Western region << BACK TO CONTENTS Victoria’s river systems flow through landscapes which are culturally significant to Traditional Owner groups, whose ancestors have lived along these rivers for tens of thousands of years. In 2016–17, two projects in western Victoria provided the opportunity for Traditional Owners to reconnect with the Glenelg and Wimmera rivers and to talk with water managers about their aspirations for how water is managed along the rivers. The Traditional Owners were represented by the Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owner Aboriginal Corporation and the Barengi Gadjin Land Council. The Towards Cultural Flows project focuses on the Glenelg River and is a partnership between the Glenelg Hopkins CMA, Gunditj Mirring and Barengi Gadjin, while the River Yarns project focuses on the Wimmera River and is a partnership between the Wimmera CMA and Barengi Gadjin. Glenelg Hopkins CMA staff Jane Walker and Ryan Jones by the Glenelg River working on the Towards Cultural Flows project, by Glenelg Hopkins CMA Benefits for Aboriginal people from environmental flows Both projects are seeking to find out more about the story places and plant and animal species along the rivers that are significant for Traditional Owners, so these values can be supported using environmental flows. Glenelg Hopkins CMA Project Officer Jane Walker said this information will be incorporated into environmental watering plans for the Glenelg River in future. “The purpose of the Towards Cultural Flows project is to see what is significant about the river system for Traditional Owners and to look at where the CMA can potentially support their interests in the Glenelg River through environmental flows,” Jane said. In March 2017, the Glenelg Hopkins CMA did just that. In a first for Victoria, the timing of an environmental flow was tweaked to support environmental outcomes as well as Aboriginal values along the Glenelg River. Each year, a team of Aboriginal cricketers and a local cricket team vie for the Johnny Mullagh Memorial Cup, an annual event that celebrates the first Australian Test team. The team toured England in 1868 and was made up of Aboriginal men from the Harrow area, one of whom was Mullagh, who continued to play Test cricket. Water was released from Rocklands Reservoir between 21 February and 1 March to coincide with the cup match on the March long weekend at Harrow. People at the match enjoyed more flow in the river, better quality water for swimming and a pleasant place to camp and play. 53 | Victorian Environmental Water Holder
57 Publizr Home