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.
Green programs to be axed
Wednesday, 3 May 2012
Josh Gordon, The Age
The looming carbon tax will be used by the Baillieu government to justify scrapping a raft of state environmental programs as part of a push to end duplication between the Commonwealth...
moreBaillieu govt slashes environment department budget
Tuesday, 2 May 2012
Climate Spectator
The Victorian government has taken the axe to funding for its environment department, with the division the hardest hit by a tough budget.
All up, $130.6...
moreClimate, land, biodiversity face biggest cuts
Wednesday, 2 May 2012
Adam Morton, The Age
Spending on environmental programs will be cut by $130.6 million next financial year - the biggest reduction for any department.
The cuts to the Department of...
moreVic budget shuns environment: green group
Tuesday, 1 May 2012
9 News
The Victorian budget failed to improve the government's track record on the environment, critics say.
Environment Victoria described the budget as disappointing and said the...
moreBudget continues Baillieu Government’s record of environmental failure
Tuesday, 1 May 2012
Environment Victoria has described today State budget as “deeply disappointing” and said it continues the Baillieu Government’s record of...
moreBaillieu Government’s new approach to water planning hits the spot
Monday, 23 April 2012
Environment Victoria has welcomed the forward-thinking approach to urban water management taken in the Living Melbourne, Living Victoria Implementation Plan released by...
moreScientists condemn Murray-Darling draft as misleading
Thursday, 5 April 2012
David Wroe, The Age
The Wentworth Group of scientists has condemned the draft plan to save the Murray-...
moreNew poll finds Victorians want clean energy action. Is Premier Baillieu listening?
Friday, 9 March 2012
A new survey of attitudes on the environment has found that most Victorians believe the state government has a responsibility to reduce greenhouse pollution....
moreFlood inquiry barking up the wrong tree
Tuesday, 6 March 2012
Environment Victoria today said that the state’s river systems are in danger of being decimated by the Baillieu Government’s proposal to clear river-side vegetation and resurrect failed...
moreBaillieu wants $380 from Canberra for river projects
Friday, 2 March 2012
Tom Arup, The Age
Victoria has demanded $380 million in federal funding for environmental works in the Murray-Darling, as it begins to outline its wish list under plans to reform...
more
Twitter
Connecting ecology and economy
Victorian government misses the point
Reading the Victorian government’s submission on the draft Murray Darling Basin Plan, you would think that...
more
The government won’t cut our emissions by 20%
But you can!
You may have heard, the state government has dumped the target to reduce Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020. We’re pretty bummed about it because it means clean energy investment and employment opportunities will be sent elsewhere...
more
Time to put pen to paper
for Murray submissions!
It’s hard to believe but the 20 week consultation period on the draft Murray-Darling Basin Plan is coming to a close – submissions are due on Monday, 16 April. So for all of us who’ve been procrastinating (including me!) this is...
more
Flickr
- Summit calls for green makeover for 1 million Victorian homes |
- Water Security, Healthy Rivers: Our Vision for Melbourne |
- New Report: Water Security, Healthy Rivers |
- An Audit of Seven Environmental Bulk Entitlements – Recommended, Planned, and Actual Release of Environmental Water to Victoria’s Stressed Rivers |
- Environmental flows audit shows the gaps between promises and performance |
- 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 |
More Green Action people like you:
-
The Flow Project explores the social, cultural, environmental, poetic, and spiritual... more
