The Yarra Riverkeepers are a band of enthusiastic people who work together to protect and enjoy the Yarra River. The Association is a community organisation that tries to give the Yarra a "voice”.
Ian took us for a journey via a digital presentation down the Yarra from its source at Mt Gregory, 240 kms from the sea. It begins as a small river which was central to aboriginal life in pre-European days - a source of drinking water and fishing grounds at Yarra Falls a deep gully in the catchment area upstream from Warburton. Lower down, there are rapids at Warrandyte where the rare Powerful Owl can sometimes be found, as well as the . also rare Rosella spider orchid. Lovely views in a very diverse thick vegetation region are found near Fitzsimons Lane in Nillumbik. As we drift down the Yarra, we pass scenes in Heidelberg beloved of the artists of the Heidelberg School, Streeton, and David Davies. The lovely Studley Park boatshed with its restaurant and popular hire canoes is next and Yarra Bend only 4 kms from the Melbourne CBD is home to the indigenous shortfinned eel. Eastern water dragons live in the river at Abbotsford. All the news of the Yarra, though is not good. The native Australian grayling, a food source for the native people in the past is no longer found in the river. The health of the Yarra is suffering from pollution and overuse due to residential expansion.
The riverkeepers have a small boat which takes groups for cruises on the Yarra, testing the water and often just enjoying the ambience of the river the Aboriginals called Birrarung "place of mists and shadows."
Ian Penrose described the general health of the river in the following ways.
First it must be clean and litter pollution, industrial pollution and noxious run-off must be avoided. The banks should be in a healthy state. Animals and excess clearing can erode the banks and cause collapse. A healthy flow is needed to keep the river in tip-top condition.
Ian suggested we can help by becoming sponsors and supporters of the Yarra Riverkeepers.
We can also lobby our local Members of Parliament for better management of the river which flows through the City of Manningham. And most importantly, we can enjoy the river in our district, by walking the paths along its banks, appreciating its unique beauty.
Source: Ian Penrose as reported in 2010-06 DTHS Newsletter
See also: Home - Yarra Riverkeeper Association
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