Culture, Connection & Conservation in Wellington
Community, culture and conservation was the theme at our recent workshop all about Murray River freshwater turtles
We recently had a wonderful day in Wellington, bringing people together to celebrate and learn about our local freshwater turtles and the knowledge that helps protect them.
We began with a moving Welcome to Country by Owen, whose yidaki playing set a powerful and grounding tone for the day. From there, participants were immersed in culture and creativity - learning traditional weaving techniques and beginning their own woven turtles using Cyperus gymnocaulos, a culturally significant weaving sedge.
We gathered over a delicious spread of native food platters, sharing stories and connection, before diving into an inspiring turtle presentation. This session beautifully wove together scientific understanding with First Nations knowledge, and introduced practical ways to support conservation through the TurtleSat app - helping track turtle sightings and nesting activity.
A heartfelt thank you to Owen, Ros and Karen for sharing your knowledge, generosity and enthusiasm. Days like this remind us that no one holds all the answers - but when we come together, listen, and learn from each other, we create something far more powerful for the future of our environment.
This project is an initiative of the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board with funding from the South Australian Government’s Landscape Priorities Fund.
