CEO Matt Reddy says this is a fantastic time for people in all areas of Australia to simply stop and celebrate how vital rivers are to the community. People are being encouraged to organise a fundraiser or celebration of their choosing with a river theme. There are many ideas for people to see at www.riverfoundation.org.au.
The website will show people exactly how to get involved. People can either then donate funds to a local project in the local area or donate money to the International RiverFoundation for overall river awareness and river restoration projects.
Matt Reddy says taking action is far and away the best way to help rivers. He points out rivers are integral to all our lives as they are closely linked with the tourism industry, jobs, agriculture and many other industries.
Tammy van Wisse is a huge supporter of rivers – water is her “office”. Tammy said, “We all need to get behind our rivers – they’re a part of our national backbone. Our rivers cannot speak up for themselves. That’s why we are doing this project. We can all speak up and do something.”
Rivers provide billions of dollars to the economy – especially rural economies. The Murray Darling Basin is estimated to produce one third of all food produced in Australia – it’sAustralia’s “food basket” and the nation’s agricultural heartland. It is estimated over 3 million people rely on the Murray Darling for their everyday drinking water.
Matt Reddy says rivers are literally the veins of Australia – highlighting a huge number of industries in Australia depend on healthy rivers including our food industries; fruit, milk, rice and many more.
Churches and other religious groups are also being urged to consider a special service with a river theme for World Rivers Day, which will happen over the weekend of Sunday September 25th.
Matt Reddy said, “We hope local churches and other religious institutions will also consider a special service dedicated to or mentioning rivers and why they are important, especially the role they play in the major faiths. We hope schools pause and have a closer look and study a local river.”
Olympic Gold swimming legend Duncan Armstrong said, “As a father I’m very aware that our rivers need to be nurtured for future generations. You can fundraise for your own river. All of the administration is done through a simple online system. We are looking for people who want to be an “Everyday Hero”. Everyday Heroes are everywhere and this is about raising critical funds to help rivers and waterways managers.”
“Funding will help with plantings, re-vegetation, bank stabilisation and more. By supporting your local river, you will be helping keep waterways clean for future generations.”
Ideas for fundraisers, to support World Rivers Day, include film nights, toastings to our rivers, showcasing local produce, fishing days, clean ups, riverside barbeques, river cycles, river walks and more.
Matt Reddy said, “Fresh water is a scarce and precious resource. Our rivers house numerous iconic species – everything from yabbies and barramundi to platypus and the ancientQueensland lung fish. Our precious rivers are also a playground. People love to fish, row, paint, pan for gold or simply walk along rivers.”
The International RiverFoundation highlights that whilst Australians unquestionably love our rivers the blunt reality is many rivers are suffering damage with wetlands being destroyed, riverbanks eroding and water bird species disappearing.
Matt Reddy says our rivers have been punished and need much more restoration work because they are the backbone of our nation and are central to our national character.
Matt Reddy says there’s been a clear legacy of abuse and neglect. He says some rivers have been used as open sewers, industrial drains and waste dumping grounds. It’s estimated by the National River Health Program that at least 31% of Australian rivers have now suffered a level of either minor or major damage.
The River Foundation also points out that Australia has the highest variability of river flows anywhere in the world – so we must be more sensitive as to how we use our freshwater resources. Figures show 16 of the 30 species of native fish in the Murray Darling system are now threatened with 1 species critically endangered. Less than 10% of Murray Cod,Australia’s most iconic fish, are left.
World Rivers Day highlights the many values of rivers and focuses on increasing public awareness. Various agencies of the United Nations have endorsed World Rivers Day. Its origins started in British Columbia when Canada held a rivers day which grew to over 100,000 people helping.
Comedy legend Mark Mitchell said, “Investing in our rivers today is clearly investing in tomorrow. We’re all aware that we are the driest continent on Earth so we know water is so important to our nation. We feel rivers are being overlooked. Every dollar invested in river protection saves ten dollars in restoration.”
Matt Reddy added, “The first rule of rehabilitation is to avoid the damage in the first place! It is easy, quick and costs no money to damage natural streams. It is hard, slow and expensive to return them to their original state”
“It takes only one person with a bulldozer to damage a stream, but it can take many volunteers, landholders, engineers, biologists, geomorphologists, botanists and public-servants to fix it again.”
“In the past two centuries alone building and the huge clearing of native vegetation has dramatically affected our rivers. River water quality has been affected. River flows have been drastically reduced. Rivers have been under assault by carp – the rabbits of our rivers and invasive weeds like blackberry are choking up vast areas of pristine river landscapes. Huge dollars are now needed to reverse this damage and to get more vegetation happening. Restoration is the key.”
“On a global scale it deeply alarms me to see a University of Western Australia report suggesting 80% of the world’s population now live in areas where rivers are simply classified as highly threatened. The report indicates the world’s rivers are heading towards a crisis where thousands of species of plants and animals are at risk of extinction.”
“We sometimes forget how critical water is. For instance 1kg of Australian beef requires around 100,000 litres of water to produce and 1kg of butter uses up around 80,000 litres of water.”
“In New South Wales it is estimated over 85% of rivers have been degraded to some extent by human activity. South Australia has already lost 75% of its wetlands. Huge quantities of salt are now flowing down the River Murray every day. On average 1,000 tonnes of salt per day enter the River Murray in SA alone.”
Matt Reddy added, “We know we have got big problems. The answers all lie in action. Do something – make a difference. Stop and celebrate our rivers. Whether it’s a barbeque or any kind of event by the river, focus on your local river and celebrate why it’s such an important part of our nation. Our rivers deserve nothing less.”
Media enquiries to Media Key on 03 9769 6488.
Some of the activities held across the world last year
for World Rivers Day
- British Colombia, Canada – invasive plant species were part of the focus at the Coquitlam River.
- California, USA – the American River – 20 different locations removed over 15,000 lbs of debris from the river.
- British Colombia, Canada – the township of Langley had a huge festival including streamside tree planting, salmon displays and more.
- Yamuna River – India – river paddle trips, planting along the riverbanks and a plastic debris clean up were part of the focus.
- Cameroon, Africa – a river education program with river education for kids was part of the program.
- Pencala River, Malaysia – a huge event included river mapping and a river clean up not far from Kuala Lumpur.
- French Broad River, North Carolina, USA – river link got river lovers to toast to the river with other activities.
- Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada – a special safe drinking water event included films and more.
- Island of Dominica, Caribbean – their themes were “Where have our 365 rivers gone?”
- Patagonia, Chile – local townspeople had a big celebration to honour their local waterway – the Baker River.
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