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Swan River Trust
River Guardians are supported by the WA Government and the Swan River Trust
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River Guardians are friends of the Swan and Canning rivers
News - latest news about River Guardians program
Love of the rivers spurs on 700th River Guardian
Sunlight glints off the glassy surface of the Swan River as Phillip Davey skilfully manoeuvres his kayak around the Nedlands foreshore. It’s 9am and while the city is buzzing, on the river it is quiet, with the soft slap of oars in the water and the occasional bird call is all that disturbs the morning peace.

This has been a morning ritual for the 65-year-old semi-retired draughtsman and member of UWA’s Sport and Recreation Association for the past year, a time to relax and escape the hustle and bustle of daily life. 

Mr Davey recently became the 700th member of River Guardians, a community engagement program coordinated by the Swan River Trust. River Guardians gives members access to free events, information and networking opportunities with other members who share a deep love for Perth’s rivers.

Mr Davey said his decision to become a member was based on a long-time love affair with the rivers, including a move to the riverside suburb of Shelley from Cottesloe 40 years ago.

“I live near the rivers, my kids swum in it as babies and now we walk around it with our grandchildren,” he said.

It is free to become a River Guardian. Members can also become involved in Dolphin Watch, joining volunteers like Mr Davey to help unlock the secrets of one of Perth’s most iconic species.

More information on River Guardians is available from https://www.riverguardians.com/, by emailing guardians@swanrivertrust.wa.gov.au or calling 9278 0900.

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River Guardians Autumn River Festival Photo Competition
On 28 March 2010 the Autumn River Festival, a fun and entertaining family-oriented community festival will be held at Riverside Gardens Bayswater surrounding the shores of the beautiful Swan River.
The Swan River Trust's River Guardians program is coordinating a photographic competition for the event, open to all amateur photographers.
The theme of the competition is: Perth's iconic rivers - show us what you love about the rivers
Prizes will include:
First prize - $350 Camera Electronics voucher
Second prize - $150 Camera Electronics voucher
Thirty submitted photographs will be on display in the River Guardians marquee at the Autumn River Festival. The winning entries will also appear on the River Guardians website.
The photography competition opened on 18 January 2010 and closes 12 March 2010.
For entry forms and Terms and Conditions please call or email Shannan 9278 0927 or shannan.beal@dec.wa.gov.au
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Tip of the Week - List of interesting facts and figures about the Swan and Canning rivers.
Digging for bait worms in the Swan Estuary Marine Park or the Canning River Regional Park is not permitted.
Members - Profiles of River Guardians
River Tales - Stories and folk-lore about the Swan and Canning Rivers
Becoming a member of River Guardians gives you opportunities to learn more about the important indigenous history of Western Australia. There are many fantastic stories of their creation in the Dreaming, and you can listen and view them from the following texts, DVDs and websites.

Noel Nannup, Aboriginal Heritage Officer and Noongar elder provides DVDs in partnership with the Swan Catchment Council, telling the stories of The Carers of Everything and When the Sea Rose.
 
Copies of these can be obtained by contacting the Swan Catchment Council.
  • Len Collard, a Whadjuk/Balardong Noongar and senior lecturer and Program Chair in Australian Indigenous Studies at Murdoch University, captures the essence of Noongar culture in his DVD - Kura Yeye Mila Boorda - (From the past to the present and tomorrow). He provides stories about the Noongar Rainbow Serpent or Waakal  - the creator of Nyoongar boodjar or country, moort or family and katitjin or knowledge. The story tells of how the Swan River or Derbal Yarragan is the home of the Whadjuk Nyoongar. The DVD can be obtained from Kulbardi Productions, phone (08) 9360 6469/6468 or email kulbardiproductions@murdoch.edu.au

  • www.mcc.murdoch.edu.au/multimedia/nyungar
    This website provides Nidja Beeliar Boodjar Noonookurt Nyininy. A Nyungar interpretive history of the use of boodjar (country) in the vicinity of Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia.
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