The empty Barwon River Gamilaraay and Yuwalaraay elders who have lived on these rivers all their lives cry when they say they have never seen it as bad as this, and they doubt it can ever be recovered.
What about us people?” Burke says.
The water crisis was made worse last week when the town bore pump failed and there was no running water at all.
“It’s a triple whammy: drought, land clearing and climate change – that means no water.” “When your totem animals are gone – the bandarr [kangaroo], the dhinawan [emu] who are you as a person?” Vanessa Hickey lives on the western side of town near the levee bank, and spent her life on the river.
Vanessa Hickey standing next to the empty Barwon River “When we got water, we’re happy.
We are river people.
As kids we used to dive for mussels and throw them back up the bank to cook and eat.” The river has a responsibility … It’s the bloodline of this country Rhonda Ashby “There were stories about the water dog, Marrayin, the mirri, going down all the way to Menindee.
We know who’s got the water – Cubbie.” “Where is our water?
Gamilaraay elder and cultural educator Brenda McBride standing in the empty Narran River north of Lightning Ridge “It’s so bad.
It makes me sad what’s happening, with irrigation and mismanagement of the water.