River Stories
Every river tells a story. And so do the people who live along them. That's why we've been capturing the stories of those people who love and care for our rivers.
Throughout history, cultural knowledge and values have been passed from generation to generation through the use of stories. They bring to life the lessons of our past and paint pictures of our future. Yet more often river advocates and managers rely on facts and figures to influence decision makers and garner public support.
We've walked a different path.
For many years, we've found capturing stories a useful way to highlight the many social and cultural values of healthy rivers. Our first program - Your River - has been building an online living record of the people who love and care for Victoria’s great rivers and wetlands since 2004.
Take a minute and explore these rivers through the eyes of these river champions.
North-East Rivers
Western Rivers
Gippsland Rivers
Greater Melbourne Rivers
In 2007 we took this work with stories to a new level with our Storylines project, which celebrates the stories of personal connection to Murray River wetlands through the use of the digital story-telling.
Telling stories through new media
Digital storytelling combines the compelling tradition of oral storytelling with new technologies, creating short, autobiographical video-clips that explore the authors' own story and experience. The production process brings together video, photos, text, music and voice-over narration. This modern-day form of capturing and sharing stories offers a powerful way to celebrate and the personal moments, memoirs, and connections that make a place unique.
Our Storylines participants tell us that they found the experience of celebrating their connection to this special place to be an empowering experience. They were left with a feeling of renewed confidence and determination to defend it.
Watch some of their stories here
Each story we capture is different, but ultimately they are all the same. In an era of branding and marketing, what came through was that people love their rivers. And any damage to those rivers, damages the lives of the people who love them.
Now, it's over to you...
Tell a River story
The project is now inviting the general public to contribute their own anecdotes and memories about rivers. So far we have received a handful of evocative contributions about the Yarra. We look forward to reading many more and, more importantly, publishing them on our website.
Catch up with the latest news and stories below.
Algae takes the bloom off river holidays
Saturday, 6 March 2010
Peter Ker, The Age
THE Murray River should be flushed before long weekends and holidays to protect the struggling tourism sector, Victoria's Tourism Industry Council says.
The Labor Day long...
moreMurray red alert as toxic algae spreads
Wednesday, 24 February 2010
Peter Ker, The Age
An outbreak of toxic algae in the Murray River is spreading rapidly, with the size of the bloom doubling in the space of 48 hours.
...
moreFishery plan for power station ready to bite
Friday, 5 February 2010
Peter Ker, The Age
Lazy afternoons pulling barramundi out of balmy waters - it might not sound like Gippsland, but it could soon be a reality under a proposal for the controversial Hazelwood power...
moreYarra bathers to breathe freely as waste drops to 'safe' levels
Sunday, January 24 2010
Stephen Cauchi, The Age
The amount of E.coli bacteria from human and animal faeces in the Yarra River has fallen dramatically, making it safer to swim for longer in more areas.
...
moreState, Canberra at odds on water priority
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
Peter Ker, The Age
Victoria's Goulburn and Murray districts have been identified as ''high priority'' regions for returning water to the environment, just weeks before the north-south pipeline takes...
moreLabor plan to let rivers run almost dry
Thursday, 10 December 2009
Peter Ker, The Age
Bare survival is the best Victoria's northern rivers can hope for if the past decade of drought is to continue, according to a new 50-year water strategy for the state's north.
...
moreFears aired over drought water reserve
Thursday, 10 December 2009
ABC
The Victorian Opposition says it is worried about the effect of implementing a proposed drought water reserve for northern Victorian rivers.
The proposal is contained in a new 50-year river...
moreWatchdog wary of 'secret files' on desal protesters
Tuesday, 8 December 2009
Paul Austin, The Age
Victoria's Privacy Commissioner is seeking an urgent briefing from the State Government on the deal it has struck that will allow police to hand over sensitive files on...
moreCall for Target 100 to protect rivers and reservoirs and lock in water savings for good
Monday, 23 November 2009
The Brumby Government must move rapidly towards a Target 100 policy to protect Melbourne’s reservoirs and rivers and permanently lock in water savings,...
moreLoddon River health vital to the region, says community
Friday 13 October, 2009
Peter and Marlies Eicher of Salute Oliva near Boort have taken part in a new Environment Victoria project, which has revealed a passionate commitment within the community to bring the Loddon River...
more
Twitter
A good long rain
But the Yarra’s still thirsty
Earlier today I was standing on the banks of the Yarra River out at Warrandyte, hopeful for the sight and sound of rushing flows of water after the weekend’s rain.
But as Yarra Riverkeeper Ian Penrose observed, today the...
more
From forests to rivers
I'm delighted to be with Environment Victoria
For me, rivers are a web of links across the state. Until recently I was a forest campaigner working to protect the remaining old-growth forests here in Victoria. Now, that I’ve got a rivers focus to my days, the patchy...
more
What’s your vision for Victoria?
Have your voice heard!
In 2010, both the state and federal governments go to the polls. And what better opportunity to put a little pressure on those pollies and get the policies we need for our environment.
A healthy environment and a safe future for all...
more
Invest in ethical funds
and make a positive difference
One great way to safeguard our environment is by choosing an ethical fund or savings account. We sense a bit of eyebrow raising, but it is fair dinkum…
Ethical investment is about making sure you know what your money is doing...
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All I want for Christmas is a little less conversation and little more action
Mr Rudd and Mr Brumby!
Outside the Bella Centre at the opening of the Copenhagen Climate Summit there was a sign that simply said 'Blah, Blah, Blah'. I can't think of anything that more aptly frames the conference and its disappointing outcomes.
I don't know...
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- Victoria: green and growing |
- Water Security, Healthy Rivers: Our Vision for Melbourne |
- An Audit of Seven Environmental Bulk Entitlements – Recommended, Planned, and Actual Release of Environmental Water to Victoria’s Stressed Rivers |
- Submission to 2009 Biennial Assessment of progress in Implementation of the National Water Initiative |
- Environment Victoria’s submission to the draft Northern Region Sustainable Water Strategy |
- Inquiry into Melbourne's Future Water Supply |
- Environment Victoria submission to Environment Effects Statement for the Victorian Desalination Project |
- Submission to the EPBC investigation of the Sugarloaf Pipeline |
- Environment Victoria submission to Project Impact Assessment of the Sugarloaf Pipeline Proposal |
- Submission to Northern Region Sustainable Water Strategy Discussion Paper |
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