DRB Presents: BoorYul-Bah-Bilya: A new community catchment plan for the Mandoon Bilya (Helena River)

Note: no RSVP required.

COVID19: Even though restrictions have eased, we will still encourage members and visitors to take precautions and please do not attend if unwell.

Speaker:

Francesca Flynn

Topic:

BoorYul-Bah-Bilya (Mandoon Bilya – Helena River)

Less than 1% of WA’s major rivers are in pristine or near-pristine condition, and despite the good work of many, river health continues to decline. To have a realistic chance of restoring river health, new thinking and approaches are urgently needed. BoorYul-Bah-Bilya (BBB) is an exciting initiative launched in 2024 by Bibbul Ngarma Aboriginal Association that aims to address declining river health through creation of a new type of community catchment plan.

BBB is the first program of its kind to consider environmental, social, cultural and economic factors in one integrated plan, allowing a better balance between the many values of rivers. Its grassroots approach ensures local knowledge is embedded throughout and enables community, residents, businesses, schools and government to contribute towards the future vision.

The first BBB plan focuses on the Mandoon Bilya, or Helena River, which flows from Ballardong Country near York and Beverley, through Mundaring and Kalamunda in the Perth Hills, and down into Whadjuk Country through Midland, before joining the Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River) in Guildford. However, BNAA hope to create widespread transformative change by creating a transferable model that can be applied to any river. The first BBB plan will be released to coincide with the 2029 Perth Bicentenary, an important milestone to consider the impact of colonisation on our waterways and how we collectively address the challenges of urbanisation and a drying climate.

The presentation will be given by BNAA Executive Director, Francesca Flynn, an environmental scientist and local hills resident who is passionate about creating a better future for Australian rivers. For more information, visit www.bibbul.org

Plus:

• Kids’ talk – one of your younger members will be giving a 5 minutes kids’ talk.
• Boffins talk – A member will give an 8 minutes Boffins’ talk. Rachel and Mike will give a talk on Ospreys. 
• “Nature road show”. Members and visitors are encouraged to bring items to place on the display table or to send photographs to the MC in advance, e.g. a sample flower, an insect, and so on – anything of natural history interest that has legally been obtained. If we have time, one of our experts will identify them or briefly talk about them, or the person bringing them can talk about where they saw it, etc. Photographs are particularly welcome, as everyone can see them. If you wish to show a photograph please email it, no later than the Wednesday before the meeting, to our MC for this night, and she/he will include it on her PowerPoint slides. We have a dedicated email for this purpose” natclub@webco.com.au
• Thing of the month / Things coming up next month: These two presentations are about things in nature happening this month and things coming up, so if you have any photos or information, send them to: natclub@webco.com.au
• Door prizes: You could also be the lucky winner of a door prize. We make sure there are prizes for both members and visitors.
• Raffle: We will have a great raffle  – please raid your piggy bank for a bit more cash, $5 for 3 tickets.

Time: Please come at 7.15pm or earlier if you wish, for a 7.30pm start as we start promptly. We are open from 6.45pm. We finish formal proceedings no later than 9.30pm.

Donation: All this for only a donation of $3 per person for adult members ($0 for child members), and $5 per adult visitor and $1 per visiting child to help with the costs of running the club, venue hire, insurance and so on.  Please bring the right CASH to help us avoid long queues. Thanks. We do not have EFTPOS facilities yet.

Entrance: It is a condition of entry that everyone signs in on arrival, thank you.

Parking: Free parking right outside.

Wheelchair access: Everything is on one level.

Toilets: Are inside.

Bookings: No bookings required.

See you there for fabulous night.