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Joining The Dots A History Of The Goulburn Valley Environment GroupStock informationGeneral Fields
Special Fields
DescriptionThe Goulburn Valley Environment ¿The valley and floodplain of the (now-called) Goulburn River had been home to indigenous people and wildlife for many thousands of years. Brolga, emu and goanna roamed and the people had faith in their ancestral knowledge. Encroachment by white settlers dispossessed the native tribes and those not killed by intent or disease, were moved to protectorates. In less than 200 years the vast majority of the native vegetation was cleared for agriculture and building, the remainder existing in isolated remnants. The river was over-committed for irrigation and made turbid by watering cattle, irrigation run-off and all variety of man-made waste. By the 1980s it was obvious that the current way of living was causing serious damage to the environment. Rising water tables were bringing salt close to the surface, drastically reducing the fertility of the land. Throughout the world there was a growing movement of people whose serious concerns for the health of the planet was stirring them to action. One such person, resident in the Goulburn Valley, was Barbara Leavesley who set the wheels in motion to create GVEG, the Goulburn Valley Environment Group, which is still advocating for the environment more than a quarter of a century later. This is the story of GVEG's more memorable events and characters, a celebration of its achievements and an account of some of its harder moments. It is also an explanation of why, as long as there are passionate and committed environmentalists, the fight will continue.Esther Costa |