Dharriwaa Elders Group

2/2: We extend our grateful thanks to all those in the Gomeroi Native Title group and their supporters and allies who have worked so hard over many years to prevent this project proceeding to Walgett's east.”
For those wishing to read the decision:
www.nntt.gov.au/.../NF2021_0...

1/2: At its meeting of the 30 May 2025, The Elders Council (ie directors) of Dharriwaa Elders Group requested this social media post:
“It is with great sadness that the DEG Elders Council learnt that the recent Native Title Tribunal decision didn’t stop the Santos' proposal.

“We encourage all Aboriginal people in the Namoi and Barwon valleys to apply for Specific Purpose Water Access Licences. Any Aboriginal person that wants to apply for a water licence can come to Dharriwaa Elders Group in Walgett. We can explain the licences to you and help you apply for one.” 📣💧🐟

2/3: These licences are for 10 megalitres each & available to Aboriginal people for cultural purposes under NSW Water Sharing Plans. “We are looking forward to Aboriginal people owning water. We will use the water for cultural outcomes & the health of the rivers,” Sandra Suey-Thorne, DEG Speaker.

1/3💧🐟📣Statement 8 April 2025: Aboriginal people in Walgett apply for Aboriginal water licences in the Namoi and Barwon rivers.

Today ten Aboriginal people from Walgett applied for Specific Purpose Water Access Licences in the Namoi and Barwon rivers.

L-R: YN/DEG Wellbeing Lead Loretta Weatherall, DEG Secretary Elizabeth Williams, YN/UNSW Director Ruth McCausland, DEG Treasurer Ricky Townsend, YN/UNSW Project Manager Justice Andrea Hadaway, DEG Ranger Elder Brenda McBride, DEG Elders Councillor Margaret Pallister, DEG Speaker Sandra Suey-Thorne.

At the Elders Council meeting 28 March 2025 we reaffirmed DEG’s commitment to the Yuwaya Ngarrali partnership with UNSW. "It was good to have with us this week Ruth McCausland and Andrea Hadaway from YN/UNSW who provide great support for our team and the outcomes of the organisation."

2/2: But majority of the readings are within an okay range. The Rangers will be monitoring for fish kills given that the dissolved oxygen have been low in the past few weeks.
Full report: dharriwaaeldersgroup.org.au/images/water...

1/2 Walgett River Water Quality 21st March 2025.
The pH, salinity & temperature at all sites & depths on both the Ngamaay & Baawan Rivers are today within a healthy range. With the dissolved oxygen there are a few readings where they are in the healthy range 😡⚠️AND A FEW WITHIN A DANGEROUS RANGE. 😡⚠️

photo caption in alt text

Present for the group photo were (L-R) John Sands DEG Senior River Ranger, Loretta Weatherall DEG Wellbeing Lead, Zeya Munson NRAR, Margaret Pallister DEG Elders Councillor, Grant Astill NRAR, Sandra Suey-Thorne DEG Speaker (ie chair), Zoe Sands DEG Co-Lead Water and Country, Ty Hickey DEG Food and Water for Life & River Rangers, Carissa Beatty NRAR, Norma Kennedy DEG Elders Councillor, Elizabeth Williams DEG Secretary, Scott Carpenter NRAR, Rick Townsend DEG Treasurer, Kenneth Bullaman.

Dharriwaa Elders Group was pleased to host staff of the Natural Resource Access Regulator at its offices in Walgett on the 11th March 2025. We had a wide-ranging and productive meeting and look forward to working closely with NRAR in the future.

ACCOs identifying the practical solutions to address our community's needs. Check out our latest contribution "Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations and disaster response" and big thanks to Walgett AMS, Lisa Ewenson and other Yuwaya Ngarrali UNSW co-authors: doi.org/10.1177/1037...

Number of NSW children in youth detention up by one third, new data shows As Minns government seeks to extend controversial laws that make it harder for young people to get bail, experts warn locking up more kids will not curb crime

“Increasing child imprisonment has not only failed to reduce crime, but is putting another generation of children into an express training program for a life of crime and suffering.” Karly Warner, Aboriginal Legal Service

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

VIDEO: @txsharon.bsky.social mentions Chevron multiple times. Chevron, who in Australia were approved by Environment Ministers #MalcolmTurnbull + #PeterGarrett. Chevron, who enabled the war on #palestine. Chevron who have over 1 billion in violations. What are we doing about Chevron? #AusPol

#SoldDownTheRiver How Robber Barons & Wall Street Traders cornered Australia’s water market’ - out now #water #watermarkets #skybooks #booksky

DEG's River Ranger team is catching up with their weekly water quality testing. Summaries for February 2025 weekly results are on Dharriwaa Elders Group FB page. Full results here: dharriwaaeldersgroup.org.au/index.php/wa.... We were concerned for fish in February. #WaterisLife

Alarming rise in persistent homelessness revealed Homelessness Australia Media Release The latest Productivity Commission Report on Government Services has revealed a 25% surge in persistent homelessness over the past five years, highlighting an urge...

“The latest Productivity Commission Report on Government Services has revealed a 25% surge in persistent homelessness over the past five years, highlighting an urgent need for increased investment in long-term support services.”

theaimn.net/alarming-ris...

Media Release by Walgett Shire Council Walgett Shire Council acknowledges the concerns raised by the community regarding a social media post made by a Council staff member on Sunday, 26 January 2025.

2/2 Here is the Council's media statement on the matter: www.walgett.nsw.gov.au/News-Media/M....

1/2 So that the Walgett community is kept informed, Dharriwaa Elders Group made a statement 30 January 2025 regarding its responses to a social media post by an employee of Walgett Shire Council on 26 January 2025. Full statement: dharriwaaeldersgroup.org.au/index.php?vi...

3/3 The temperature at the Walgett Weir (Baawan River), Stock Route and Boat Ramp are within a healthy range. The temperature at the 5 Mile (Baawan River) is outside the healthy range but is at an okay level.

2/3 The dissolved oxygen at the Walgett Weir is at a dangerous level. Below 3mg/L fish kills can occur. 😠😢

🧵1/3 Walgett River Water Quality.

The pH levels and salinity levels at all sites along the Ngamaay and Baawan Rivers are within the healthy range.
The dissolved oxygen at the 5 Mile (Baawan River), Stock Route and Boat Ramp (Ngamaay River) are outside the healthy range but are at an okay level.

4/4 😢The temperatures at all sites and depths were outside the healthy range. Higher temperatures could cause stress for the fish with the dissolved oxygen also being dangerously low because warmer water holds less oxygen than cooler water. 😟😢

3/4 🤨The salinity in the Ngamaay and Baawan River was within the healthy range.🤨

2/4 😟The dissolved oxygen at all sites, all depths was outside the healthy range and at a dangerous level. At 3mg/L fish kills can occur. DEG and others have made reports/sightings of fish kills in the Baawan River last Monday 9th December 2024. 😟

🧵 1/4 🐟Walgett River Water Quality 17 December 2024.🐟

🤨The pH readings at most sites were good. There was one reading from the Stock Route (Baawan River) and one reading from the Walgett Weir (Ngamaay River) that were outside the healthy range.🤨

🤩Thank you to WAMS for providing the Snake Awareness Workshop, NAISDA for doing a dance workshop with the young people and to our Rangers for providing and helping with the frog hotel activity.🤩
🥳We are excited for the new year, watch this space!🥳

🎊Dharriwaa Elders Group has re-launched the Youth Wellbeing Service. 🎊
🌞We had a four-week activity trial where Walgett young people came along and participated in a range of activities.
🌞We would like to thank the families that came along.🙂

10,000 people are becoming homeless every month – you’d think the government would do something about it
— First Dog on the Moon
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Masses of dead yellowbelly, carp and forkytails photographed by others yesterday (10/12/24) where they ended up in the Ngamaay after being forced up the Ngamaay (Namoi) by the flooded Baawan (Barwon) at Walgett.