The river is something that brings people together. It’s a space for people to gather, it’s a focal point for community. It provides a beautiful setting for people to meet, to share, to talk, to enjoy each other’s company. 

This episode of Goolay’yari Cooks River Radio is all about how our river and the other rivers in Eora/Sydney inspire people to join together, to care for and to fight for these beautiful natural spaces.

This month I went down to Customs House in Circular Quay to attend the biggest get-together of river lovers Eora/Sydney has ever seen, the Sydney Rivers Community Forum. I spoke with participants, organisers and presenters to get a picture of the biggest threats and most promising solutions for our river and all of Sydney’s urban waterways.

And as always we also have all your monthly River News for May 2026.

Guests: Sam Johnson, Amelia Mertha, Brian Keogh, Gareth Wreford, Jason L’Ecuyer, Chris Jordens, Danielle Ryan, Steph Lentz, Mark Fuller, Viv Sung

Host/producer: Niall Edwards-FitzSimons  

Music by: riverkid   

With thanks to Sam and Amelia from the Nature Conservation Council of NSW, to all the presenters, all the participants I spoke to including Tim, Andrew, Matt, Eleanor, Sunil, Lianjing, Holly, Kiran, Sarah, Meredith, Peter, Peter and the many others whose names I didn’t get!

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

The river is something that brings people together. It&rsquo;s a space for people to gather, it&rsquo;s a focal point for community. It provides a beautiful setting for people to meet, to share, to talk, to enjoy each other&rsquo;s company.&nbsp;
This episode of Goolay&rsquo;yari Cooks River Radio is all about how our river and the other rivers in Eora/Sydney inspire people to join together, to care for and to fight for these beautiful natural spaces.
This month I went down to Customs House in Circular Quay to attend the biggest get-together of river lovers Eora/Sydney has ever seen, the Sydney Rivers Community Forum. I spoke with participants, organisers and presenters to get a picture of the biggest threats and most promising solutions for our river and all of Sydney&rsquo;s urban waterways.
And as always we also have all your monthly River News for May 2026.
Guests: Sam Johnson, Amelia Mertha, Brian Keogh, Gareth Wreford, Jason L&rsquo;Ecuyer, Chris Jordens, Danielle Ryan, Steph Lentz, Mark Fuller, Viv Sung
Host/producer: Niall Edwards-FitzSimons&nbsp;&nbsp;
Music by: riverkid&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
With thanks to Sam and Amelia from the Nature Conservation Council of NSW, to all the presenters, all the participants I spoke to including Tim, Andrew, Matt, Eleanor, Sunil, Lianjing, Holly, Kiran, Sarah, Meredith, Peter, Peter and the many others whose names I didn&rsquo;t get!
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.