Looking for a fun morning squelching on the Billabong Creek? Dive into the fascinating world of freshwater mussels and their role in our waterways!

Saturday 22nd February 2025

Join us from 10am-12pm for a

free interactive mussel workshop at

The Cape, Jerilderie NSW.

What’s Happening?

* Hands-on mussel surveys in the creek

* Learn about mussel species and their importance to the ecosystem

* Fun activities for all ages

* Expert talks on waterway health and biodiversity

Dr Nicole McCasker, mussel expert, from Charles Sturt University is coming along to chat, along with local cultural knowledge holder on mussels, Ros Lockhart.

This is a family-friendly event, so come along and help us discover more about these incredible creatures.

Together, we can protect and enhance our local waterways!

‍What to bring:

* Sturdy footwear (suitable for wet areas), Hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, Water bottle, and

A sense of adventure!

RSVP:

Andrea Mitchell E: andrea@refreshingrivers.org.au M: 0419 841 834

Many locals growing up by Billabong Creek, would know days filled with the joy of exploration and discovery. The creek was their playground, a place where nature provided endless adventures and wonders. One activity was mussel hunting, an experience that is less common today.

Roslyn Lockhart recalls those days fondly,"We would spend time on the Billabong Creek, barefoot, running our feet through the silt to feel for the smooth, round shapes of mussels. Sometimes we’d dive down to grab them or even pick them up with both feet. In those days, you didn’t have to look hard—they were everywhere. It wasn’t uncommon to find 20 or more in just an hour. The last time I remember doing that was around 1985.

"Recently, Ros and her cousin Eliza Godfrey, went muscle hunting to the discovery of a single live mussel in Billabong Creek, which was both a delight and a sombre moment. It was heavy, a sure sign it was alive, but it also served as a reminder of how much has changed. Where mussels once thrived in abundance, they are now a rarity, their decline mirroring a worldwide decline in freshwater mussels.

This realisation brings a deeper reflection from Rosyln Lockhart,"We say we love our creek, but do we really? When we’re not looking after it the way it looks after us, can we truly call it love?

"To rekindle that love and connection, and to learn about the creek's fascinating history and ecology, Ros Lockhart has joined Andrea Mitchell from YACTAC, working together through the Refreshing Rivers Program, to host the Mussel Muster workshop on Saturday, 22nd February, at 10am at The Cape, Jerilderie.

This all-of-community event will feature Dr. Nicole McCasker, scientist and freshwater mussel expert from Charles Sturt University, alongside Ros Lockhart from the Jerilderie Jeithi Aboriginal Group, who will share cultural knowledge about the creek and its significance. It is guaranteed to be a fun and informative morning—barefoot and using your feet to rediscover the wonders of our waterways and freshwater mussels.

(R Lockhart Photo: Eliza Godfrey with freshwater mussel collected on the Billabong Creek, Jerilderie, NSW)