This interactive workshop invites participants to share and learn about our varied connections to the Birrarung. Insights from research being undertaken about our city’s varied relationships with the Birrarung and key lessons for a ‘better’ future will be shared by Loretta Bellato (Swinburne University of Technology), Christine McFetridge (RMIT University), and Sarah Thomson (University of Queensland) who have a keen interest in the connections between society and the river.

Participants are invited to bring a photograph of the Birrarung or a story to share with the group. Stories shared during this session will be documented for use by PhD candidate Sarah Thompson as part of her research project.

This event is part of the inaugural Birrarung Riverfest, a month-long community celebration of our beautiful and resilient river starting on World Rivers' Day. Together with more than a dozen organisations, the festival provides an opportunity to connect to each other and the river's life force and reimagine the river's future. Engage your 'head, heart and hands' and be inspired to advocate for and care for your Birrarung River and all her critters!

There are 20 events to plan your Birrarung adventure, from art exhibitions, storytelling, river clean-ups, and camping, to cultural walks, platypus monitoring, pollution patrols, and even a book launch. To find out more: https://yarrariver.org.au/rive...

This event and the festival take place on the unceded land and waters of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people of the Kulin Nation. Festival organisers (the Yarra Riverkeeper Association and all partners) pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge their care of Country since time began.