New video celebrates the cultural significance of wetlands

THE Bellarine Catchment Network (BCN) has launched a new video in conjunction with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Cooperation, highlighting the importance of wetlands and the Wadurrung values associated with them.

It is narrated by Wadawurrung Traditional Owner Corrina Eccles, and focuses on Lake Connewarre, a site which draws its name from kunuwarra, the Wadawurrung word for black swan.

The short video celebrates the birds, plants and animals that call the region’s wetlands home, the significance of these landscapes, and the vital role they play in the Cultural Heritage of the area.

“Wetlands have an abundance of stories and an abundance of resources,” Ms Eccles said.

“Wetlands provide many varieties of food and resources, just like you would fill your shopping trolley, our people would fill their bellies and be able to fill their bags with tools and wood.”

Wetlands play critical roles in water purification, flood regulation and as a habitat for many different species.

Lake Connewarre, in particular, serves as one of the state’s most important sites for migratory birds, providing a critical place for rest for thousands of migratory birds.

This includes the Red-necked Stint, a small world-travelling sandpiper which makes the journey from the Arctic to Australia and back each year.

The wetland is among several others on the Bellarine Peninsula, like Swan Bay, that have been declared Ramsar sites, an international recognition awarded to wetlands of ecological significance.

Naomi Wells, BCN’s coastal and education program leader, said the video aimed to raise awareness and promote the conservation of wetlands.

“The protection of our local Ramsar wetlands, like Lake Connewarre, are essential not only for preserving biodiversity but also for protecting their significant cultural heritage,” she said.

“By sharing the knowledge and wisdom of Wadawurrung people, we can inspire action and foster a deeper connection to the land and waters that sustain us all.”

The Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation have a long legacy of caring for Country, using the cultural knowledge of its team to inform and achieve better outcomes.

“Wetlands are of cultural significance. They were places of ceremony; they were places of gathering,” Ms Eccles said.

“Wadawurrung have used and cared for wetlands for tens of thousands of years. Our cultural knowledge is the basis of managing our Country.”

To view the video, head to bit.ly/wadawurrungwetlands