The Rowboat
The Rowboat: Swimmable Birrarung
Supported by Regen Melbourne and RMIT University through the Planetary Civics Initiative (PCI).
Uncle Andrew Gardiner
Wurundjeri Elder &
Birrarung Council Member
“Because there’s some stuff that people shouldn’t actually own, and one of those key things, in Aboriginal history, is that we didn’t own land. We were custodians of land. We looked after it and the waterways, and therefore it looked after us, because we didn't over use the resources.”
Charity Mosienyane
Lead Convenor of the
Swimmable Birrarung project
Regen Melbourne
“People just need moments like this to be on a rowboat, on the Birrarung to actually go, “Oh my gosh, this is quite amazing.” To have a moment and a connection with the river and have gratitude for what it’s done for this place, for its people, for nature. And so I think all these things can be turned around. They’re challenges, but not forever.”
Dr. Erin O’Donnell
University of Melbourne,
Birrarung Council Member
“I think right now in the river itself, we are very close to the river. Unless we were swimming, it would be hard to be more intimate with the river right now. And so I think for the river, that’s how it would choose to connect. That’s how it would say, “Come and be with me and spend time with me.”
About The Rowboat
Swimmable Birrarung
Learn more about Regen Melbourne’s Swimmable Birrarung Project.
Planetary Civics Enquiry
Learn more about the RMIT Planetary Civics Enquiry.
