Wodonga Urban Landcare Network recently held their Quartery Gathering at Ryans Lagoon in Bonegilla. This event was hosted by Duduroa Dhargal Aboriginal Corporation (DDAC) members, who are working together with Parklands Albury Wodonga to restore the wetlands and provide training to Aboriginal people in traditional ecological practices. Phil and Allan Murray provided a guided walk around the Learnscape site, which has been fenced and consists of yarning circles and gathering areas. These areas will be used for both men’s and women’s cultural workshops for local Aboriginal people. Turtles Albury Wodonga was also in attendance.
The past year has been a busy one for DDAC, with 98 people from 35 government and community groups attending Ryans Lagoon to learn about its scope and vision. Lots of ground works have been happening, with removal of old fencing as well as installation of new stock exclusion fencing and repair where fallen trees had caused damage. Weeds were tackled, including six hectares of thistles being removed and burnt off, as well as 165 hectares of spraying of broadleaf weeds such as blackberry, Bathurst burr, and thistles. 450 native seedlings were planted around the yarning circles. DDAC has also repurposed ecologically thinned stringybarks from a Trust for Nature property into two traditional ‘humpy’ shelters which provide shade to visitors of the Learnscape site. In addition, photopoint posts have been installed to capture changes over time at the wetlands.
But that’s not all! DDAC have also been undertaking waterbug identification training, organised through North East Catchment Management Authority, and have mapped significant large hollow-bearing and culturally significant trees with the intention to share this knowledge with Aboriginal visitors to the wetlands. La Trobe University along with Turtles Albury Wodonga have been providing information about turtles and how to monitor turtle nesting. During the winter, Wodonga Urban Landcare assisted with monitoring of the endangered Sloane’s froglet and conservation experts have met with DDAC members for training on how to lead guided walks of Ryans Lagoon in the future.
The Traditional Land Management of Ryans Lagoon Wetlands program is supported by the Victorian Government through the Nature Fund – Caring for Country stream.
