The cycle of drought and flooding rains provides a dramatic stage for the history of environmental change in the Murray Darling Basin. It is also the backdrop for much of the social, cultural and political history of the Basin. And it is around such histories that storytellers gather, shaping narratives that tell of nature and place, love of Country, conflict, climate, community, family history and survival, technological change, and the contentious topic of water.
This talk by Professor Katie Holmes draws on recently conducted oral history interviews in the Murray Darling Basin to explore the kinds of stories people tell about environmental change and environmental justice; marginalised narratives of resistance and empowerment; and the ways experiences of the past and present shape imaginings of the future.
What are the stories historians might tell that can move us forward and frame our futures with imagination, compassion and hope?