Support for Victoria's first indigenous fishing club

07 September 2020

The state’s first ever Indigenous fishing club is getting a helping hand to take cultural education and traditional fishing knowledge on the road so it can be shared with more Victorians when it’s safe to do so.

Victorian Fisheries Authority Freshwater Fisheries Manager Anthony Forster said the $15,000 grant would enable the Burnanga Indigenous Fishing Club to build a customised tandem trailer.

The club has more than 30 members and is named after Burnanga, which means cod in the traditional language of the Yorta Yorta people.

Stockings of native fish such as Murray cod across Victoria have hit record numbers thanks to the State Government’s $35 million Target One Million plan and a commitment to increase fish stocking to 10 million fish annually by 2022.

Last summer more than two million cod were stocked in Victorian waters, in addition to more than two million golden perch and nearly 350,000 silver perch.

The Victorian Fisheries Authority, which is administering the grant, is also reaching out to indigenous communities as part of a review of its Aboriginal Fishing Strategy, available at vfa.vic.gov.au/aboriginal-fishing

Quotes attributable to Freshwater Fisheries Manager Anthony Forster

“The trailer will help the club store and transport fishing and camping gear and, participate in public events.

“The club is a not-for-profit association based in the regional centre of Shepparton in the Goulburn Valley.”

Quotes attributable to Burnanga Indigenous Fishing Club President Corey Walker

“The club will host a variety of activities such as fishing days, competitions, guided tours and community events infused with authentic local Aboriginal cultural knowledge.”

“Burnanga is about strengthening connection to country and Aboriginal culture.

“By doing this we will improve mental health, decrease social isolation and educate the wider community about customary practices.”

Media contact: Joel Peterson 0436 623 647