Have you ever walked past a problem so many times you just had to jump in and sort it out? No matter the barriers? One man, working alone in the mangroves, did just that—and we're still feeling the impact today.

In this episode of Goolay'yari Cooks River Radio we have an interview with Alison Gibbs, founding  member of the Mudcrabs and author of Celebrating 20 Years: The Mudcrabs Cooks River Eco Volunteers 2005–2025. She takes us through their early history and why the group is still so vital.


We also have the first edition of our segment Who Were They?, this month investigating the Beaman behind Beaman Park, Earlwood.


And a report capturing all the fun and community at the Muddy River Festival, including interviews with organisers, artists, performers, councillors and river defenders.


And of course we have all your monthly River News for March 2026.

Guest: Alison Gibbs

Host/producer: Niall Edwards-FitzSimons  

Music by: riverkid   

With thanks to Andy Tsanadis and the Canterbury-Bankstown Council librarians, Emily Cascarino, Olivia Barlow, Andrew Thomas, Pilar Basa, Jasmine Sarin, Zoe Ferguson and everyone else we spoke to at Muddy River Festival and at Beaman Park.


This episode was produced on the lands of the Gadigal and the Bidjigal and we pay respect to elders past and present.

Have you ever walked past a problem so many times you just had to jump in and sort it out? No matter the barriers? One man, working alone in the mangroves, did just that&mdash;and we're still feeling the impact today. In this episode of Goolay'yari Cooks River Radio we have an interview with Alison Gibbs, founding&nbsp; member of the Mudcrabs and author of&nbsp;Celebrating 20 Years: The Mudcrabs Cooks River Eco Volunteers 2005&ndash;2025. She takes us through their early history and why the group is still so vital.
 We also have the first edition of our segment&nbsp;Who Were They?, this month investigating the Beaman behind Beaman Park, Earlwood.
 And a report capturing all the fun and community at the Muddy River Festival, including interviews with organisers, artists, performers, councillors and river defenders.
 And of course we have all your monthly River News for March 2026.
Guest: Alison Gibbs
Host/producer: Niall Edwards-FitzSimons &nbsp;
Music by: riverkid &nbsp;&nbsp;
With thanks to Andy Tsanadis and the Canterbury-Bankstown Council librarians, Emily Cascarino, Olivia Barlow, Andrew Thomas, Pilar Basa, Jasmine Sarin, Zoe Ferguson and everyone else we spoke to at Muddy River Festival and at Beaman Park.
 This episode was produced on the lands of the Gadigal and the Bidjigal and we pay respect to elders past and present.

Goolay’yari/Cooks River is a special place. One of the largest and longest urban rivers in Sydney, among the most polluted, and neglected, but the most cherished too. In this new monthly program from Radio Skid Row and Pelican River Studio we bring you interviews with those who care for the river and the stories, histories, events, news and people that make up this beautiful urban waterway.

Goolay&rsquo;yari/Cooks River&nbsp;is a special place. One of the largest and longest urban rivers in Sydney, among the most polluted, and neglected, but the most cherished too. In this new monthly program from Radio Skid Row and Pelican River Studio we bring you interviews with those who care for the river and the stories, histories, events, news and people that make up this beautiful urban waterway.