Congratulations to Year 10 student, Isha Paithankar who placed second in the Monash University Arts Social Sciences Photo Essay Competition in September. The Competition was open to all high school students across Australia.  

The Competition required students to provide a photo and describe in 500 words what social justice issue they are most passionate about, why it matters, and what we can do to address the issue.  

Isha’s photo essay discussed the Murray River and is provided below.  

Photo Essay: The Murray River
Isha Paithankar

This photo depicts a picturesque, serene view of the Murray River from the town of Echuca. Beneath the calm surface lies a deeper story – one that traces back to the First Nations peoples approximately 40,000 years ago. One of the largest Indigenous groups that lived on the Murray were the Bangerang who lived where Echuca is today. The Ngarrindjeri (South Australia’s Murray River region,) Yorta Yorta Nation (Echuca region) and other Indigenous clans lived along the Murray and nearby its flood plains for thousands of years. A day in the life of communities included activities like canoeing, hunting, fishing, and gathering around to share yarns. Many Indigenous peoples still live along the river today. It serves as a sentiment for rich stories and music that were passed on at the night corroborees.  

Alarmingly, the culture associated with the Murray River is being threatened by increasing salinity and pollution rates. Contaminated stormwater and agricultural run-off are main contributing factors. This has serious implications in many ways. Near the river, there were once many swamps and billabongs, with an abundance native wildlife. As the water levels are lowering and the land is becoming drier, the wildlife is under a serious threat of extinction. With each passing day, the water quality continues to deteriorate from poorly managed riverine systems and rising salinity levels.  

The Murray River is a key source of drinking water for many of its residents and surrounding Indigenous communities. Arguably, the degradation of the river serves as an erosion of the Indigenous peoples cultural heritage and connection to the land that they have maintained for millennia. The essence of their stories and way of life is woven with the river’s course. The Dreamtime stories, for example, describe the origins of the river and its landscape, such as the adventures of the Murray cod, a species which is currently critically endangered. Preserving the First Nations’ cultural history is not only essential in maintaining respect for them, but also for rectifying historical wrongdoings and sustaining social justice.  

The most effective solution for managing salinity and pollution levels in the Murray River is to improve farming practices. This includes operating more salt interception schemes to divert saline to evaporating basins, and keeping the mouth of the river open, so salt water can leave the river system. The current policy in the Basin Plan safeguards settlements in relation to irrigation water and held environmental water, but not the rest of the water. This means that the water in its entirety is not being managed efficiently. It is imperative for this policy to be changed to maintain the preservation of the river. 

Furthermore, precision irrigation can be used to reduce agricultural run-off and prevent the introduction of other pollutants into the river. Educating farmers to maintain sustainable farm practices would lead to cleaner water, improved soil quality and the protection of wildlife in the river. This is vital in recognising the preservation of cultural practices, Australia’s identity, and most importantly, respect towards the rights and traditions of Indigenous peoples.