults.Butittooktime. Aboriginalmenalsousedaspearsetasideentirely Ͳ right, are favourites of both trout and native fish. forkillingfish.Atfivefeetlongandaninchthick Photos: Luke Pearce. The lure of the fly thespearwasnotthrown,butusedasalance. PeterBeveridge,observingfishinginVictoriaand Flyfishingdependsontheartificialfly theRiverinainthe1880s,noted:…theyselecta Nativefish,suchas lookingtastytoafish:thebestoneslooklike stretchofshallowwater,fullofreedsandother Murraycod,canalso be caught on a fly. The theinsectsthefisheat.Mickhasspentmany aquaticplants,overwhichthewaryfisherman fliesthatattractnative hourswithfeathers,yarn,twineandhessian propelshiscanoe….Everynowandthenhethrusts the plain end of the stick sharply to the bottom, fisharedifferentto threads copying what he has seen in the therebydisturbingthefeedingfish.Asamatterof thosethatattract river. coursetheyrushawayfromthedisturbance trout.Photo:LukePearce. shaking the plants in their hurry, which at once tells Throughthespringandsummermonthswe thekeenͲeyedfishermanthepositionofhisprey'.6 Cod visit when its warm enough alwaysgetalotofinsecthatches,alotof terrestrialstuff;frombeetlesthroughto Differentsortsofnetswereusedfordifferent Whilehemighthavechasedtrout grasshoppers,ants,thissortofthingthat creaturesfromtheriver:someforMurraycrays throughouthislife,Mickwasalsoonthe wereonthewaterallthetime,aswellasour andothersforcatchingbirds,includingducks.Nets lookout for native fish and how they ninety metres long and one and a half metres wide aquaticsources;betheystoneflies,bethey wereweightedonthebottomwithclayandhad interactedwiththeintroducedspecies. caddis,midgeormayfly.It’sallthere,and floatsmadefromreeds. we’veseentheirmajoroccurrences,andthen BythetimeMickhadstartedfishinghere thefishfeedingonthem.Andfromthis Thesenetsweredrawnthroughthewaterbythe thecoolingoftheGoulburnRiverhad we’velearntmoreaboutthebugsandtheir men,andthewomenandchildrensortedand alreadychangedthehabitatfornativefish. picked the catch of cod, silver and golden perch, habitsandwhattheyneeded.Andjusthow catfish,blackfishandturtles. vulnerabletheyaretochangesinthesystem. Wedon’tgetalotofthecodandyellowbelly Little s rightupintheUpperGoulburntoLake W nat Eildon.Theymaycomeupandvisit,during illo Severalspeciesofivsmallere nativefishoccurincolder ws s in thesummermonthswhenthewater’swarm mountainstreams,including mrecreationalo speciessuch unta enoughforthem.Asamatteroffact,the asblackfish(slipperies,muddies)andothers,in st suchas galaxias(severalspeciesofGalaxias,alsoknownreamas littleblackfishthatwe’vegotaroundhere jollytail).13 areinabsoluteabundance.There’slotsof them.Andso,wefoundthere’sverylittle conflictthere‘causethehighmountain streamsaretheonesthatthetroutreallydo preferbutsometimesthey’llmovedownto wherethecodare. Willowsbeingremoved–onecontroloption. Mickpointstotheuseofheavymachinery Photo:HelenShimitras. Barredgalaxias.Photo:GuntherSchmida(Photosource:MDBA). andfarmchemicalsasbeingaconcernfor x WillowswereplantedinsoutheasternAustraliato fish.Aswellasremovingsnags,machineryis controlbankerosion,particularlyinthe1950s–‘70s. x SeveralspeciesofGalaxias,withamaximumsizeof They are now widespread in permanently wet or alsobeingusedtoremoveinvasiveweeds between15Ͳ20cmbutmorelikelyaround8Ͳ10cm seasonallywaterloggedsites likewillowsfromsomeareasalongtheriver x Barredgalaxias(pictured)areonlyfoundinthe x Willowsareinvasiveandarespreadbothbyseedand bank. Mick agrees that governments are headwatersoftheGoulburnRiver.Theywere asfragmentswhichtraveldownstream severelyaffectedbytheVictorianBlackSaturday nowdoingabetterjobthanbefore,but x Althoughsomefishwillshelterunderwillows,willows fires.Remainingpopulationswerekeptinaquaria thinksauthoritiesstillneedtobevigilant candominateriparianareas,displacingnative untilvegetationinthecatchmentgrewback,then aboutotheranimalsthatmaybeaffected. species.Theycreatedenseshadeandproduce theywerereleasedbackintothewild significantleaffallinautumn,whichdepletes Thisisalittlebitcontroversial,becauseupon x Barredgalaxiasarearelativelylonglivedfish–upto dissolvedoxygenlevelsandchangesthefoodsupply the Rubicon where they’re doing the removal of 13yearsold! withintheaquaticecosystem willows,Ifoundtwodeadplatypus.Onewas x Willowscanalsomodifychannelshapeandcapacity, x Barredgalaxiasarelistedas‘Threatened’nationally badlydecayedandtheotheronewasn’t;itwas divertflow,accumulatefinesiltandcontributeto x Mountaingalaxiaslayeggsontheundersideof ayounganimal.Idon’tknowifitwasbecause erosion stonesintheheadofpoolsandriffles.Thesefishare they’dbeendislodged,orifitwasthepoisons x Ifwillowsarebeingremoved,itisimportantto thoughtnottomigrate,andhaveasmallhome theywereusing,whetheritwascontractor ensuretheyarereplacedprogressivelywithnative rangeofabout19m doingit,Idon’tknow.Maybethedeathsof trees.Thecompleteremovalofalltreesoverhanging x Mountaingalaxiasaretheonlynativefishfoundin platypusarenotrelatedtotheseworks,butI theriverwillresultinwatertemperaturesthatare the alpine zone above the snowline during winter mean,theyjustgoinandblastawayat higherinsummerandlowerinwinterandalso increase native fish exposure to predators everything. Donny Richter – Changing habits Donnywasbornin1948and A cod would live there raisedinMelbourne.Hewas Hisloveoffishingstartedoutsmall,learning Pe apprenticedasapainterand opl tofishwithhisfamily. e an decoratorandasayoungman NorthernVictoriad hastowalwaysbeenoneofthemore movedaroundnorthern Myfatherwasabuilderandhewasalways heavilypopulatedruralareasns ofAustralia.Manyof the townships along the riverabeganlo with an inn and Victoria.HelivedinBoortin working,andonlyduringholidaytimes ng apunt,assistingtravellerswithlivestockthande wouldhetakemeandmyyoungerbrothers ri theMalleeandthenat providingservicestothegoldfieldsfromthe1850s.ver fishing.Aslifewenton,Iwentoutonmy BarmahontheMurrayRiver. Alexandra,Seymour,Nagambie,Mooroopnaand own 16, 17, 20 fishing, and bought my AfterastintinGeelong,he Ͳ Ͳ Sheppartonallgrewinconjunctionwiththechanges firstboat.Itcostme$290.Littlesixhorse returnedtoShepparton, insurroundingindustries:grazing,dairying,mining, powerChryslermotor,andfromthereit’s forestry and agriculture. The river was vital for the finallyputting,ashesays,‘abigtaproot justgrown,mate.Biggerandbetter. growthoftheseplaces. down’in1983atMurchison.Histhreeacre blocksitshighonthebankoftheGoulburn– Asayoungman,Donnyandhismateswould Fromthe1870sraillinkstoMelbourneboughtmany headoutoncampingtripsontheriver. morepeople.Inthe1920s,SheppartonPreserving plentyofroomforabigshedthathouseshis Company and Ardmona Cannery capitalised on Findingtherightspotwascrucialtomaking boats,caravan,multiplefishingrods, productivelocalfruitgrowingandasaresultlarge hundredsofluresandhalfadozencod itagoodfishingweekend. numbersofseasonalworkerscameandwentfrom 10 trophies. Well,first,we’dlikeplentyofshade.And thearea. we’dsetthecampupthere,butthen,when wegodowntheriverintheboat,we’dlook forspotswherewethought‘acodwouldlive there’,likeanold,deadtreeinthewaterora heapofbrancheslayingaround,orabitofa swirlunderalogandabig,hardclaybank– we’dalwayslookthemout.
Tripstotheriverforpicnicsandfishingwerecommonfor Aboriginalpeoples,townies,farmersanditinerantworkers Donny’sworkshop.Photo:JodiFrawley. alike. Photosource:JimHanley. We’d just catch them all Fortwentyyears,DonnyandNoelwent fishingonceamonth. Mu IntheseearlydaysDonnyandhismates rray (Euastacus armatus crSpiny cray) wouldcatchasmanyfishastheycould. DonnyintendstoteachhissixͲyearͲold Ͳays grandson,Charlie,everythingthatNoel Butbackintheolddayswe’ddoeverything taughthim. wrong.We’dputincrosslinesandspringers andsetlinesthatwewouldleaveovernight. Well,atthemoment,I’mtakingmysixͲyearͲ Wecouldhaveupto40springersinand oldgrandsonfishing.I’mnotgoingtoteach catch10fish.Acoupleofcrosslinesandyou himtheoldways.IwanttoteachCharlie couldgetupto20codatatime. whatI’vebeentaughtforthefuture generation.Whathelearnsfromme,it’ll Bigcatchesoffishmeantbigstoriesatthe Photo:NSWDPI. helphimandmaybehecanhelpsomeone pub. elselateron. x Reportedtogrowto3kgandarethe2nd We’djustcatchthemandhadtobringthem largestfreshwatercrayfishintheworld homeandgetinthepubandbrag.‘Oh,we Of crays and carp x ConfinedtoRiverMurrayandtributaries,and caughtthismanyfish’.Whatwediditfor:I foundonlyinthemainchannels Over the road from Donny’s place is a steep don’tknow.You’dgivethemawayorthey’d claybankthatslidesdownintothewatersof x Preferscool,strongflowingwater,withhigher gorotten. oxygen content theGoulburn:aperfectspotforMurray How to fish - properly crayfish.Whenhe’supforafeed,Donny x ActivethroughthecoldestmonthsfromMay moseysovertotheriveranddropsinanet toOctober All this changed in 1977 when, at age 27, withapunchedtinofdogfoodforbait. x Slowgrowing:5Ͳ10gin1styear,mayreach40g DonnymethismateNoelAnderson. after2Ͳ3yrs Infrontofmyplaceyoucanputanetinto Noeltaughtmealotaboutfishingand gettheMurraycrays.I’llpullthatnetup,and x Breedingweightis200Ͳ250g,whichtakes catchingcodandlurefishing.And,yeah,I I’llsay‘I’llhaveyouandyou’,andtherestI about6Ͳ9years wouldliketosay‘Thankyou,Noel’‘causehe tipbackintotheriver.Whybegreedy? x Breedlateautumnandearlywinter,carrying wastheonewhoputmeonthestraightand They’realwaysthere.Whytake20,whenyou eggs(‘berriedup’)untilOctober narrow,insteadofspringersandcrosslines. onlywanttwo. Heknewallthetricks,heknewwheretoput x Steadydeclineinnumberssince1940s linesin,wheretofishandallthatstuff.He x ContinuingreductioninsizeinNSWsince wastheonethatreallyshowedmehowto 1960s fish–properly. Carphavebeenabigprobleminthe C GoulburnRiverovertheyears.Donny arp - Cancarpsurviveinmudorsaltwater? remembersatimewhentheriverwas (CyprinuscarpioͲEuropean FAQcarp,koicarp) No,carpcannotliveinmud.Theycantolerateawide boilingwiththem. s rangeofenvironmentalconditions,includingverylow dissolvedoxygenlevelsandhalfseawatersalinity. IcanrememberattheWeir,you’dlookover, Wheredocarpprefertolive? atthebottomofthespillwaytherewouldbe Carparecommonlyfoundinsloworstillwater,witha thousands and thousands of carp. The water siltysubstrateandshallowvegetatedhabitats.These wasjustbubblingwiththem.Yearsago, provideoptimalspawningandrecruitmentconditions. you’dgouptheriverandthere’dbecarpon Carppreferfloodplainhabitatsduringfloodsand theriverbank.Peoplehavecaughtthemand inundatedbackwatersappeartobezonesofhigh throw‘emupthereandthey’dstink. Photo:GuntherSchmida recruitment. Whenwerecarpintroduced? Donnythinksthingshavechangedoverthe Howlongdoesacarplive? WhilevariousdifferentgeneticstrainsofCarphave Carp are a long lived species and they can be prolific dry years of the drought. He hears different Ͳ beenintroducedintoAustralia,itwasn'tuntilthe spawnerswhenconditionsaresuitable. ideasfromhisfishingmatesastowhythe 'Boolara'strainwasreleasednearMilduraintheearly Are carp eggs carried by bird’s feet and able to 1960sthatCarpbegantospreadwidely.By1974they carpmightnotbeasplentifulasbefore. survive to be fertilised at any time? hadspreadthroughmuchofthesouthernpartofthe No.Carpeggsonlysurviveoutofwaterforashorttime Thecarpseemtobegone.Idon’tknow MurrayͲDarlingBasin,althoughweirsand and are usually attached to plants. Unfertilised eggs why.Therearelotsoftheories;theyreckon impoundmentswereactingasbarriersinsomeofthe 12 soondie. thecodareeatingthem,butthen,Idon’t largerrivers. know if the water might be getting too cold Docarpundermineriverbanksandcausetreestofall WhendidcarpappearintheGoulburn? intorivers? forthemandthey’reheadingfurthernorth, IntheGoulburnsystem,carpwererecordedinthe Carpfeedbysuckingsedimentintotheirmouth, Idon’tknow. SevensCreeksintheearly1970s,althoughGooram removingfood(eg,insectlarvae,crustaceansand Fallsappearedtorepresentabarriertolimit someplantmaterial),andexpellingsedimentout upstreamspread.Bythemid1970s,theywere throughtheirgills.Thereisnoevidencethatthey recordedmidwayuptheGoulburnsysteminareas underminebanks. suchasLochGarry,LakeNagambie,theWaranga channelandLakeCooper.Byearly1980s,carphad Docarpeatnativefishandeggs? beenrecordedasfarupstreamasLakeEildon.They Carpmayeatsmallnumbersofeggsorlarvaebut arenowwidespreadwithinthecatchment,although thesearelikelytobetakenincidentally.Carpare numbershavefluctuatedattimes. thoughttoincreaseturbidityandtocompetewith 12 nativefishforspaceandfood. Carprespondquicklytofavourableconditions. Photo:NathanReynoldson. Kaye and Gary Gibb - From the ocean to the river KayeandGarywere It’sadifferenttypeoffishingtothesea KayeandGarybothlikecatchingabigcod bothbornintheearly fishing.Therearedifferentbaitsbecauseup whentheyareoutontheriver. Northyoudidmainlylurefishingforthefish 1950s,butgrewup The ultimate in fishing probably is to catch a wecaught.Weusedifferentluresandbaits fishingincompletely cod. They’re a very lazy fish to catch though. downhereforthedifferenttypesoffish.I differentpartsof They’re big, like a big log just pulling, or a big hadtolearnwheretogo,whatsnagslook Australia.Kayelearntto snag or something. Very good when you do good. fishdoggymackeraloff getaniceone. theQueenslandcoastnearTownsville;while GaryandKayeliketofishinthelakesaround GarytookdaytripstotheWakoolRiverwith theGoulburnRiver.Fishingfromtheboatin hisDadandbrothers. thestillerwatersgivesthemtheopportunity touseberleytoattractthefishtowhere KayecametoVictoriain1973,butleft theyare.Garyexplains: fishingasideformostofherlife,takingitup againwhenshemetGarytenyearsago. Berleyisusedmoreinthelakesbecause, otherwise,ifyou’reintheriversystem,itjust IgottangledupwithGary.Hewasakeen flowsawaytooquickandyou’rejustfeeding fisherpersonandsaidifIwantedtogoout thefishorattractingfishfurtherdownthe withhimIcouldgo.Isaid‘Oh,yeah,Iusedto river.Unlessyou’vegotyourownlittleberley fishquiteabitathome’.So,westarted bombswhichhangoverthesideofyour JimHanley,anotherlocalfisher,likestofishforcodin goingoutwiththeSeymourAnglingClub boat.Weuseberleypelletsthatarelike LakeMulwala.Photosource:JimHanley. onceamonth. chickenpellets–allreadymadeͲup,readyto go.Sometimesweaddourownlittle OneofthechangesthatKayeandGaryhave Fishing – you never forget how ingredients – fish oils or ground up baits. Just seenisthebanontroutcodinVictoria. togiveitthatsmellandtoaddasan Itwasabitlikeridingabike;askillthatKaye Sincethisbanwasintroduced,they,like attractant. hadnotforgotten–It’sjustarefreshermore manyotherfishersontheGoulburnand sothananythingelse.Kayedidhavetoadapt othernearbyrivers,haveseenareturnof what she knew about ocean fishing, and thetroutcodtotheirregularcatches. Garytaughtherwhattolookoutforouton theriver. Wedosometimescatchafewtroutcodbut becausethey’reaprotectedspecieswe’ve Tro gottoletthemgo.Youthinkyou’vegota ut (MaccullochellamacquariensiscodͲ bluenosedcod, lovelyfishon,untilyoubringitupandsay bluecod) ‘well,oh,I’vegottoletthisonego’.Beautiful lookingfish,butofcourse,Icanunderstand whytheyhavetoletthemgo.
Fishing weekends away TheGibbsrarelymisstheSeymourAngling Clubs’monthlyweekendsaway.Theysetout Thesecod,caughtin2006,werethefirstcodJim onFridayandsetupcamp,usuallyonthe Hanleyandhisfishingmateshadcaughtfromthe riverbank.ThecompetitionstartsonSaturday GoulburnRiverin30years.Twoweighedinat8 morningandfinishesonSundaywithaweighͲ Photo:GuntherSchmida. poundsandtwoat6pounds.Photosource:JimHanley. inforfirst,secondandthirdprizes.Theyfish x Largedeepbodiedfish,growingto85cmand 16kg,butmoremostlylessthan5kg forsixtoeighthourseachdayandeitheruse Fishing in the dry Associated with deeper water, pools with keepernetsorphotographthefishsothey x SinceKayestartedfishingagain,droughtand coversuchaslogsandbouldersandfaster can release them. flowingwater dryerriversthathavebeenthenorm.Kaye hasnoticedthatthefishcanadapttothe Differentplacestheyvisitmeandifferentfish. x Theymovelessthan500mfromtheirhome snag,withoccasionalexplorationsof20Ͳ60km wideswingsinthewaterlevelsassociated There’s quite a few silver perch in the beforereturninghome withdroughtsandfloods. Goulburnbutwe’renotallowedtokeep x Adhesiveeggsprobablylaidonhardsurfaces them.YoucangoasfarasYarrawongaor Shesays: Mulwala, Echuca and back down towards x Eatotherfish,yabbies,aquaticinsectlarvae, Theydon’tseemtobreedasmuchina Cobram. When we go to Nagambie, there’s andshrimp droughtbecausetheyknowthatthere’snot quite a few cod. We’ve got one place, that’s x Potentialthreatsincludeinteractionswith asmuchwater,there’snotasmuchfeed. troutandredfinandhabitatmodificationsuch agoodlittleMurraycodplace,closeto Sincethe2010floods,there’smorefeed Seymour.Wegetpermissionofftheowners asdesnagging,sedimentation,removalof riparian vegetation, barriers to migration and around,so,ofcourse,they’regoingto andgodownthere.Someofourmembers coldwaterdischargesfromlargedams flourishmore. havecaughtcodandmostofthemhave beenreleasedbecausetheywanttokeep x Listedas‘Endangered’inVictoria,NSWandby theCommonwealth themintheriverhere. Timber in the river Theironyisthatmoresnagsinthispartof therivermayhaveprotectedthebanksand Sn Kayehasalsonoticedthatthelongdryspell ag preventedtheunderminingofthetree FAQ followedbytherisingwatersofthelastyear s roots. hascausedmanymoreredgumsthanusual totoppleover. NonethelessGaryGibbworriesabout desnagging–hecanseebothsidesofthe Justrecently,there’sbeenquiteafew argument: treesfromthebankfallenintotheriver, andIknowthat’sgoodforthefish,but,I Notsolongagotheywerepullingallthe think,you’vestillgottocleantherivers treesouttocleantheriversandwaterways outalittlebittoletthewaterflow. up.Itcostafortune.Now,they’reputting logsbackinorlettingthetreesgointhere.It KenGilmoreisanotherfisherwhothinks Naturalsnags.Photo:FernHames. maybeagreatthingforthefishhabitat.It that the riverbanks are different than they maynotbeinsomeways.Itdoestendtosilt Whyweresnagsremoved? Up until 1995 snags were removed to improve oncewere: uptherivers,andtostopalotofflow.Now, navigationandbecausetheywerethoughtto dependingonwhatyouwant:Doyouwant Blackwattle.Theyusedtofallinalot. increaseerosionandflooding. OneoftheengineersinAlexandra,hehad tocleantheriversoutorkeepthemflowing? Whyaresnagsimportant? the idea he was going to clear the banks Or,doyouwanttoblock‘emup?It’sgood SnagsprovidehabitatfornativefishlikeMurraycod forthefish,perhaps,butit’sstillgottohave tostopthetreesfallingintheriver,butno andtroutcod.Snagsareusedforshelter,territorial a lot of flow. So, it’s good and bad. And the oneagreedtothat.There’sgumtrees markersandasambushsites.Tothesespecies,a whoserootsystemsseemtobeweakened otherthingis,ofcourse,alotofsnags.Well, snagishome–Murraycodhavebeenrecorded andtheyseemtobefallinginmorethan it’sgoodforthefishing,butnotsogoodfor migrating240kmupstreamandreturningtothesame whattheyusedto.About15acresofland theboaterthatwantstogooutthereand snag16,andwenowknowthat80%ofMurraycodare 17 wentinuphere,youcouldhearitfalling puthisboatinthere.Yougottatryandget foundwithin1mofasnag! in.Thewatergotunderneaththebanks aroundthemandallthatbutinafast Dosnagscauseerosion? and,allofasudden,you’dhearagreat flowingriver,liketheGoulburn,itcanbe IncertaininstancessmallͲscaleandshortͲterm ‘whoosh’andinthemiddleofthenight dangerous.But,fishdoneedhabitatsand erosionmayoccur,butinmanycasessnagsmay abouthalfanacreofsoilwouldfallinthe theyneedbreedingplaces–anditdoesslow reduceerosionandareimportantforbankstability. riverandgodowntheriver. –butah,whatcanyousay?That’sit.That’s Aresnagsjustthrownin? thewayIfeel. No.Agreatdealofscientificandengineeringanalysis goesintodeterminingtherightposition,size,number andtypeofsnagputbackintotheriver.Permission fromStateagenciesisalsoneededpriortoworks. Making connections
Working for fish Fathers, brothers and sons WallyCubbinhasfishedtheGoulburnsince FishinghasbeenanimportantwayforJohn 1958.He’stheSecretaryoftheNagambie Douglastoconnectbothwithnatureandwith FishingClubandarepresentativeonVRFish, histwosons.Johnisbothafishscientistand arecreationalfisherorganisationinVictoria, apassionaterecreationalfisher.Bornin1960 whosemottois‘FishfortheFuture’.Wally andtaughttofishontheMurrayRiver,hehas seesadvocacyasanimportantwaytowork beenlivingintheAlexandraareaformostof towardahealthyriverandbringbackthe hisadultlife.Hesays: John Douglas (centre) wants to share his childhood fish. fishingexperienceswithhisownsons.Johnisshown Ialwayshadthisthing–Ilikedgoingfishing I’dbeencollectingalotofdataonthefish herewithhisbrotherRay(front)andUncleIan. withtheoldman–soIthoughtit’dbenicetogo killsovertheyearsfromthedifferent Photo:BruceDouglas. fishingwithmykids.Iftheywantedtogo,they went. If they didn’t, I don’t think I forced them. agencies.DrPaulSinclair,theDirectorof Mickhasbeenanadvocateforthe‘AdoptͲaͲ Myoldestoneisnotthatkeenonitatthe EnvironmentVictoria,cametoNagambie Stream’program,aVictorianDPIFisheries minute,buttheyoungerone’sprettykeen.But andhehadalookatitall,hehadalookat initiative. thepicturesandhesaid,‘Wouldyoube thentheolderonewillcomebackandhe’dbe interestedingettingtheGoulburnValley WhatIenvisagedfrom‘AdoptͲaͲStream’was lookingattheweather,going,‘Oh,weshould AssociationofAnglingClubstohelpwithan maybegettingprojectslikethosebeingdone sneakdowntheriver.’Soit’sasocialthing,we auditonGoulburnͲMurrayWater?Astothe intheUnitedStates.Somanyofour cancatchupandyoucanstandintheriverand waythattheymanagetheirwaterways, scientistsjustthink‘Fish’andnothingelse. haveafishandchat.Soit’sprettygood. ecologicallyandenvironmentally?’AndI Thebottomlineistoconsiderallthelife said,‘Yes,wewould.We’dliketodothat.’ that’sintheriver.It’stheinͲstreamhabitat thatisjustsoimportantofthesurvivalof FlyfisherMickHallunderstandsthe everything.ThebirdlifeandwaterͲfowl importanceofhabitat,forbothnativeand disappearswithwillowremoval.Youdon’t introducedgamefish.Hecampaignsfor seethembackagain‘tilthere’scoverback habitatcareandisinvolvedwiththeNative again.You’vegottoplantsothatyou’vegot FishStrategypeopletoimprovethegeneral shadedareas,you’vegotwhatnaturegives healthoftheriverforallfish. youinmountainstreams.‘Causethat’sthe wayitsurvives,ifyoudon’t,itjustchokes TheGoulburnRiver,withsnagsandoverhanging itselfanddies. riparianvegetation–idealforfish.Photo:JodiFrawley. RonBainis92yearsoldandremembershow, knowingthatonlymypeoplewalkhere,sit asayoungman,heandhisbrother,father hereandfishhere.I’mnotsayingthatIwant Moo othersexcludedfromtheriversystembutI roo andbrotherͲinͲlawwouldpackuptheflatͲ After the strike against Governmentpn interference at justwantalittleareawhereeveryonewho a bottomedpuntandheadofffishing. Cumeragunjain1939,alargegroupofAboriginal treadsherehasthesamethoughtintheir peoplewalkedoffthemissiontosettleinriverbank We’dgetthelocalcarriertoputourboatsonhis hearts.15 campsalongtheGoulburnRivernearMooroopna. truckandgouptoAlexandraandthenwe wouldfloatallthewaydowntheriver.We’d If we look after the river, the Theybuiltmakeshifttentsofhessianandtinon'The spendoveraweekandthat’dbeourannual Flats',thelowͲlyinglandbetweentheriverandthe holidays.We’dsleepontheislandsinthedays river will look after itself highwayandlatergroupsmovedovertheroadto Daish’s paddock. They worked at the Ardmona whentherewereislandsontheriver.Andwe’d In his social welfare work with the Salvation factory,theMcLennans’FlourMillandatfarms floatourwaydown,spinningaswewent.There Army,49ͲyearͲoldDarylSloanhasmetmany outsideoftown.Fishingandhuntingalongtheriver were fast rapids in the river too, you know, and differentpeoplewhocampalongthe providedfoodforsurvivalandaplaceforthemobto by golly, it was good fun. Coming down there. GoulburnRiver.Thesedays,theneedyand gather. homelessliveinthebusharound Beatrice Aitkinson remembers: Fishing from Dhungala Shepparton.ButDarylpointsoutthatthere ‘Wehadnosocialservicesoranything.Itwas In2004theYortaYortasignedajointland isalonghistoryofriverbankcamps– hardbuthappytimes.Everyoneshared,whether youwereshortofanonionorwhatever,you managementagreementwiththeVictorian includingthe1939campsofAboriginal 8 couldsitdownandtalk'. GovernmentregardingtheBarmahMillewa peopleatMooroopna,AngloͲAustralian Forestareas.TheYortaYortaconnectionsto seasonalworkersandEuropeanbackpackers The1974floodwassohighitwashedaway324 houses in Mooroopna. The camp was also inundated the Goulburn River are deeply felt and when of today. andpeoplehadtomovetohigherground;rebuilding celebrating this agreement Wolithiga Elder NewAustraliansandoldAustralianslivedon oncethewaterreceded.Thisareaisnowknownas 8 HenryAtkinsontalkedabouttheimportance thebanks,wheretherewasapromiseof Rumbalara. offishingwithinconnectiontocountry.Like seasonalworkdependentonirrigation.The manylandholders,Henrywantspeopleto bushofferedprivacy,warmthfromafireand seekpermissiontocomeontotheseriver aplaceforfishingandotherfood.Butthe bankstofish. lackofservicesmeanthatthesecampsstill pollutetheriver.Weneedtousesome Ipersonallyamlookingforwardtotheday commonsenseaboutthefuture.Ifwelook whenIcansitonthebankofthemighty aftertheriver,theriverwilllookafteritself. Dhungala(MurrayRiver)andfishexclusively on my own land without the need for a piece ApostcardshowingtheMooroopnaRoadinflood ofpapertosaywhatIcanandcannotdoand (no date). Photosource:Wangaratta Library. Visions for the Goulburn Thefishingpeoplewhocontributedtothis Hayleydisagreeswiththewaythemedia projecthavealltalkedabouttheirhopesfor pitstheenvironmentagainsteconomic thefutureoftheriver.Manyfelttheyhad development.Insteadshethinksthatthere seensomeimprovementsbutmostdon't isabrightfutureaheadforourwaterways. feeltheriverisashealthyyetastheywould Itshouldn’tbeacompetitionbetween liketoseeit.Eachofthesefisherssuggested environmentsandfarmingbecauseIthink ways to help the river and in turn help peoplewouldfindthatalotofyoungfarmers providehealthyhabitatsforfish. areactuallyveryenvironmentallyaware. Theyjustneedtoknowhowmuchwater Ecology and industry they’regoingtogetandthey’llworkaround At26yearsoldHayleyPurbrickisthefifth itinanefficientway.Idon’tthinkthatthe AsmokingceremonyatTahbilkwelcominggueststo governmentagenciesaretalkingtotheright generationofthePurbrickfamilytoliveat a2010NativeFishAwarenessWeekevent,overseen peoplewhenitcomestosharingwater. Tahbilkwheretheyhaveaverysuccessful byTaungurungman,RoyPatterson.Photo:JodiFrawley. They’retalkingtotheexistinggeneration wineryandfarmingbusiness.Shegrewup Hayleywouldliketoseemorerecognition andIthinktheexistinggenerationhasdone fishinginLakeNagambiewithherbrother. a great job but that the next generation is thattherehasbeenagenerationalshiftin Inrecentyears,thefamilyhasturnedtheir quitedifferentintheirwayofthinking.They environmentalattitudes,particularly,she attentiontotheTahbilkwetlandthatsitsin areenvironmentallyaware,andtheydon’t says, in relation to river rehabilitation and thecentreofthefamily’sland.Itwasoncea wanttoseethewaterwayslostbecausethey management. wetanddryanabranchoftheGoulburn usethemforfishingandskiingandboating River,completewithhorseshoelagoons.The I’dliketoseeNagambiepeopleembrace aswellasforirrigation. GoulburnWeirchangedthis.Theweirpool theirwaterwaysandactuallyutilisethemin keptthewaterlevelinthewetlandhighand apositiveway.IthinkIreallyappreciatethat thehorseshoelagoonsfilledpermanently. withwater,youhavetohaveabalance betweenecologyandrecreation.Iwouldlike Hayleyandherfamilyarehelpingto toseethefutureofthewaterwaysbeing rehabilitatethispreciousplace.Ahealthy sharedproperlyamongstallparties.People populationofthreatenedfreshwatercatfish underestimatehowmuchwaterthere coͲexistwiththeecotourismventuresthat actuallyisinAustraliaandhowitcanbe sharedquiteeasily. thefamilyhaveintroduced. TahbilkLagoon.Photo:FernHames. Sta - ‘ex T te of treme rout TheSustainable thRiversAudit(SRA)isanongoingly FA e r poo (SalmotruttaͲbrowntrout,OncorhynchusQ mykissͲrainbowtrout) systematicassessmentivoferiverr healthof23majorriverr’ s valleysintheMurrayͲDarlingBasin.Environmental indicators(themes)includehydrology,fishand macroinvertebrates,whicharemonitoredandwill highlighttrendsovertime.7 TheGoulburnValleywassurveyedin2005.TheGoulburn Valleyfishcommunitywasratedasbeingin‘Extremely PoorCondition’. Alienspecieswere63%ofthetotalbiomassand58%of totalabundance.Thefishcommunityhadlostmostofits nativespeciesrichnessandwasdominatedbyalien species,mainlytrout.
Rainbowtrout.Photo:CharlieCarruthers. AretroutnativeanywhereinAustralia? No.TroutwereintroducedintoAustralianwatersinthelate1800s.BrowntroutarenativetoEuropeand westernAsia.RainbowtroutarenativetoNorthAmerica. Wherearetroutfoundnow? TroutarenowwidelydistributedacrosscooleruplandstreamswithintheMurrayͲDarlingBasin,particularlyin NSW,ACTandVictoria. Dotroutbreedoraretheyallstockedfish? Both.TroutbreedverysuccessfullyinourwaterwaysandhaveestablishedselfͲsustainingpopulationsinmany rivers.Theyarealsoheavilystocked.ThereissignificantlevelofinvestmentintroutstockinginbothNSWand Victoria. RonBainlookingattheoldGoulburnBridge,nowpartof alocalheritagewalk.Hehasseenmajorchangestothe Whyaretroutaproblem? river,thebiggestcamewiththebuildingoftheweir. Predationbytroutisknowntohavehadanegativeeffectonsomenativefish,forexamplegalaxias,andhas Itusedtobeabeautifulriver,hesays.Photo:JodiFrawley. beenimplicatedinthedeclineofothernativespecies. Bringing back the fish Anumberoflocalprojectsaimtobringthe rangeoforganisations,meetregularly. branchon(03)58329714orvisit: fishbacktotheriversoftheMurrayͲDarling. Informationsheets,fencesignsanda www.greatershepparton.com.au/council/en Thesecomplimentlargescaleprogramssuch webpagehavealsobeendevelopedand vironment/watermanagement/riverconnect. astheMDBA’sNativeFishStrategyandThe fielddayshavebeenheld. html BasinPlanthatcontinuetoworkwithawide Tofindoutmoreaboutthisprojectandhow range of stakeholders to ensure positive A youcangetinvolved,contacttheGoulburn fly’s outcomesfortheenvironmentandfishof BrokenCMAon(03)58201100,orvisit: life theMurrayͲDarlingBasin. www.gbcma.vic.gov.au/hollandscreek a)Holland’sCreekDemonstration b)TheRiverConnectproject Reach Thisprojectaimstoestablishaconnection ThisprojectissupportedbytheMDBA's betweentheGreaterShepparton NativeFishStrategyandmanagedbythe community and Broken and Goulburn Rivers. Themighty‘RedTag’fly.Photosource:MickHall. GoulburnBrokenCMAandArthurRylah Itaimstoraiseawarenessofthe TheRedTagaboveisacopyoftheoriginalasfirst Institute(DSE).Theprojectaimstodisplay environmental,cultural,recreationaland publishedinthe1888BritishAnglingFilesbyMichael thepositivebenefitsofriverrehabilitation economicvalueoftherivers.Manygroups TheakstonandeditedbyFrancisMWalbran. fornativefish,particularlythethreatened areinvolvedintheprojectincludingthe First known as the Worcester Gem, it was actually Macquarie perch (Macquaria australasica). GreaterSheppartonCityCouncil,the Walbranwhoaddedthispatterntothisbook.Itwas Thecreekisalsohighlyvaluedforpassive GoulburnBrokenCMAandotherkeynatural usedasaflyforgraylingratherthantrout. recreation,watersupplyandfamilyheritage resource management, Aboriginal and ItappearedinAustraliaveryearlyandbythe1920s values. educationalorganisations.Therearefour haddevelopedastrongreputationinVictoria. workinggroups:Communications,Aboriginal Manyactionsarebeingundertaken WhenwritingoftheGoulburnRiveratEildonfor Participation, Land Management and includingmonitoringoffishpopulations, TheHardy'sAnglersGuide1937,thefamous Education. waterqualityandstreamsideconditionand VictorianflyfishermanG.RegLynestates: mappingofsnags.Ongroundworkshave RegularRiverConnectnewslettersprovide Inearlymorningandevening,aboutamile includedweedcontrol,fencing,erosion informationoncurrentactivities. downstreamfromtheoutletthereisanexcellent controlandrevegetation.ACommunity dryflyrise,thebestkillingpatternsbeing FormoreinformationontheRiverConnect Wickham'sFancy,Coachman,RoyalCoachman, ReferenceCommittee,comprising projectsandeventscontactCouncil's WhirlingDun,CockyͲBondhuandRedTag. landholdersandrepresentativesfroma CultureandCommunityStrengthening TextcourtesyofMickHall. About the Talking Fish project TheTalkingFishprojectarosefromanincreasingrealisationthatmanydifferentgroupsofpeople, River resources includingfishers,Indigenouscommunities,touristsandlandholdershavedevelopedunique relationshipswiththeriversoftheMurrayͲDarlingBasin.Thereisalsothegrowingrecognitionthat Native Fish Strategy Coordinator, Victoria Fern Hames: x thehealthoftheMurrayͲDarlingBasinisatrisk.Byaccessingandrecordingdifferentpeople’sstories (03)57720273 abouttheirexperiencesofariver,itsfishandhowbothhavechangedwillcontributetoourcollective x GoulburnBrokenCMA,Shepparton:(03)58201100 knowledgeandhelpshapefuturemanagementdecisions.Thesestoriesalsohavethepotentialtogive peopleasenseofjustwhatthesemagnificentriversandtheirfishwereoncelikeͲandcouldbeagain x SeymourAnglingClub:POBox898Seymour3660or withongoingrehabilitationefforts. (03)57923260 TheTalkingFishprojectfocussedon12reacheswithinthefollowingBasinrivers:NamoiRiver(NSW), x AlexandraAnglingClub:POBox26Alexandra3714or UpperCondamineRiver(Qld),KatarapkoCreek(SA),UpperMurrumbidgeeRiver(NSW/ACT),Culgoa Balonne Rivers (Qld / NSW), Paroo River (Qld), Goulburn River (Vic), Darling and the Great Anabranch (03)57721773 Ͳ (NSW),OvensRiver(Vic),MainstemMurrayRiver(NSW/Victoria),DarlingRiver(NSW)andThe x YortaYortaNationAboriginalCorporation,Barmah: CoorongandLowerLakes(SA). (03)58693353or[email protected] TheTalkingFishprojectisastartingpointtosharelocalknowledgeandlearnedexperiencewith others to improve the health of the Murray – Darling Basin. Project information is available at: x BangarangGoulburnMurrayTribeAboriginal www.mdba.gov.au. Corporation,Shepparton:[email protected] Note:ThetermTalkingFishisalsobeingusedbytheAustralianRiverRestorationCentreasawayofsharing x TaungurungClansAboriginalCorporation,Tarneit: knowledgeaboutpeople’sconnectiontofishandwaterways. [email protected] References 1.Hume,S.H.1966‘Hume,Hamilton(1797Ͳ1873)’,AustralianDictionaryofBiography,Vol.1.MelbourneUniversityPress,pp564Ͳ565. x MurrayLowerDarlingRiversIndigenousNations: 2.Perry,T.M.1966‘Hovell,WilliamHilton(1786Ͳ1875)’,AustralianDictionaryofBiography,Vol.1.MelbourneUniversityPress,pp556Ͳ557. (02) 6051 9948 3.Scott,A.2005HistoricalEvidenceofNativeFishintheMurrayͲDarlingBasinattheTimeofEuropeanSettlementͲfromtheDiariesofthe FirstExplorers.Mildura:CRCforFreshwaterEcolog,. 4.TheArgus(Melbourne,Vic.:1848Ͳ1954),Friday8October1937,page12 x NagambieLandcare,PeterRobinson:(03)57942274 5.Murray,S.1893GoulburnWeirandItsDependentSystemofWorks.Melbourne:VictorianGovernment. 6.Beveridge,P.1889TheAboriginesofVictoriaandRiverina.Melbourne:LowdenPublishingCo. x SeymourandDistrictHistoricalSociety,Seymour: 7.Davies,P.E.,Harris,J.H.,Hillman,T.J.andWalker,KF2008SRAReport1:AReportontheEcologicalHealthofRiversintheMurray–Darling (03)57922311 Basin,2004–2007,Canberra:Murray–DarlingBasinMinisterialCouncil. 8.TheHistoricalSocietyofMooroopna1989Mooroopnato1988,Mooroopna:TheHistoricalSocietyofMooroopna. Shepparton Heritage Centre, Shepparton: 9.Koehn,J.2001‘Ecologicalimpactsofcoldwaterreleasesonfishandecosystemprocesses’inB.Phillips(ed)ThermalPollutionoftheMDB x Waterways,WorkshopheldatLakeHume18Ͳ19June2001,pp7Ͳ11. (03)58217717(afterhours) 10.Ford,M.L.1981FlourMillsandMillersoftheGoulburnValley1858Ͳ1980,Murchison. 11.Ryan,T.,Webb,A.,Lennie,R.andLyon,J.2001StatusofcoldwaterreleasesfromVictoriandams,ArthurRylahInstitute. Abbreviations 12.Koehn,J.,Brumley,A.andGehrke,P.2000Managingtheimpactsofcarp,Canberra:BureauofRuralSciences. 13.Lintermans,M.2007FishesoftheMurrayͲDarlingBasin:Anintroductoryguide,Canberra:MDBC. CMA CatchmentManagementAuthority 14.Atkinson,W.2008‘Theschoolsofhumanexperience’,inPerkins,R.andLangton,M.(eds)FirstAustralians,Melbourne:TheMiegunyah DPI DepartmentofPrimaryIndustries(NSW) Press,page287. 15.Aitkinson,H.2004‘YortaYortaCoͲOperativeLandManagementAgreement:ImpactontheYortaYortaNation’,IndigenousLawBulletin DSE DepartmentofSustainabilityandEnvironment(Vic) 6,no.5. MDBA MurrayͲDarlingBasinAuthority 16.Koehn,J.2001‘HabitatsandmovementsoffreshwaterfishintheMurrayͲDarlingBasin’inTheStatusoftheMurraycodintheMurrayͲ DarlingBasin,Canberra:UniversityofCanberra. 17.Koehn,J.andNicol,S.1998‘Habitatandmovementrequirementsoffish’,inproc.1998RiverineEnvironmentalForum.MurrayͲDarling BasinCommission,pp1Ͳ6. Allfishfactboxes:Lintermans,M.2007FishesoftheMurrayͲDarlingBasin:Anintroductoryguide,Canberra:MurrayͲDarlingBasin Commission. Some fish of the Goulburn River Murraycod/Cod Troutcod/Bluenosecod Blackfish/Slippery/Muddy
Goldenperch/Yellowbelly/Callop Catfish/Eeltailcatfish/Jewie Yabby/Craybob scale) to Native
(Not Silverperch/Murraybream/Grunter Macquarieperch/Blackbream/Whiteeye Murraycray/Spinycray
Rainbowtrout/Browntrout Europeancarp/Commoncarp Redfin/Englishperch scale) to Introduced (Not