ARRC NEWSLETTER – JULY 2020 EDITION
Hi everyone,
The title of this newsletter, ‘reflect and restore’, is drawn from the stories we have brought together for this edition.
Our recent donation campaign saw $4010 raised for the ARRC (thank you to our lovely supporters) and this enabled us to reflect on what we are doing well, and where we would like to do more. We have decided to commit the funds raised to expanding Aboriginal content on our website and social channels, as this is one way to restore connection and shared understanding about how we can work together.
Our other stories are all about restoration, be it flows, vegetation or our faith in each other and the communities we are a part of to use our COVID experience as an opportunity to restore our connection to nature. Lastly, we leave you with a video all about our attachment to phones and whether they are truly connecting us with ourselves and each other – while this ‘inspiration’ clip isn’t our usual upbeat cuppa, we hope it gives you something to think about!
Please enjoy.
– Pat and Siwan 😊
A heartfelt thank you to all those who donated to the ARRC, we had 52 people support our work and combined they raised $4,010. Special thanks goes to Bill Phillips, Geoff and Pip Vietz, Katherine Daniell, Rachel Brown, Scott Wilkinson, Jane Roberts, Rosemay Blemings, BJ Weatherstone and Tamara Boyd for their generosity (gifts of over $100).
We have decided to use the money raised by our donations campaign to expanding our Aboriginal content. This is something we have wanted to do for a long time, but we have never had sufficient funds. Over the coming months we will be adding more Aboriginal content and we welcome any ideas, or stories you might want to share that extends our understanding and appreciation of traditional knowledge and connection to our rivers, wetlands and billabongs.
Thanks again to our wonderful donors, we appreciate your support.
Water is life – the Northern Fish Flow
What is the ARRC doing?
You might also like to read about the commitments the ARRC team has made to acknowledging, supporting and expanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander involvement and knowledge in the work that we do. Follow this link to find out more.
RIVERS OF CARBON: THREATENED PLANT SPECIES
Working together with Julie and David from the Australian National Botanic Gardens, we have developed a list of threatened plant species that occur within the region covered by the our Rivers of Carbon projects. These species are protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), a national scheme of environment and heritage protection, and biodiversity conservation.
When developing this guide, we were given access to some wonderful photos of seed collecting and collectors, both past and present. We have also put together a photo story to accompany the new Threatened Plant Species Guide that you might enjoy.
REFLECTION: COVID AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Are we part of nature or defending ourselves from it?
Reflecting on Kate McMasters and Ian Rutherfurd’s ‘Take me to the river’ with Siwan, Pat shares his thoughts on climate change. While not a new concept, it’s direct line of threat to all of us has quickly become prominent in this pandemic, and the bushfire and flood events that preceded it. The current circumstances have been a catalyst for mass change, as we’ve seen systemic changes take place nationally and across the globe. As individuals and communities, we’ve had an opportunity to pause and adjust the lens with which we view our relationship with nature.
FLOW-MER: WATER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Pat and I are delighted to be working as part of the Flow-MER team. One of our roles is to source and share great stories, and here are two for you to enjoy. The first is from a wetland with the lovely name of ‘Sunshower Lagoon’. This story is contributed from our Murrumbidgee team and is written by the Flow-MER team at Charles Sturt University. Alongiside we have an article written by Luciana in response to a recent workshop with recreational fishers in South Australia who wanted to know more about electrofishing. Many people are concerned about the possible negative impact on fish of this technique, so Luciana has worked with the Lower Murray research team to share how we use this technique within the Flow-MER Program. Please share these stories widely and, of course, if you want to know more, visit the website.
FINTEREST: TIPS FOR FISH FRIENDLY FARMS
Native fish need shelter, clean water, food and room to move. We’ve updated a great resource that shares seven actions farm owners can take to benefit native fish life in the streams on or near their farms. When performed in association with each other they can also improve water quality, stabilise stream banks and reduce erosion, increase farm productivity, improve farm infrastructure, reduce stock loss, increase stock health and improve the value of the farm.
INSPIRATION
We humans tend to think of ourselves as highly evolved, with the mobile phone a new appendage we feel we cannot do without. But this video from The School of Life questions whether our phone is, in fact, a sign of ongoing evolution. They are hugely useful of course, but in many ways the advantages our phones give us are at a subtly high price we don’t entirely recognise. Pat and I found this video to be extremely thought provoking, we hope you do too.
PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A DONATION GIFT TO KEEP US DOING WHAT WE DO BEST
Have you enjoyed reading our newsletter and watching the videos we have provided? If so, you might like to give us a donation that reflects what you feel this newsletter means to you. We rely on donations to keep sharing knowledge and staying in touch. As a registered charity recognised under the ACNC, we report to them every year about the contributions people have made in the form of donations. When you donate we can demonstrate that we are valued, and that people are willing to support to us so we can continue to build future resources for you and others alike.
Or send your donation via Direct Transfer:
Westpac Bank
ARRC Public Fund
BSB: 032-730
Account: 198844
If using direct transfer please have as the reference your name & date of donation. I can send you a receipt if required, just email enquiries@arrc.com.au with the details of your donation. Thank you 🙂
