A stunning projection on the waters of the Murrumbidgee River was the backdrop for an historic meeting of the Wiradjuri and Barkandji nations with Narrandera residents to return native fingerlings to the southern Murray Darling basin.

Wirramarri – Long Way from Home saw several hundred people gather on Koori Beach at Narrandera on Saturday evening for a hand over of message sticks from Wiradjuri Elders to Barkandji River Rangers Cheryl Blore and Barbara Quayle, followed by the fingerling release by Wiradjuri youth.

Through a projected image on the water, bank and trees on the Murrumbidgee River, Ms Blore made an impassioned plea for Australians to care for the nation’s rivers and native fish species.

The culturally significant event was filmed by the National Museum of Australia.

It was pre-empted by the historic fish kill in the Menindee on Barkindji Country in December 2018 and January 2019, with an estimated one million dead fish in the Barka/Darling River.

Staff from Narrandera Fisheries Centre were called to help in the rescue effort and they secured 20 Murray Cod, 24 silver perch and 17 Golden Perch to return to Wiradjuri Country at Narrandera to heal and breed.

The Cad Factory artistic director Vic McEwan said the projection and performance event explored how people from different cultural backgrounds can come together over serious national issues with reconciliation being at the forefront of their actions.

He said art, science and ancient knowledge came together through story-telling, projections and cultural dance.

Narrandera Elder Jennifer Johnson cited the Welcome to Country while Elder Michael Lyons played the didgeridoo and told stories handed down through the generations.

Richard Gilbert choreographed the Wirramarri dancers including Neville Bamblett, John Ingram, Kelly Bamblett, Kristy McDuff, Vivian Christian, Belinda Atkinson, Brooke Christian and Braydon Lyons.

Wirramarri, meaning cod fish, performed a welcome dance on Narrungdera/Narrandera country and a boomerang dance used to teach children the art of boomerang throwing.

Narrandera Fisheries Centre hatchery manager Matt McLellan gave an emotional account of his involvement in the historic fish rescue from the Darling River.

“In February 2019, in response to the fish kills we scrambled to assemble a team to see if we could help the fish,” Mr McLellan said.

“We got to Menindee as quickly as we could and arriving on the banks of the Barka River we could feel the real sense of desperation.

“It was unexpected circumstances and we weren’t sure what we could do to help the fish existing there after the fish kills.

“Looking down on the water we could see these beautiful big Murray Cod still alive but weakened.

“They were battling in low oxygen conditions but still had enough strength to avoid our net when we tried to scoop them up.

“Eventually we had a net strung across the river and we managed to take the fish into a corner but there was still no way to get the fish out of the water.”

Mr McLellan said the images were burned into his brain.

“Putting my head under the water and seeing the silhouettes of those beautiful big fish through the murky water,” he said.

“And seeing these fish huddled together that would normally be patrolling their own stretch of river.

“Even more amazing was being able to take them in our hands and guide them into the waiting hands of others.

“They were put in our truck with clean water and oxygen to help them recover, and then taken back to Narrandera Fisheries Centre.”

Mr McLellan said 20 large Murray Cod were rescued, measuring up to one metre in length and 20kg in weight.

The team also brought back yellow belly and silver perch.

“I’ve always been about fish but I was deeply affected emotionally by the whole process,” Mr McLellan said.

“When I saw the Barkindji people there, I could see how it affected them and among that feeling of despair and hopelessness, suddenly there was a glimmer of hope.

“We had lost so much but there was a chance we could take something from it.”

Mr McLellan arranged a Welcome to Country with Uncle Michael Lyons to recognise the fish coming from the Barka onto Wiradjuri land to help them heal.

“We had a Barkindji representative help us release them into ponds – since that time we have bred hundreds of thousands of fish from those rescued fish.

“In December, we took back 60,000 Murray Cod for release back into the river.”

Mr McLellan, with the help of Wiradjuri Elders and youth and Barkindji Elders, released yellow belly fingerlings into the Murrumbidgee River at Koori Beach.

He said the Murrumbidgee and Darling rivers had a physical and spiritual connection.

Elder Michael Lyons said the evening was culturally significant as message sticks had not been exchanged between the Wiradjuri and Barkandji for generations.

Vic McEwan said when people come together to share stories changes can happen.

“It is not just a lofty idea – we are practising that tonight,” he said.

“This will be viewed on-line by hundreds of thousands of people around the country and who will say Wow, look what happened in Narrandera.

“We are looking forward to seeing these relationships grow and continue.”

The creative collaborators were The Cad Factory, Clontarf Foundation, NSW DPI Narrandera Fisheries, Barkandji River Rangers Cheryl Blore and Barbara Quayle, Wirramarri Dance Group and Narrandera Public School. The production artists were Clytie Smith, Michael Petchkovsky, Becky Russell, Shannon Stone and Brendan Napier.

This article appeared in the Narrandera Argus, 29 April 2021.