Talking fish Making connections with the rivers of the Murray-Darling Basin Authors Zafar Sarac, Hamish Sewell, Liz Baker and Greg Ringwood The rivers of the Murray-Darling River Basin Citation: Sarac, Z., Sewell, H., Baker, E . and Ringwood, G. (2011) Paroo: The rivers and creeks of the Murray‐Darling Basin flow through Queensland, New South Talking fish‐ making connections with the rivers of the Murray‐Darling Basin, Murray‐Darling Basin Authority, Canberra. Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and South Australia. The 77 000km of waterways that make up the Basin link 23 catchments over an area of 1 million km2. Project steering committee Terry Korodaj (MDBA), Cameron Lay (NSW DPI), Zafer Sarac Each river has its own character yet these waters, the fish, the plants, and the people that (Qld DEEDI), Adrian Wells (MDBA Community Stakeholder Taskforce), rely on them are all different. Peter Jackson (MDBA Native Fish Strategy advisor), Fern Hames (Vic DSE) and Jonathan McPhail (PIRSA). The booklets in this series are about how the rivers, fish and fishing have changed. The main Project Team stories are written from oral history interviews conducted with local fishers in 2010‐11, and Scott Nichols, Cameron Lay, Craig Copeland, Liz Baker (NSW DPI); relate individuals’ memories of how their local places have changed. They showcase three Jodi Frawley, Heather Goodall (UTS); Zafer Sarac, Greg Ringwood (Qld ways of knowing the Paroo River: personal experience, scientific research and historical DEEDI); Hamish Sewell (The Story Project); Phil Duncan (Ngnulu research. Just as individual fishers do not always agree with one another, so their Consulting); Terry Korodaj (MDBA); Fern Hames, Pam Clunie, understanding might not necessarily agree with current scientific information or historical Steve Saddlier (Vic DSE); Jonathan McPhail, Virginia Simpson (PIRSA); Will Trueman (researcher). records. Similarly, specific items and events might be remembered differently by different people. These varied perspectives show the range in views about fishing and the rivers, each ISBN 978‐1‐921914‐43‐0 important in its own way. There are many other great stories out there about fishing in the Murray‐Darling Basin. These booklets are just the beginning. © Murray‐Darling Basin Authority, 2011 Published by the Murray‐Darling Basin Authority (MDBA), Canberra. Acknowledgements‐ Paroo Graphical and textual information in the work (with the exception of A very special thank you Colin and Beryl Leigo, Douglas MacGregor, Ron Heinemann, Ron photographs and the MDBA logo) may be stored, retrieved and reproduced in whole or in part, provided the information is not sold or used for commercial Gardiner, Colin (Tud) Murphy, Fay and Donald Cooney, Gordon Warner, Kevin Eastburn, benefit and its source (Murray‐Darling Basin Authority, Talking Fish Project) is Lorna McNiven, and Paul Wheeler who generously shared their stories in this booklet. acknowledged. Reproduction for other purposes is prohibited without prior permission of the Murray‐Darling Basin Authority or the copyright holders in Thanks also to Gordon Warner, Colin and Beryl Leigo, and Ron Heinemann for their the case of photographs. To the extent permitted by law, the copyright photographs. holders (including its employees and consultants) exclude all liability to any person for any consequences, including but not limited to all losses, damages, Advice and field support costs, expenses and any other compensation, arising directly or indirectly from Hamish Sewell (The Story Project) and Greg Ringwood (NFS Coordinator, Fisheries Queensland). using this report (in part or in whole) and any information or material contained in it. The contents of this publication do not purport to represent Front page photographs (L‐R) the position of the Murray‐Darling Basin Authority. They are presented to Source: Colin Leigo. inform discussion for improved management of the Basin's natural resources. Source: Ron Heinemann. Research and editing by the NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) Source: Greg Ringwood. and the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS). The views expressed in this Source: Greg Ringwood. booklet are not necessarily those of the NSW DPI, UTS or other project partners. Back page fish images: The MDBA acknowledges the intellectual property rights of the people whose Hyrtl’s catfish and goldfish image: Gunther Schmider. All other fish images: NSW DPI. stories are featured in this publication. Aboriginal readers are warned that this publication may contain the names and images of Aboriginal people who have since passed away. The Paroo River is the last remaining free flowing tributary of the Murray‐Darling Basin. Its 76 000 square kilometre catchment is located in the north‐ ‘But where,' said I, ' 's the blooming stream?' western corner of the Murray‐Darling Basin, half in Queensland and half in New South Wales. Although the Paroo is one of the major tributaries of the Darling And he replied, 'We're at it!' River, it rarely flows into it because the water dissipates before it reaches to the Darling River. The I stood awhile, as in a dream, river starts in the gorges of the Warrego Range in western Queensland. After crossing the border into New South Wales it spreads over the vast floodplains 'Great Scott!' I cried, 'is that it? near Wanaaring, helping to sustain many significant wetlands. About 600km later it reaches its overflow 'Why, that is some old bridle‐track!' lakes between Tilpa and Wilcannia. Over 20 000 years ago, the Maranganji, Kalali, Badjiri, Parundji and Kunggari people knew a very different He chuckled, 'Well, I never! Paroo River. A cooler climate, markedly different plants and animals and, probably, a river that flowed constantly.1 Since then, a hotter climate and other 'It's nearly time you came out‐back — changes meant the Paroo has become an ephemeral river. Although it floods its banks regularly, these days 'This is the Paroo River!' it very rarely flows in to the Darling River. The Paroo ‐ Henry Lawson (1893) The river has always been very significant to the Aboriginal people. The region has a dry climate and the river is a lifeline. The river remains a water supply for the people living in the catchment, but it is also a channel that binds the communities together. It provides water, food and hope for the creation of a comfortable life. People gather along the river banks and water holes to relax in the shade, maybe going home with a meal obtained from the river: yellowbelly, cod or yabbies. There are still those who love the river and who love to fish the river. Their stories are part of the bigger story of changes to the Paroo and its fish. People want to talk about a future for the Paroo and their visions for a healthy river that is, once again, full of native fish. Introducing the river and its people Created by a spirit The arrival of the Europeans In the ancient dreaming, the Moonagutta The Paroo‐Warrego catchments weren’t was a water spirit with unknown shape and explored by Europeans until 1845. Thomas size. He lived deep in the waterholes along Mitchell passed through the region in 1846. the river. In fact the river was made by the By 1862, there were already some Moonagutta. The Moonagutta became the established pastoral stations in the area. only spirit and soul left, wiggling in the silt One settlement arose beside a reliable water, after left next to the receding waterhole at the intersection of two major swallowing all the other Moonagutta. He stock routes. This settlement became started to shape the first rivers of life th Cunnumulla in the late 19 century. through the tracts he created when he tried to escape from the floodwaters. When he Until the end of the Second World War, the came to a sandy stretch, he was able to bury area had a small number of large pastoral down deeper and created the waterholes.1 stations and a small population. After the war, with the increase in wool prices, the The Aboriginal people established area experienced significant economic and themselves in the Paroo and the surrounding population growth. catchments approximately 20 000 years ago. They were the Maranganji, Kalali, Badjiri, Beef cattle grazing and sheep for wool Parundji and Kunggari people. The Paroo production are still the two predominant River gets its name from a variation on the industries in the catchment. There are very name of an Aboriginal Paakantji group, the few, small‐scale irrigated crop operations. Parundji. Due to the small irrigation industry and the sparse population, demand on freshwater has stayed low. As a result the Paroo River is the least regulated river in the Murray‐Darling Basin. The Paroo River. Photo: Greg Ringwood. Beryl and Colin Leigo. Colin has lived all his life along Ron Heinemann’s first memories associated with Transporting sheep across the Paroo for shearing in the Paroo River, as did his parents. He remembers the Paroo include lots of large floods. They used to be cut Willara in 1935. Photo source: Colin Leigo. house he grew up in being right on the banks of the off for a week or so at a time due to flood. Photo source: Paroo River for easy access to water and the fish. Photo: Ron Heinemann. Greg Ringwood. Fishing has been very important activity for the local community. For the Aboriginal people and early settlers fishing was a daily activity providing a stable diet. In later times, wetting a line has become a significant leisure activity. People living along the river have unforgettable and intimate memories of the river, the fish they caught and ‘the ones that got away’. Ron Gardiner’s (seated, right) first memory of the Paroo is being taught to swim by being thrown in by one of his teachers.