Nici Cumpston

The Barka, our Darling River, is currently in a state of crisis, so we need to speak up and protect it, as it is no longer able to provide for us. As a nation we are all responsible to take action, as eventually it will affect us all.

One way we can nurture the Rivers is to humanise them, so they can be empowered to have the rights that protect them from harmful human intervention. These portraits of our precious trees and waterways are created to give them reverence and to provide an important platform to share stories of Aboriginal occupation and ongoing survival on our land.

In early 2019 I went on a road trip to visit my family and to see for myself what state our River was in. I thought I had driven into hell the day I arrived in Wilcannia. It was hot, dry and dusty and all life looked like it was expiring before me. 

Under the bridge over the Barka, in the heart of town, were stagnant pools of acid-green slimy water slowly seeping into the otherwise dry riverbed. All I could think was how are the local people surviving? Without flowing freshwater, there are no fish, the water birds are diminishing, and people have to rely on salty bore water for all of their essential needs.  

The Murray Darling Basin produces one third of Australia’s food. Yet here we are facing a situation whereby this is seriously threatened unless changes are made to water allocations. This is a major crisis situation that has been caused by much more than drought and every living being along this waterway is suffering.

The images that follow are a record of my journey and through this work I pay tribute to my ancestors, to my family and friends and all who are fighting to raise awareness of our plight, and to the hope that together we can change this disastrous situation.