A love of Perth’s rivers, active membership with the Swan River Trust’s River Guardians program, and many volunteer hours restoring the foreshores may make Jim and Madeleine Kirkham seem like experts when it comes to the city’s iconic waterways.
But the Victoria Park couple are believers that there is always more to learn. This is why they are urging everyone who cares about the rivers to take part in the Trust’s River Wise training program.
The free workshop series aims to show participants how making positive changes in their environment, home and garden can help Perth’s precious rivers.
The couple, who took part in the first River Science session in early October, were advocates of sustainable living long before the concept came into fashion. Their garden is bursting with native plants, birdlife and frogs. High-nutrient fertilisers have been replaced with compost and mulch, and water, which used to be carried by hand from the washing machine and now comes from a bore, is applied sparingly.
But even with this wealth of knowledge and experience, Madeleine says they picked up plenty of tips and new information from the session. Like the fact the catchment for the Swan Canning river system is twice the size of Tasmania, and a drain stencilling project to educate the community about the impacts of letting waste products enter stormwater drains.
“We’re always learning,” Madeleine said. “The sessions are really interesting and really comprehensive. Anyone who has any interest in the rivers needs to go.”
On Saturday November 5, two workshops at the South East Regional Centre for Urban Landcare (SERCUL) in Beckenham will show participants how to be “river wise” at home and in the garden.
In the morning, the Great Gardens team will share their tips for creating a river friendly garden by improving soil, planting native species and reducing fertiliser use.
SERCUL will be transformed into a native garden, and kids will create their own mini worm farms. In the afternoon, participants will learn what they can do to live a river-friendly life at home by visiting historic Yule Brook homestead -a living example of how small changes can make a sustainable home.
For Madeleine, the biggest drawcard is the chance to learn more about the rivers and what can be done to help them.
“They are a huge icon for Perth. When I first arrived, I looked up and down the river and it was magical. I just couldn’t believe this was the Swan River I’d heard so much about,” she said.
“It helps people realise it’s what we can all do as individuals that can make a difference. It’s something we really believe in and it’s the way we’re going to live.”