Take me to the River

Questions, comments, feedback? Tap here to send us a message! In this episode of Take Me to the River, Dr. Siwan Lovett sits down with renowned fluvial geomorphologist Professor Kirstie Fryirs—co-developer of the globally adopted River Styles Framework—to explore how rivers are shaped, damaged, and healed. This jam-packed episode breaks down the science of river restoration through the lens of flu...

Questions, comments, feedback? Tap here to send us a message! Did you know that a nursing platypus mother must eat up to her entire body weight in food every day to support her and her young? Or that male platypuses have venomous spurs near their back legs that can cause intense pain which is immune to conventional opioid painkillers? Or did you know that technically, based on the word's gree...

Questions, comments, feedback? Tap here to send us a message! In today's episode, Margie Dickson, Environmental Project Manager at Healthy Land and Water, takes us on a journey through her experience leading an innovative project on the Caboolture River which re-establishes mangroves for long-term bank stabilisation and ecosystem resilience. This effort combines her engineering expertise with...

Questions, comments, feedback? Tap here to send us a message! Group CEO of eWater Group Michael Wilson has an extraordinary range of backgrounds: he’s a political scientist, classical musician, public servant, national security specialist, Australian Diplomat, and Humanitarian and International Development Advisor all rolled into one, with over 35 years’ experience across these fields. He’s run fo...

Questions, comments, feedback? Tap here to send us a message! Stocky Galaxias, or 'Stocky', is one of Australia's most critically endangered species — a tiny fish hidden away in the pristine alpine waters of Kosciuszko National Park. Can the survival of this elusive, critically endangered species illuminate the future of Australia’s rivers? In this conversation we discuss efforts to...

Questions, comments, feedback? Tap here to send us a message! In today's episode, Siwan sits down with Dr. Sue Pillans , a marine scientist, artist and children’s author who specialises in creative and visual communications to help people “picture their ideas”. As a graphic recorder, Sue draws discussions and presentations in real-time to visually capture and convey information, ideas and con...

Questions, comments, feedback? Tap here to send us a message! In this episode, we’re diving into the waters of the Mary River with environmental engineer Misko Ivezich. With over 15 years of experience at Alluvium, Misko has long been at the forefront of combating river erosion and sediment issues which are crucial to the health of riparian ecosystems and downstream systems which receive their flo...

Questions, comments, feedback? Tap here to send us a message! 37% of Australia's freshwater species are facing extinction in the next century. In the words of today's guest, Dr. Nick Whiterod, "it is now a conscious decision not to act." Native fish populations in Australia are estimated to be less than 10% of their size pre-colonisation. This country has experienced one of the...

Questions, comments, feedback? Tap here to send us a message! What if your pet fish could wreak havoc on Australia's ecosystems? Turns out, that's precisely what they'll do if they end up in our waterways. In today's episode, Dr. Siwan Lovett sits down with freshwater fish biologist Dr Mariah Millington, who reveals the surprising capacity for non-native pet fish to damage and...

Questions, comments, feedback? Tap here to send us a message! Ever wondered what a platypus eats, how to remember native plant names, or what it takes to bring a river back to life? Today, ARRC Director Dr. Siwan Lovett sits down with Jed Pearson from the Rivers of Carbon team to answer some of these questions. Jed has journeyed from Armidale to the ACT and his dedication to conservation through W...

Questions, comments, feedback? Tap here to send us a message! In 2019, the Upper Murrumbidgee River at Tharwa ran dry. Under a burning, smoky sky, flow stopped entirely, and the riverbed was visible except for a few algae-choked pools. This came as a shock for local residents who rely on the river for their water supply, and inspired Andy Lowes to write a letter to Canberrans on behalf of the rive...

Questions, comments, feedback? Tap here to send us a message! In today's conversation, Siwan sits down with Callum Edwards from the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (CMA) and Jayden Woolley of the Wadawarrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation to discuss the significance and effectiveness of mentoring, why it matters, and why it was the right fit for them. Callum and Jayde...

Questions, comments, feedback? Tap here to send us a message! Siwan talks with Henry Cooper, Project Officer for Land and Catchment Health at the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority , and Matt Bowler, Manager of Project Delivery at the West Gippsland CMA about their experience as mentee and mentor, respectively, in the Waterway Management Emerging Leaders Program . Siwan, Matt and Henry dis...

Questions, comments, feedback? Tap here to send us a message! On a crisp Friday morning by the banks of the Cotter river in January 2024, Siwan sat down with Senator David Pocock, the ACT's first independent senator and environmental advocate, to discuss what drives him and what he cares about; his journey towards and inside the world of politics and government; his life growing up in Zimbabw...

Questions, comments, feedback? Tap here to send us a message! In today's episode, Siwan sits down with Australia's Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH), Dr. Simon Banks, to talk about his love of nature, his experience delivering eWater, and what it's like to be the CEWH. This conversation covers Dr. Banks' journey so far, some elements of the Murray-Darling Basin Pla...

Questions, comments, feedback? Tap here to send us a message! Siwan speaks with Dr. Wayne Koster of the Arthur Rylah Institute, at the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, to talk native fish recovery and research. Wayne leads research projects on native fish ecology and conservation across Victoria and more broadly in south-eastern Australia.  The focus of much of Wayne’s recent...

Questions, comments, feedback? Tap here to send us a message! In today's episode, Siwan talks with Richard Swain, a Dabee man of the Wiradjuri nation and a river adventure guide (Alpine River Adventures) in the Snowy Mountains, in Kozciuszko National Park. Richard grew up learning the history of the Australian landscape from his father, and his grandfather taught him how Aboriginal peoples mo...

Questions, comments, feedback? Tap here to send us a message! Regenerative Agriculture is revolutionising Australia's agriculture industry, and for good reason. Today, The Australian River Restoration's Managing Director Siwan Lovett sits down with Australia's foremost Regenerative Agriculture pioneer, Dr. Charles Massy, to discuss his life’s work, his experience implementing Regene...

Questions, comments, feedback? Tap here to send us a message! Sitting on the banks of the Wollondilly River, only two kilometres downstream of its headwaters, Siwan chats with Felicity Wheelwright. Felicity is a fifth-generation regenerative farmer in the Crookwell region and a fourth-generation farmer on Roslyn Estate, and one of our Rivers of Carbon restoration champions, restoring water quality...

Questions, comments, feedback? Tap here to send us a message! As we have more conversations with Aboriginal people, we find that when we acknowledge Country it means so much more. There is an upswelling of emotion as the stories that are generously shared with us gives us insight into what it might be like being an Aboriginal Australian. This podcast is one such conversation. Tanya Keed, a proud A...

Questions, comments, feedback? Tap here to send us a message! Siwan and Andy sit down with Associate Professor Angus Webb to chat about the recent floods in the Goulburn River system in Victoria and what they mean for the ecology of the system. Angus works for the Environmental Hydrology and Water Resources Division of the University of Melbourne, and is the lead researcher for the Flow - Monitori...

Questions, comments, feedback? Tap here to send us a message! In this episode, Siwan chats with Professor Fiona Dyer about why science and people matter when it comes to rivers and their management. Fiona is a freshwater scientist at the University of Canberra, where she has a broad range of expertise and interests, including vegetation ecology, water quality and ecohydrology. Today, we’ll be expl...

Questions, comments, feedback? Tap here to send us a message! In this episode, Siwan chats with Richie Allan about reconciliation and the importance of listening to Indigenous perspectives, particularly when it comes to our rivers. Richie comes from the Kamilaroi and Ngunnawal nations and is co-Director of the Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation . Richie has been working with the ARRC over t...

Questions, comments, feedback? Tap here to send us a message! In this episode, Siwan chats with Andrew McGovern, an avid angler and one of Australia’s most recognised fishing journalist. Andrew has been fishing in the Canberra and Snowy Mountains regions for over 40 years and has a special connection to the Murrumbidgee River, where he grew up. Siwan and Andrew discuss the role anglers play in car...

Questions, comments, feedback? Tap here to send us a message! In this episode, Siwan chats with freshwater and wildlife ecologist Dr Skye Wassens and Professor of Design Mitchell Whitelaw. Skye and Mitchell share their recent work on The Sound of Water project , which visualises the different sounds of the Nap Nap swamp wetlands as it receives environmental water flows from the Murrumbidgee River....