Episode 607 - Graeme Wall || A Conservation Champion you have never heard of

Summary

The Origins Foundation Podcast

Episode 607 – Graeme Wall || A Conservation Champion You Have Never Heard Of

Date: November 13, 2025
Host: The Origins Foundation
Guest: Graeme Wall, Conservation Director – Rushworth Field and Game Branch

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Episode Overview

This episode spotlights Graeme Wall, the driving force behind conservation efforts in the small rural town of Rushworth, Victoria, Australia. Recorded on location in the wetlands, this conversation explores the intersection of hunting culture and hands-on conservation, illustrating how local hunters are investing deeply in wildlife habitat, community engagement, and education within their region. The episode offers a candid, in-depth look at the challenges and successes in shifting public perceptions about hunting and conservation.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Graeme Wall and Rushworth: Introducing the Champion (00:59–03:03)

• Graeme Wall is introduced as the spear tip of conservation in Rushworth, a rural town in Victoria, Australia (~1,000 people).
• The interview takes place in a wetland, underscoring the on-the-ground nature of Wall’s work.
• “He is a conservation champion that nobody knows...he was articulating his conservation vision, explaining what they do, why they do it...” – Podcast Host (01:08)

The Importance of the Project for Hunters and Conservationists (02:17–03:01)

• Wall and the hosts discuss why conservation-focused hunting organizations are key to both the sport and environmental management.
• “You guys are climbing the ladder and then somebody does something stupid and you just slide down. That is such an amazing analogy. Snakes and ladders.” – Podcast Host (02:30)

Community Roots and Changing Attitudes (03:35–13:59)

Historical Context & Personal History

• Rushworth’s rich duck hunting tradition is recounted, emphasizing family and community bonds.
• “Duck hunter from a little kid...Dad was a duck hunter.” – Graeme Wall (05:01–05:04)
• Wall highlights a significant decline in hunting due to changing laws, cultural shifts, and economic barriers.

Attitudes Toward Hunting Today (09:35–13:59)

• “I think in Rushworth now, we would probably be 50/50.” – Graeme Wall (09:35)
• Despite being a rural area, public opinion on hunting is divided; many are neutral or uninformed rather than strictly anti-hunting.
• Efforts by Rushworth Field and Game to change perceptions include visible community projects, restoring local buildings, and educational outreach.

Shifting the Narrative

• The organization leverages local press and social media to show the tangible benefits of hunting-related conservation.
• “People’s opinions are shaped by what they read, what they see. That’s why I exist.” – Interviewer (13:00)
• The Rushworth Field and Game Facebook page has as many followers as there are residents in Rushworth.

Conservation in Practice: Initiatives & Impact (14:52–25:28)

Field and Game Australia – Local Chapter (15:00–16:03)

• Wall details the history: Field and Game formed in the 1950s by hunters concerned about declining duck populations.
• “...formed by hunters that could see a need for some sort of habitat protection.” – Graeme Wall (15:06)

Conservation Projects

• Installation of nesting and hen boxes for sugar gliders, parrots, microbats, and ducks.
• Partnerships with local organizations, such as golf clubs and schools (particularly the HOPE student program for hands-on experience).
• “We’ve been doing nest boxes all around the district...sugar glider boxes, parrot boxes, micro bat boxes...” – Graeme Wall (16:20–16:45)
• Use of grants, such as from the Bendigo Community Bank, to acquire materials and equipment for conservation efforts.

Measuring Impact (19:28–21:48)

• The organization maintains between 100–150 nest boxes; in a recent season, over 400 ducks successfully bred with aid from their hen houses, while hunters harvested around only 80–100 ducks.
• “Some of our people that do our conservation work don’t even hunt. Yeah, they do it because they like the conservation side element of it, the whole thing.” – Graeme Wall (21:32)

Conservation versus Other Green Groups (21:49–23:15)

• Other “green” groups enjoy observing birds but are rarely involved in practical, on-the-ground conservation in Rushworth.
• Rushworth Field and Game undertakes both habitat projects and advocacy with agencies for wetland management.

Wetland Challenges: Overgrowth and Water Management (23:44–30:16)

• Many wetlands are overgrown due to lack of management and natural flow, causing ecological problems (e.g., “black water” events).
• Securing environmental water allocations is a bureaucratic process, often reserved for areas with vulnerable species.
• Wall describes working with landowners and officials to restore wetland environments and advocates for more flexible, ecosystem-wide water management.
• “There’s a lot of water issues.” – Graeme Wall (27:16)

Restoration Successes and Next Steps (31:20–33:40)

• Notable restoration: brolga (a large, endangered crane) breeding documented on private wetlands, assisted by improved habitat.
• Past efforts in places like Mansfield Swamp involved large-scale removal of invasive sucker growth; ongoing efforts envisaged to open up more areas.
• “Hopefully if we can get some discussion going, they might be able to...open it up as a wood coop area...get rid of it out of that wetland.” – Graeme Wall (32:42–33:21)

Community and Collaboration (33:52–34:09)

• The branch’s success is attributed to a diverse membership, including non-hunters and skilled locals, as well as HOPE students.
• “We’ve got some people that have come along and joined up with us who aren’t necessary hunters and we’ve got some people that are very good with timber skills...The kids from the HOPE program come along and help us as well.” – Graeme Wall (33:52)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Rushworth’s shifting perspective:
  “They’re seeing the benefits of the activity of hunting.” – Interviewer (10:40)
• On public perceptions:
  “There would probably be 10% of people that are dead against hunting...the other 30 or 40% are probably what they read in the newspaper about all the bad things.” – Graeme Wall (12:31)
• On conservation’s community impact:
  “We’ve been able to utilize [locals’] skills…and the HOPE students from the Rushworth B12 on board building nest boxes.” – Graeme Wall (17:13–17:47)
• On conservation numbers:
  “Two years ago, we would have had in excess of 400 that we had in our hen houses...as a collective from our members, it would probably be lucky to be 80 to 100 [duck harvests].” – Graeme Wall (21:16–21:32)
• On practical conservation leadership:
  “We’re not only putting up nest boxes. We’re advocating for wetlands, too.” – Graeme Wall (22:22)
• On wetland restoration challenges:
  “Unfortunately Parks Victoria haven’t got the people and the resources to properly manage those areas. They call Victoria the broke state.” – Graeme Wall (30:06)
• On diverse involvement:
  “We’ve got some people that have come along and joined up with us who aren’t necessarily hunters...the kids from the HOPE program come along and help us as well.” (33:52–34:09)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• Graeme Wall’s Introduction & Setting: 00:59–03:03
• The Hunting-Conservation Relationship: 02:17–03:01
• Duck Hunting Heritage & Decline: 05:00–06:06
• Public Attitudes & Changing Perceptions: 09:35–14:52
• The Field and Game Mission & Initiatives: 15:00–18:03
• Nest Boxes & Conservation Impact: 16:20–21:48
• Green Groups vs. Practical Conservation: 21:49–23:15
• Wetland Management Issues & Advocacy: 23:44–30:16
• Wetland Restoration & Sustainable Use: 31:20–33:21
• Community Involvement & Future Plans: 33:52–34:09

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Conclusion

This episode provides a compelling example of how grassroots hunting organizations can drive both local conservation and cultural change. Graeme Wall’s work exemplifies how hunters, far from harming wildlife, are often at the center of protecting and restoring habitat. Through community partnerships, education, and practical restoration projects, Rushworth Field and Game not only delivers tangible environmental outcomes but is also gradually shifting public opinion on hunting, one wetland at a time.

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Transcript

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[Podcast Host]

Graham Wall is the conservation director of the Rushworth Field and Game Branch. You may be asking, what the hell is Rushworth Field and Game Branch? Rushworth is a tiny little town of a thousand people in the middle of nowhere, Victoria. Like slap bang in the middle of Victoria, Australia, which is a state like a province, or stayed in the US of Australia. Graham Wall is the spear tip, the champion of conservation in this tiny community. And I was fortunate enough to meet him. I was fortunate enough to put this podcast down. We did this podcast in the middle of a wetland in Australia. You're going to hear some birds in the background. He was articulating his conservation vision, explaining what they do, why they do it, and I just love meeting people like this. He is a conservation champion that nobody knows. And I got to meet him, I got to chat with him, I got to spend a couple of days with him.

[Interviewer]

So enjoy the podcast. So five years ago there was a.

[Podcast Host]

Reason why I started this movement. And the truth then is the truth now that we need to champion our narrative. We need to champion the truth around what we do and who we are. There's a sweet spot with a gun, you know, too heavy and it's a.

[Graham Wall]

Burden to walk with.

[Podcast Host]

Too light and you whipping it. Why is the project so important to the hunting community?

[Interviewer]

It's. It's a. I think it's not only important, I think it's, I think it's vital. I think it's, it's just in time.

[Podcast Host]

It's like snakes and ladders. You guys are climbing the ladder and then somebody does something stupid and you just slide down. That is such an amazing analogy. Snakes and ladders. Yeah, you know, ivory in my Opinion was the plastic of its age.

[Graham Wall]

Okay.

[Podcast Host]

The expenses are going up.

[Graham Wall]

It goes a long way with families. We have families that do need it.

[Podcast Host]

Let me close this door because I have a little wiener dog. What are you laughing because I said wiener?

[Graham Wall]

I'm really glad you finished the sentence out.

[Podcast Host]

I'm sorry the first happened.

[Graham Wall]

What are we doing here today?

[Podcast Host]

You're telling the whole world.

[Interviewer]

Give me a sound check there.

[Graham Wall]

Yep. How's that, Rob?

[Interviewer]

Sounds good. Can you hear me?

[Graham Wall]

Yep.

[Interviewer]

Bring that up just a little bit. Let's. Let's get that situated right there. There we go.

[Podcast Host]

All professional now, huh?

[Interviewer]

Graham? Rushworth, Victoria, Australia how many people live in Victoria? In Rushworth, about a thousand. A thousand people. Are you the most famous person in Rushworth?

[Graham Wall]

No way.

[Interviewer]

You've been in how many newspapers have you been in?

[Graham Wall]

Quite a few. But I take a lot of photos of other people that are in the field and game and of the various things we do.

[Interviewer]

And why are you actually in the newspaper, Graham?

[Graham Wall]

We do a lot of conservation work around the Rushworth district in some of the wetlands. So some of the corrupt wetlands are some of the best. Well, they were the best in Victoria. Corop, I sort of call them Corop. So they're just out from Rushworth, Sort of. What would be northwest of Rushworth?

[Interviewer]

So what would have been the. Why are there really good wetlands up here? Just a good water table. They're connected to rivers. What's the situation?

[Graham Wall]

There's a lot of runoff that comes out of the Rue Forest and runs down through some different creeks, Winolder Creek and Canela Creek. And they run out into the colborne into the crop wetlands.

[Interviewer]

And that still happens today?

[Graham Wall]

Or not so much still happens. There's still runoff. But a lot of those wetlands have been overgrown with suckers and that type of material. So they're very overgrown and hard to look through. I'm probably lucky that I can remember as a boy you grew up here. Yep. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Duck hunted from a little kid.

[Graham Wall]

Duck hunter from a little kid.

[Interviewer]

Dad was a duck hunter.

[Graham Wall]

Dad was a duck hunter.

[Interviewer]

Mum was a duck hunter.

[Graham Wall]

Mum wasn't a duck hunter. But when I was growing up, if dad wasn't going hunting, I would go with the guy from down the road. Who's the. The boot fixer. Not. That's a long time ago. It mended boots and shoes.

[Interviewer]

Would you say that the duck hunting population around Rushworth has decreased?

[Graham Wall]

Yes, definitely decreased.

[Interviewer]

Why? Just gun laws and stuff like that.

[Graham Wall]

Or I think it's gun laws and people came back from the war and Rushworth Main street would be full of duck hunters and a lot of family connections and people who worked, they lived in the trenches together and fought together and then they built friendships. And the local people would invite those people that they'd been away to war with to come and shoot ducks with them and have their recreational activity around here.

[Interviewer]

Would you say if we polled Rushworth today, hundred people we sat in your pie shop that I sat in this morning and we asked everybody that came in the pie shop whether they'd be pro duck hunting or against duck hunting. What do you think we would see?

[Podcast Host]

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[Interviewer]

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[Podcast Host]

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[Graham Wall]

I think in Rushworth now, we would probably be 50. 50.

[Interviewer]

In the. In the. We're rural here. It's not like we are. You're a thousand people in rural, middle of nowhere, freaking Victoria, Australia, and you're saying 50% of the people that are in a rural country town would be against hunting.

[Graham Wall]

They quite possibly would because they're not involved. We've probably changed that through the work that we've done with the Rushworth fielding game. And we put articles in the paper and we do the press stuff and we're trying to change how they view us. And we have changed that by the work we've done in taking over the tennis court building and redoing that building and bringing it back to life. And through that we've, you know, we've gained. People have volunteered and given us stuff like we've got a. The building has been given to us and then people have given us money to buy the paint and they've.

[Interviewer]

Because they're seeing the benefits of.

[Graham Wall]

Yes.

[Interviewer]

The activity of hunting.

[Graham Wall]

Yes.

[Interviewer]

When? Before, probably. When were you born? Like twenties. Sorry, I thought one of your youngsters was here. He missed the joke. He missed the joke. Back in the day, though, you would have expected, folks. And here's what I'm seeing. There wasn't really a need in 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s to really talk about what benefit came from hunting, I. E. Sugar gliders in a Nest. Rosella's in a nest, putting up nest boxes, that kind of stuff. Nobody cared. And it was. It was more of a. As you talked about, was more of a recreational, social, societal bonding component from duck hunting.

[Graham Wall]

Yep. I can remember I would get up to go shooting on a Saturday morning, and you would get up and you would drive down the road where I live, and every second or third house, the lights would be on, and you could look across and go, oh, that's Bill Smith. He'll be going to his little spot wherever he goes and shoots and. Oh, that's right. We saw him two days ago, and he said his brother was coming from Melbourne to go with him. Whereas times have changed now. You know, it's more expensive to buy a firearm. It's more expensive for ammunition. So the young people don't get the opportunity to experience it. And I've got grandkids, and once they experience it, they want to become involved.

[Interviewer]

Would you say the 50% of the Rushworth, if they said they would be against hunting, would you know why they would be against it?

[Graham Wall]

Probably because they're not aware of it enough.

[Interviewer]

It wouldn't be. It wouldn't. How many of the 50% in your mind would be negative connotations versus I. I just don't have an opinion.

[Graham Wall]

There would be. Only. Look, there would probably be 10% of people that are dead against hunting, and it's probably never been exposed to it. And the other 30 or 40% are probably what they read in the newspaper about all the bad things.

[Interviewer]

Well, and that's what you're changing, like. Yeah, I was joking a little bit that you're the most famous person here because of how many times you're in the newspaper. But that's part and parcel of it nowadays. It's part and parcel of the narrative. Right. You get. People's opinions are shaped by what they read, what they see. That's why I exist.

[Graham Wall]

So we've got a population in Rushworth of a thousand people, and we've got a thousand people that follow our Rushworth Field and Game Facebook page. Okay, so that's how many people. Not necessarily from Rushworth, but from other spots. They're the ones that actually follow us, not necessarily live in the town, but there are farmers and there are other people that see our stuff who may not necessarily follow our page, but they read the articles in the paper. And you'll be walking down the street and they'll go, oh, I saw that article the other day. Gee, it was really good. Um. Oh, you've got the school kids involved. Oh, you've got. You know, some of those people would. Yeah, they. They see it and they pick up on how good it is.

[Interviewer]

Well, when we drop videos around this and I've said, I. I was actually, when I told you earlier, I was like, yeah, we've done a video and I. I was texting with my social media media content person. She was. I don't remember that. So she obviously hasn't posted it yet. I've done a whole video on what you guys have done and what you do in the field. But there's smart strategies that we can employ. I won't allude to them on this, but we could legitimately touch every single person within a 50 kilometer radius of Rushworth that has Facebook. We could get something in front of them.

[Graham Wall]

Yep.

[Interviewer]

Let me say that.

[Graham Wall]

Yep, yep. And look, the more people are exposed to what we're doing, the better response we get. If people aren't aware of what we're doing, they sort of. Yeah, they're not aware.

[Interviewer]

So what are you doing? We've been talking so far and I haven't even introduced you. Introduce yourself.

[Graham Wall]

Graham Wall. I'm the conservation officer for Rushworth Field and Game.

[Interviewer]

And what is Field and Game?

[Graham Wall]

Field and Game has been in existence since the 1950s. It was formed. You probably should get this from the Field and Game people that's formed by hunters that could see a need for some sort of habitat protection.

[Interviewer]

Wildlife. Protection. Wildlife.

[Graham Wall]

Everyone get everyone together. And at that stage, the Pacific black duck were under threat. They were. Their numbers were dropping and they wanted to get together and put funding and put money into buying some wetlands, buying duck stamps and. Yeah. Being able to, yeah. Improve habitat. And it's a lot of. It's about habitat. It's not about.

[Podcast Host]

It has to be.

[Interviewer]

Habitat's the key.

[Graham Wall]

Yep.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. So in when as the Rushworth Field and Game Australia, you guys operate like a chapter, essentially, like a branch of Field and Game writ large.

[Graham Wall]

Yes.

[Podcast Host]

Y.

[Interviewer]

And tell me some of the things that you do.

[Graham Wall]

Before we do that, I'll talk about our membership. Yeah. Since we started to do the conservation area, our membership has probably grown 50%.

[Podcast Host]

What do you mean?

[Interviewer]

Conservation area?

[Graham Wall]

Where we do nesting boxes.

[Interviewer]

So we do the conservation focus of what you guys.

[Graham Wall]

Yes. Yep, yep. So we've been doing nest boxes all around the district. Then we do nest boxes along the rail trail. Warringa rail trail. So we've got sugar glider boxes, we've got parrot boxes, we've got micro bat boxes that were put up along that rail trail.

[Interviewer]

None of the. You're. You're a duck hunting organization.

[Graham Wall]

We're a duck hunting organization who do conservation work. And we've done partnerships with the Rushworth golf club where we've got boxes. We put up parrot boxes, and we end up with sugar gliders in those boxes. So then we looked at it and went, well, we better build some.

[Interviewer]

Possums that we saw today and galahs. All sorts of things.

[Graham Wall]

All sorts of things are using those boxes. And of course, we've been able to get the Hope students from the Rushworth B12 on board.

[Interviewer]

What is the Hope suit?

[Graham Wall]

The Hope students.

[Interviewer]

What does Hope stand for? What is hands on? Hands on practical experience.

[Graham Wall]

See, Aiden did it properly before.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, exactly. Hands on practical experience in which these kids get pulled out of school and they get given practical experience in all sorts of different fields.

[Graham Wall]

Yes. So we've had them building next boxes. We've. We're about to hopefully get a grant where we can have them building more hen houses.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. You just got a grant. I just read in the newspaper that you got a grant from a community bank.

[Graham Wall]

Yes. Yeah, we got one from the Bendigo bank. Community bank.

[Interviewer]

Now, was that advertised or you just asked, do you have.

[Graham Wall]

Well, we had to put in an application, but they had come forward, they'd seen what we'd done with the building and the work we'd done there, and they'd seen some of the hen house stuff, and they actually came to us and said, you should be putting in for a grant. We reckon we'll be able to help you with something amazing.

[Interviewer]

And that was 1800 bucks?

[Graham Wall]

Yep. Yep, $1800.

[Interviewer]

So how much, how many nest boxes does $1800 build you?

[Graham Wall]

It was part of the bigger plan.

[Interviewer]

Okay.

[Graham Wall]

That. That grant. And part of the bigger plan is so we'll be able to manufacture our own hen houses. In Rushworth. We had been building nest boxes, but we needed a few tools. We needed some fine wire that wraps around the coconut fiber that we use in the hen houses. So they were able to assist us with that. And we've been able to do some hen house construction, but we are hoping on another grant and we'll see if that comes through, which is almost 5,000 bucks.

[Interviewer]

Okay.

[Graham Wall]

And then we'll be able to make another 40 hen house and get them out onto wetlands.

[Interviewer]

So what do you think it costs per hen house in your estimation? 100 bucks?

[Graham Wall]

I'd be guessing 150. I'd be guessing 100 to 150? Yes.

[Interviewer]

Okay.

[Graham Wall]

And the more material you put in. And we've had trouble with crows, so I've had to build wooden ends. And we're very lucky at Russia. We've got some very talented people that have been able to do some of the woodwork for us. Yeah. So that's been very helpful.

[Interviewer]

How many hen houses, hen boxes, sugar glider boxes do you think you've got out.

[Graham Wall]

All up? I would say I'd have to look at it, but there's probably 150.

[Interviewer]

See, this is the issue. And I have it with you. I have it with trend Lean. I have it with everybody. You should know exactly how many boxes you have out, because I've asked Trent, Lean. I've said, Trent, how many nest boxes, nest tubes, are there out in the landscape? It would be a phenomenal statistic.

[Graham Wall]

Right.

[Interviewer]

He was like, I don't know. Thousands. I was like, that's not good enough. You need to tell me. 4,000, 982, maybe because of the system.

[Graham Wall]

When we put them on the app that we use to track them, we have. At different times we call them henhouses, but in other situations we might call them.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, but it's still a dot on the app.

[Graham Wall]

Yes, it is.

[Interviewer]

So how many dots do you have, Aiden? How many dots do you have in the. In the app? Come on, guys. Yeah, take his phone from him and start counting. So by the end of this podcast, we know how many dots we have out in the Rushworth landscape, because to me, that's something that, you know, statistic wise is impactful. And then you multiply that. You say, okay, well, one of our nest tubes. So these ones out here produce four ducks a year on average. Maybe there's two nests per season. And now you start multiplying that out. How many ducks do you think these duck hunters, this duck hunting organization that really at its core loves to shoot ducks and kill ducks.

[Graham Wall]

Two years ago, we would have had in excess of 400 that we had in our hen houses.

[Interviewer]

400 ducks?

[Graham Wall]

Yep. That breed.

[Interviewer]

How many ducks do you think you guys shot that season? As a collective here?

[Graham Wall]

As a collective from our members, it would probably be lucky to be 80 to 100, because some of our people that do our conservation work don't even hunt. Yeah, they do it because they like the conservation side element of it, the whole thing.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

So tell me. So Rushworth Field and Game here in Rushworth. A thousand people. Are any of the green organizations in Rushworth?

[Graham Wall]

There are some green organizations, people in town that are members of some organizations.

[Interviewer]

Are they doing any of this kind of work?

[Graham Wall]

No, no. They will come and look at the bird life. And that's part of their. You know, they like to come and do that. And we've got. We try and.

[Interviewer]

But are they physically doing pragmatic.

[Graham Wall]

No.

[Interviewer]

Conservation work on the ground?

[Graham Wall]

No, not really. Like, we're. We're not only putting up nest boxes. We're advocating for wetlands, too. We've just had a recent meeting with Goulburn, Murray Water Parks, Deka people from the Tungarang Group at some of the crop wetlands because there's been some damage done to structures out there. There's wetlands out there that are overgrown by suckers that badly need some. What's a sucker? So a sucker is a seed that's grown in the wetland and then it's just taken off and they're now as thick as you'll. In some spots, you're lucky to see 20 or 30 meters.

[Interviewer]

Oh, okay.

[Graham Wall]

They've just grown and grown overgrown in the wetland. Overgrown the wetlands. Whereas before you could see in the wetland, you could see the big trees that were there and just a weed bed on the surface.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Graham Wall]

And now in some spots, you can't see very far at all.

[Interviewer]

No, that's a.

[Graham Wall]

And we end up with a black water event all the time.

[Interviewer]

Okay. Yeah.

[Graham Wall]

So the leaves fall off, the fresh water flows in, and within three months it turns over. It's gone into black water.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Graham Wall]

And then the birds just leave it. They'll be there for a start, because it's fresh water. And then as soon as it turns to black water, all the birds leave, whether they be ducks or whatever. So we're trying to advocate.

[Interviewer]

So what would stop it turning into black water? A flow of some sorts.

[Graham Wall]

A flow. Or you've got to have a clearing of the suckers so that you can get air to the water and you can get some of the leaves. Because the leaves just fall off the trees and it's not very long. Once the water gets there, it just turns black.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. And you also just need a little bit of wind to turn that water over a little bit.

[Graham Wall]

Yes, yes.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Graham Wall]

But because the suckers are there, you don't get that oxygen oxidation. Oxygen level.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Graham Wall]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

So are they. But you. Like, for instance, this wetland that we're at right now that you can see sort of behind us, did the. What was your involvement here? Because this is a private wetland.

[Graham Wall]

Yep, private wetland. So we were looking around us for some spots to put henhouses and. And nest boxes and the farmer that owns this said, yep, you can do that.

[Interviewer]

What was the farmer's reason for why he wanted to restore this wetland?

[Graham Wall]

He is very environmental sort of background. He. He was a counselor for the. Or still is for the local sh. Okay. And he's been involved with water through different processes. Gold.

[Interviewer]

Med, what you were telling me earlier, it wasn't. It's not just a simple, easy process to get water into this wetland. It is an. It is a.

[Graham Wall]

You've got to get environmental order. And there's only certain amount of environmental.

[Interviewer]

Water that's available to be used.

[Graham Wall]

Yes.

[Interviewer]

And you have to petition for it.

[Graham Wall]

Yep. And he had to put in for it, say there was a brolga bred on this wetland and there has to.

[Interviewer]

Be some sort of endangered species, vulnerable species, that that water is going to benefit. It can't just be generally for wetland habitat enhancement.

[Graham Wall]

You've got to have the contacts to be able to get environmental water. So some farmers have now started to be able to find that water and that it is available. So there are a few more projects come along. And Field and Game as a whole have been trying to help find some.

[Interviewer]

Of that because we were talking about it earlier in the vehicle. It just seems to be such a great avenue specifically around environmental flows. For instance, all those wetlands that I saw up in Mildura, the Cardross system, the Meridian system, all of those used to be full of water because of the irrigation system for the wineries up there and the grapes, it was flood irrigated. So water would just flow through the landscape and collect in these depressions. And so you had multiple benefits for biodiversity. Obviously ducks, obviously duck hunting. They found like a little fish, the Murray hardhead up there. But now those systems are all dry. Will only fill up in heavy, heavy rainfall years because of drip irrigation. You would think that there would be benefits again if the environmental flows were available, but it seems like they are because it's not like the Murray is low of water. It's full of water. And so it wouldn't. I just don't. In my brain, I'm trying to figure out, like, why isn't just putting water into wetland systems, swamp systems, just a good thing at the end of the day? Just writ large.

[Graham Wall]

Yep, I agree with all that. And if we look at our local system here that comes out of Lake Eildon, they will flush water down the Goulburn river and it goes down the Goulburn and then flows into the Murray and then heads towards Mildura. We've been pushing. There are access areas like the Onealdo Creek where water could be allowed, environmental water allowed to flow down that creek and into some of the wetlands. Because there's one tree swamp, there's two tree swamp, there's Walling Joe swamp instead of that gold Murray water harvesting that water when there's a rain and that water goes into the channel system and ends up being used for irrigation. Before the channel system was made, that water would flow down the creek whereas the channel system are there and they collect the water and run it down the channel. So there are, there's a lot of water issues.

[Interviewer]

It's almost like an environmental minimum flow argument needs to be made for wetlands.

[Podcast Host]

Yes.

[Interviewer]

And just like as a, as a general ecosystem regardless, yes, they're going to have fish benefits, yes, they're going to be vegetation benefits, yes they're going to be bird benefits and yes ancillarily there's going to be a duck hunting benefit.

[Graham Wall]

Yep.

[Interviewer]

But just to you know, restore wetlands on the landscape, man, it's, and it's, you know, in my brain I'm here and I'm going, you know, number one, this is a way flatter landscape than I expected to way more heavily agricultural lands agricultured landscape than I expected. And so you would expect things like this, these wetlands, the Card Ross Systems and whatnot are wetland ecosystems that are just like man, we don't have many of these left in these, in this upper flat, flat country of Victoria. So why would you not want to put some sort of water flow, some sort of environmental flows into these systems to keep them in their natural states?

[Graham Wall]

Yep. If we get time and I'll work on this afternoon I'd love to take you out to one tree and two tree which are just big flat areas and also show you some of the sucker growth in some of those wetlands. And you can really see it, they've just been overgrown and it's just owns those wetlands. So they're owned by the government, managed by Parks Victoria. But unfortunately Parks Victoria haven't got the people and the resources to properly manage those areas. They call Victoria the broke state. And unfortunately somebody there were 180 people put off Parks Victoria 12 months ago.

[Interviewer]

Laid off.

[Graham Wall]

Laid off. And there's more cuts still going on now people have to go for, apply for their, for their own positions again.

[Interviewer]

Because so what in that situation why wouldn't a volunteer. Hey, Field and Game Australia, we want to take over the management of this place. It's not going to cost you a dime work.

[Graham Wall]

Probably because the, the biggest thing for Field and Game Would be same thing. Resources.

[Interviewer]

But. Yeah, but you have access to other resources. You know, there's. There's a philanthropic element to field and game and wet and whatnot.

[Graham Wall]

Yeah. Look, there's. There's probably opportunities there for it, but there's a lot of government bureaucracy about the whole wetland system.

[Interviewer]

Interesting. Yeah, interesting. So what's next for. For Rushworth? You guys have been doing an outstanding job. You got my attention in the middle of you. And you know, this tiny little thousand person and you sent me a bunch of stuff over email and all the things that are happening because of you. You know the brolga chicks. Oh, what was that? Explain what a brolga is.

[Graham Wall]

They're a big gray bird that.

[Interviewer]

Like a. Like a sandhill crane, I've been told. Yes.

[Graham Wall]

Yep. Super endangered down here. There's probably. I can. As a youngster, I can always remember they're probably 13 or 14 in the. Oh, so not in the crop area. But their numbers have increased. They've had a couple of good breeding seasons. And the same with all worldbuilds. It depends on the season. We will get a wet year and everything flourishes. And the only issue is some of the water areas just aren't as pristine as what they used to be. But there are brolgas that are bred on this wetland here on Private. There's another one not far from us where we're a brolga bred on Private. But because the major wetlands have been overgrown with suckers, the brolga big bird likes to be able to land where it's open.

[Interviewer]

Open wetland country.

[Graham Wall]

Yes. They don't like it. Coming in with a street and suckers and they can break a leg. They would just avoid those areas. They used to be in some of the wetlands where the suckers are. And then.

[Interviewer]

Has anybody done any wetland restoration around here to remove the suckers?

[Graham Wall]

Yes.

[Interviewer]

Okay.

[Graham Wall]

Field and game have in what we call Mansfield Swamp.

[Interviewer]

Yep.

[Graham Wall]

It's probably 30 years ago. They had a project. They cut some off with chainsaws. They cut some off with axes. And they also had a bulldozer in and. And did some work in there checking it, taking them out. Yep. Hopefully if we can get some discussion going, they might be able to. Now because the suckers are bigger, they might be able to open it up as a wood coop area and get people to go there and get their wood and. And then utilize the wood. Oh, brilliant. And get rid of it out of that wetland.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. Brilliant.

[Graham Wall]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Absolutely. Good sustainable use of a resource.

[Graham Wall]

Yep. Because we've been working and meeting and talking to some of the government departments that has definitely come up in discussion. And we look forward maybe in a one to five year time of some of that coming and happening.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. Well, keep us up to date in terms of what you're doing and any grants that you get. Okay.

[Graham Wall]

Yep.

[Interviewer]

I want to know about them.

[Graham Wall]

I will certainly.

[Interviewer]

And keep, keep up the great work here, man. It's, it's amazing stuff.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Graham Wall]

We're very lucky at Rushy. We've got some people that have come along and joined up with us who aren't necessary hunters and we've got some people that are very good with timber skills and everything. And we've been able to utilize those skills. And of course, we've had the, the kids from the HOPE program come along and help us as well.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. Amazing stuff. Yeah.

[Graham Wall]

I really like it.

[Interviewer]

That's why I'm here.

[Graham Wall]

Yep.

[Interviewer]

So thank you, buddy. Thank you, Graham.

[Graham Wall]

No worries.

[Podcast Host]

Well, that's it for today. I appreciate you listening as always.

[Interviewer]

Leave a review, share it with your.

[Podcast Host]

Friends and most importantly, do what's right.

[Interviewer]

To convey the truth around hunting.

[Graham Wall]

Hit the road for fun and heartwarming fishing adventures with the real American road trip. I just want to hook up one time. I just need to hook up one time. Catch the Waypoint original series every Tuesday at 9:30pm Eastern on the Waypoint TV channel. Waypoint TV, your destination for outdoor entertainment. I did get a bite. I have gotten a bite. I did feel it.