Appreciating our volunteers and supporters

31/05/2025

To show our heartfelt appreciation for the incredible work of our volunteers and community Advisory Forum members, we kicked off the celebrations ahead of National Volunteer Week 2025!

On Monday 12 May 2025, a group of 20 of us hopped on a bus for a regional tour under perfect autumn skies. The day was dedicated to exploring the region from Ngarrindjeri and science research perspectives. Our first encounter was a brief trip through the remarkable, long-term landscape-scale revegetation efforts that have been underway for over 25 years. Led by the Kurrangk Hindmarsh Island Landcare Group (KHILC), this work has focused on restoring vital habitats and vegetation—much of it on private land across the island. KHILC are collaborating with the CLLMM Research Centre on few of our research projects (including our Landscape Revegetation and Blue and Teal Carbon projects).

Our journey included a crossing of the barrages from north to south, with a huge thanks to Mick from SA Water and Adrienne from DEW for generously sharing their knowledge and experience. Their insights into water management, fishways, bird habitats, were all informative and inspiring. Mick and Adrienne are providing critical input into our Estuarine Connectivity project. The spontaneous arrival of a Rakali (Native Water Rat) was also a highlight of the journey across the barrages.

We found a peaceful picnic spot at Long Point, where the Kurrangk/Coorong showed off its serene beauty—calm waters, gentle breezes, and a perfect spot to reflect on the impact of collective efforts in caring for this unique region. It was here we met Ngarrindjeri elder Uncle Derek Gollan who welcomed us to his country, talking about the old days, his work as a Ranger in the National Park and introducing us to the indigenous ranger team from Meningie, who have cultural responsibility to care for Kurrangk country.

Our day concluded with a meaningful visit to the Raukkan Community, where we were fortunate to meet Uncle Russell. In a serendipitous moment, he joined us on the bus and shared unfeigned stories of his childhood in Raukkan and his experience as a member of the stolen generation. His words deeply moved us all, offering a powerful reminder of the strength, resilience, and history of this place and its people.

Both Uncle Russell and Uncle Derek spoke about the restoration efforts underway at the Teringie wetlands. Their stories highlighted the community's ongoing work to bring life back to this important area through tree planting, earthworks, and the restoration of natural water flows and habitats.

The visit to Raukkan was even more memorable by the incredible views over Lake Alexandrina. It was a fitting end to a day of learning, connection, and reflection.