This week we have a bit of arts and culture respite, but that's not to say its not going to get political!

It was our great privilege this week to interview an artist we've been following for a very long time, Murrawarri, Philipino rapper and drummer, Rhyan Claphem, who calls himself DOBBY. DOBBY has just released his debut album Warrangu, river story and it is all about the great beauty and tragedy of the Murray-Darling Basin, from the perspective of his ancestral connection to the waters of the Barwon River and the community of Brewarrina and surrounding areas. 

This album is not just a collection of songs, it is a sonic journey and a research project, as Rhyan journeyed out to his ancestral homelands during 2019, to explore the consequences of drought and extractive practices on the land, animals, people and community.

To listen to the album or purchase your very own copy, please visit www.dobby.com.au

You can follow DOBBY on Instagram DOBBY (@dobbyau) • Instagram photos and videos

This week we have a bit of arts and culture respite, but that's not to say its not going to get political!
It was our great privilege this week to interview an artist we've been following for a very long time, Murrawarri, Philipino rapper and drummer, Rhyan Claphem, who calls himself DOBBY. DOBBY has just released his debut album Warrangu, river story and it is all about the great beauty and tragedy of the Murray-Darling Basin, from the perspective of his ancestral connection to the waters of the Barwon River and the community of Brewarrina and surrounding areas. 
This album is not just a collection of songs, it is a sonic journey and a research project, as Rhyan journeyed out to his ancestral homelands during 2019, to explore the consequences of drought and extractive practices on the land, animals, people and community.
To listen to the album or purchase your very own copy, please visit <a href="http://www.dobby.com.au">www.dobby.com.au</a>
You can follow DOBBY on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dobbyau/">DOBBY (@dobbyau) • Instagram photos and videos</a>

Water Watch is a weekly deep dive into news and current events from policy, ecology, art and climate. With a diversity of voices from our river communities as well as experts in the field, Water Watch celebrates the life and culture of Australia’s waterways, investigates the big issues facing the future of our rivers, and tells important stories about the human connection to land and water. Water Watch is brought to you by Broken Hill based community radio 107.7 2DRYFM.

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ENCORE: DOBBY - Warrangu, River Story

This week we’re excited to share a special interview we’ve been working on for a while with one of the country’s renowned artists and water activists.

Born on the banks of the Baaka river in 1947, Uncle Badger Bates is a proud Barkindji man and an inspiration to both artists and water activists alike. He’s been a strong voice for Barkindji people, fighting for their land and water rights, and he’s also had a very successful career as an artist, using art to tell stories of the Baaka River and the decimation of this sacred place. In recognition of these achievements, Uncle Badger was awarded the prestigious Red Ochre Award for Lifetime Achievement at the 2024 First Nations Arts and Culture Awards. 

The Red Ochre Award was established by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board in 1993 to pay tribute to senior Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons for their outstanding lifetime achievement.

Badger Bates is predominantly a carver, turning his hand to wood, emu eggs, stone carving and linoprinting, but has also made sculptures out of welded steel and although he doesn’t see himself as a painter, he has completed some wonderful paintings.

It was our great honour to sit down with Uncle Badger and to share this conversation with you.

This week we’re excited to share a special interview we’ve been working on for a while with one of the country’s renowned artists and water activists.
Born on the banks of the Baaka river in 1947, Uncle Badger Bates is a proud Barkindji man and an inspiration to both artists and water activists alike. He’s been a strong voice for Barkindji people, fighting for their land and water rights, and he’s also had a very successful career as an artist, using art to tell stories of the Baaka River and the decimation of this sacred place. In recognition of these achievements, Uncle Badger was awarded the prestigious Red Ochre Award for Lifetime Achievement at the 2024 First Nations Arts and Culture Awards. 
The Red Ochre Award was established by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board in 1993 to pay tribute to senior Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons for their outstanding lifetime achievement.
Badger Bates is predominantly a carver, turning his hand to wood, emu eggs, stone carving and linoprinting, but has also made sculptures out of welded steel and although he doesn’t see himself as a painter, he has completed some wonderful paintings.
It was our great honour to sit down with Uncle Badger and to share this conversation with you.

***Bonus EXTENDED Interview with Uncle Badger Bates***

Episode 86: Uncle Badger Bates

This week we are traversing from the depths of the world's oceans to the mud and silt of freshwater rivers and lakes, ponds, dams and backwaters of the world. This episode we're talking about the extraordinary lives of eels. 

Few people know about the vast journey that every eel makes from the bottom of the world's oceans to freshwater rivers and creeks and back again during their life cycle. Eels are ancient animals, having evolved over millenia to make these vast migrations.

This week we speak to Dr. Malcolm Johnson, manager for environmental sustainability at the Huon Local Council in southern Lutrawitta/Tasmania, and in Malcolm’s spare time he is a passionate freshwater eel advocate, educating people about the life of eels and collecting people’s stories and memories of eel experiences.

To look further at Malcolm's work, you can visit his website https://www.malcolmsjohnson.com/

We also hear music from the world's first eel skinned instruments constrcuted and played by Emily Sheppard and Yyan Ng from the musical group Where Water Meets. For further information about Where Water Meets visit www.wherewatermeets.com

This week we are traversing from the depths of the world's oceans to the mud and silt of freshwater rivers and lakes, ponds, dams and backwaters of the world. This episode we're talking about the extraordinary lives of eels. 
Few people know about the vast journey that every eel makes from the bottom of the world's oceans to freshwater rivers and creeks and back again during their life cycle. Eels are ancient animals, having evolved over millenia to make these vast migrations.
This week we speak to Dr. Malcolm Johnson, manager for environmental sustainability at the Huon Local Council in southern Lutrawitta/Tasmania, and in Malcolm’s spare time he is a passionate freshwater eel advocate, educating people about the life of eels and collecting people’s stories and memories of eel experiences.
To look further at Malcolm's work, you can visit his website <a href="https://www.malcolmsjohnson.com/">https://www.malcolmsjohnson.com/</a>
We also hear music from the world's first eel skinned instruments constrcuted and played by Emily Sheppard and Yyan Ng from the musical group Where Water Meets. For further information about Where Water Meets visit <a href="https://www.wherewatermeets.com">www.wherewatermeets.com</a>

ENCORE: DOBBY - Warrangu, River Story

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