Latest news with #Ngarrindjeri
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- Science
- The Advertiser
'Salty soup': climate threat to vital lagoon ecosystems
Healthy, well-balanced coastal lagoons at the intersection of salty seas and fresh waterways make ideal fish nurseries and attractive spots for migratory birds. Yet a warming climate paired with competition for water upstream is degrading these ecological hotspots, ramping up their salt content and putting marine life under stress. Emerging research suggests the potential for lagoon wetlands to act as carbon sinks - when an ecosystems draws down more carbon dioxide than it releases - is hindered when in a degraded state. University of Adelaide microbial ecologist Christopher Keneally said the habitats tend to emit more methane and nitrous oxide, both potent greenhouse gas emissions, when in poor shape. His post-doctoral research focused on the Ramsar-listed Coorong in South Australia, the traditional lands of the Ngarrindjeri people, underlines the importance of keeping these critical habitats in good health. It's not just an Australian problem, he explained, with brackish wetlands in arid and temperate climate zones worldwide under threat from rising temperatures. Characterised by somewhat choked ocean access, lagoons are already under pressure from human activity as freshwater use by towns, farms and industry leaves less for the environment at the end of river basins. Now higher rates of evaporation under rising temperatures, less rainfall, and sea level rise bringing in more saltwater from the ocean are contributing to higher salt and nutrient concentrations. "A single hot, dry summer, like the one we have recently experienced, can completely shift this important habitat into a salty, green soup," Dr Keneally said. Such conditions upset the invisible and delicate "microbiomes" of lagoon waters, with microbial diversity diminished while salt-tolerant species survive. Unbalanced microbial communities can potentially lead to harmful algae blooms and low-oxygen "dead zones" that kill fish. In addition, microbial species with anaerobic metabolisms favour high salinity environments. These species tend to produce methane, undermining the habitat's role as a productive carbon sink. While an emerging area of research, Dr Keneally said estimations of methane production were "probably underestimated" and should be better integrated into global climate models. Occasional heavy rainfall and floods serve to "freshen up" coastal wetlands, rebalancing salt and other nutrient levels, as occurred in the South Australia's Coorong region in 2022. Yet sporadic downpours cannot be relied upon. "Conditions might improve for a couple of years, but those high rainfall events are not dependable, and in the dry periods, we often see permanent losses of biodiversity, Dr Keneally said. Careful management of freshwater releases to keep salinity and nutrient levels at optimal levels was billed as part of the solution. Listed as an internationally-important wetland under the Ramsar convention for migratory birds in the 1980s, the Coorong has long been a research priority and its condition taken seriously. The Millennium Drought led to the creation of the Murray Darling Basin to better manage water flows in the region, though balancing the needs of irrigators, towns and the environment has long been a fraught issue. Long-time Coorong fisherman Glen Hill believes the limited water reserved for the environment - half the amount recommended by scientists - should be released more strategically. The owner of Coorong Wild Seafood said the north of the lagoon was in great shape as freshwater from the river mouth could be easily released into it, while the more isolated south area was in a "terrible" state. He said better-timed water releases to coincide with favourable winds and weather conditions could help more freshwater enter the troubled southern lagoon. Mr Hill has been fishing the area for the prized Yellow-eye mullet and other commercially-important species for decades. Situated at the end of the Murray Darling Basin, Mr Hill said the Coorong was a highly productive fishery thanks to the high levels of nutrient "building blocks" swept downstream. Yet he was acutely familiar with the "domino effect" of harmfully-high salinity levels, knocking out species low on the food chain and leaving fish with little to eat. "When you get to around two times sea water salinity, things start to really go wrong," he said. A spokesperson from the South Australian Department for Environment and Water said the government was committed to protecting the Coorong's ecological character. "This work is achieved by optimising delivery of water for the environment and investing in infrastructure and restoration strategies to improve and protect the health of the system," the spokesperson said. The health of the lagoon vastly improved during the 2022 River Murray floods but the spokesperson said more needed to be done to restore its long-term health. This included refining freshwater flows and working with other basin states to ensure climate science informs its broader management. Healthy, well-balanced coastal lagoons at the intersection of salty seas and fresh waterways make ideal fish nurseries and attractive spots for migratory birds. Yet a warming climate paired with competition for water upstream is degrading these ecological hotspots, ramping up their salt content and putting marine life under stress. Emerging research suggests the potential for lagoon wetlands to act as carbon sinks - when an ecosystems draws down more carbon dioxide than it releases - is hindered when in a degraded state. University of Adelaide microbial ecologist Christopher Keneally said the habitats tend to emit more methane and nitrous oxide, both potent greenhouse gas emissions, when in poor shape. His post-doctoral research focused on the Ramsar-listed Coorong in South Australia, the traditional lands of the Ngarrindjeri people, underlines the importance of keeping these critical habitats in good health. It's not just an Australian problem, he explained, with brackish wetlands in arid and temperate climate zones worldwide under threat from rising temperatures. Characterised by somewhat choked ocean access, lagoons are already under pressure from human activity as freshwater use by towns, farms and industry leaves less for the environment at the end of river basins. Now higher rates of evaporation under rising temperatures, less rainfall, and sea level rise bringing in more saltwater from the ocean are contributing to higher salt and nutrient concentrations. "A single hot, dry summer, like the one we have recently experienced, can completely shift this important habitat into a salty, green soup," Dr Keneally said. Such conditions upset the invisible and delicate "microbiomes" of lagoon waters, with microbial diversity diminished while salt-tolerant species survive. Unbalanced microbial communities can potentially lead to harmful algae blooms and low-oxygen "dead zones" that kill fish. In addition, microbial species with anaerobic metabolisms favour high salinity environments. These species tend to produce methane, undermining the habitat's role as a productive carbon sink. While an emerging area of research, Dr Keneally said estimations of methane production were "probably underestimated" and should be better integrated into global climate models. Occasional heavy rainfall and floods serve to "freshen up" coastal wetlands, rebalancing salt and other nutrient levels, as occurred in the South Australia's Coorong region in 2022. Yet sporadic downpours cannot be relied upon. "Conditions might improve for a couple of years, but those high rainfall events are not dependable, and in the dry periods, we often see permanent losses of biodiversity, Dr Keneally said. Careful management of freshwater releases to keep salinity and nutrient levels at optimal levels was billed as part of the solution. Listed as an internationally-important wetland under the Ramsar convention for migratory birds in the 1980s, the Coorong has long been a research priority and its condition taken seriously. The Millennium Drought led to the creation of the Murray Darling Basin to better manage water flows in the region, though balancing the needs of irrigators, towns and the environment has long been a fraught issue. Long-time Coorong fisherman Glen Hill believes the limited water reserved for the environment - half the amount recommended by scientists - should be released more strategically. The owner of Coorong Wild Seafood said the north of the lagoon was in great shape as freshwater from the river mouth could be easily released into it, while the more isolated south area was in a "terrible" state. He said better-timed water releases to coincide with favourable winds and weather conditions could help more freshwater enter the troubled southern lagoon. Mr Hill has been fishing the area for the prized Yellow-eye mullet and other commercially-important species for decades. Situated at the end of the Murray Darling Basin, Mr Hill said the Coorong was a highly productive fishery thanks to the high levels of nutrient "building blocks" swept downstream. Yet he was acutely familiar with the "domino effect" of harmfully-high salinity levels, knocking out species low on the food chain and leaving fish with little to eat. "When you get to around two times sea water salinity, things start to really go wrong," he said. A spokesperson from the South Australian Department for Environment and Water said the government was committed to protecting the Coorong's ecological character. "This work is achieved by optimising delivery of water for the environment and investing in infrastructure and restoration strategies to improve and protect the health of the system," the spokesperson said. The health of the lagoon vastly improved during the 2022 River Murray floods but the spokesperson said more needed to be done to restore its long-term health. This included refining freshwater flows and working with other basin states to ensure climate science informs its broader management. Healthy, well-balanced coastal lagoons at the intersection of salty seas and fresh waterways make ideal fish nurseries and attractive spots for migratory birds. Yet a warming climate paired with competition for water upstream is degrading these ecological hotspots, ramping up their salt content and putting marine life under stress. Emerging research suggests the potential for lagoon wetlands to act as carbon sinks - when an ecosystems draws down more carbon dioxide than it releases - is hindered when in a degraded state. University of Adelaide microbial ecologist Christopher Keneally said the habitats tend to emit more methane and nitrous oxide, both potent greenhouse gas emissions, when in poor shape. His post-doctoral research focused on the Ramsar-listed Coorong in South Australia, the traditional lands of the Ngarrindjeri people, underlines the importance of keeping these critical habitats in good health. It's not just an Australian problem, he explained, with brackish wetlands in arid and temperate climate zones worldwide under threat from rising temperatures. Characterised by somewhat choked ocean access, lagoons are already under pressure from human activity as freshwater use by towns, farms and industry leaves less for the environment at the end of river basins. Now higher rates of evaporation under rising temperatures, less rainfall, and sea level rise bringing in more saltwater from the ocean are contributing to higher salt and nutrient concentrations. "A single hot, dry summer, like the one we have recently experienced, can completely shift this important habitat into a salty, green soup," Dr Keneally said. Such conditions upset the invisible and delicate "microbiomes" of lagoon waters, with microbial diversity diminished while salt-tolerant species survive. Unbalanced microbial communities can potentially lead to harmful algae blooms and low-oxygen "dead zones" that kill fish. In addition, microbial species with anaerobic metabolisms favour high salinity environments. These species tend to produce methane, undermining the habitat's role as a productive carbon sink. While an emerging area of research, Dr Keneally said estimations of methane production were "probably underestimated" and should be better integrated into global climate models. Occasional heavy rainfall and floods serve to "freshen up" coastal wetlands, rebalancing salt and other nutrient levels, as occurred in the South Australia's Coorong region in 2022. Yet sporadic downpours cannot be relied upon. "Conditions might improve for a couple of years, but those high rainfall events are not dependable, and in the dry periods, we often see permanent losses of biodiversity, Dr Keneally said. Careful management of freshwater releases to keep salinity and nutrient levels at optimal levels was billed as part of the solution. Listed as an internationally-important wetland under the Ramsar convention for migratory birds in the 1980s, the Coorong has long been a research priority and its condition taken seriously. The Millennium Drought led to the creation of the Murray Darling Basin to better manage water flows in the region, though balancing the needs of irrigators, towns and the environment has long been a fraught issue. Long-time Coorong fisherman Glen Hill believes the limited water reserved for the environment - half the amount recommended by scientists - should be released more strategically. The owner of Coorong Wild Seafood said the north of the lagoon was in great shape as freshwater from the river mouth could be easily released into it, while the more isolated south area was in a "terrible" state. He said better-timed water releases to coincide with favourable winds and weather conditions could help more freshwater enter the troubled southern lagoon. Mr Hill has been fishing the area for the prized Yellow-eye mullet and other commercially-important species for decades. Situated at the end of the Murray Darling Basin, Mr Hill said the Coorong was a highly productive fishery thanks to the high levels of nutrient "building blocks" swept downstream. Yet he was acutely familiar with the "domino effect" of harmfully-high salinity levels, knocking out species low on the food chain and leaving fish with little to eat. "When you get to around two times sea water salinity, things start to really go wrong," he said. A spokesperson from the South Australian Department for Environment and Water said the government was committed to protecting the Coorong's ecological character. "This work is achieved by optimising delivery of water for the environment and investing in infrastructure and restoration strategies to improve and protect the health of the system," the spokesperson said. The health of the lagoon vastly improved during the 2022 River Murray floods but the spokesperson said more needed to be done to restore its long-term health. This included refining freshwater flows and working with other basin states to ensure climate science informs its broader management. Healthy, well-balanced coastal lagoons at the intersection of salty seas and fresh waterways make ideal fish nurseries and attractive spots for migratory birds. Yet a warming climate paired with competition for water upstream is degrading these ecological hotspots, ramping up their salt content and putting marine life under stress. Emerging research suggests the potential for lagoon wetlands to act as carbon sinks - when an ecosystems draws down more carbon dioxide than it releases - is hindered when in a degraded state. University of Adelaide microbial ecologist Christopher Keneally said the habitats tend to emit more methane and nitrous oxide, both potent greenhouse gas emissions, when in poor shape. His post-doctoral research focused on the Ramsar-listed Coorong in South Australia, the traditional lands of the Ngarrindjeri people, underlines the importance of keeping these critical habitats in good health. It's not just an Australian problem, he explained, with brackish wetlands in arid and temperate climate zones worldwide under threat from rising temperatures. Characterised by somewhat choked ocean access, lagoons are already under pressure from human activity as freshwater use by towns, farms and industry leaves less for the environment at the end of river basins. Now higher rates of evaporation under rising temperatures, less rainfall, and sea level rise bringing in more saltwater from the ocean are contributing to higher salt and nutrient concentrations. "A single hot, dry summer, like the one we have recently experienced, can completely shift this important habitat into a salty, green soup," Dr Keneally said. Such conditions upset the invisible and delicate "microbiomes" of lagoon waters, with microbial diversity diminished while salt-tolerant species survive. Unbalanced microbial communities can potentially lead to harmful algae blooms and low-oxygen "dead zones" that kill fish. In addition, microbial species with anaerobic metabolisms favour high salinity environments. These species tend to produce methane, undermining the habitat's role as a productive carbon sink. While an emerging area of research, Dr Keneally said estimations of methane production were "probably underestimated" and should be better integrated into global climate models. Occasional heavy rainfall and floods serve to "freshen up" coastal wetlands, rebalancing salt and other nutrient levels, as occurred in the South Australia's Coorong region in 2022. Yet sporadic downpours cannot be relied upon. "Conditions might improve for a couple of years, but those high rainfall events are not dependable, and in the dry periods, we often see permanent losses of biodiversity, Dr Keneally said. Careful management of freshwater releases to keep salinity and nutrient levels at optimal levels was billed as part of the solution. Listed as an internationally-important wetland under the Ramsar convention for migratory birds in the 1980s, the Coorong has long been a research priority and its condition taken seriously. The Millennium Drought led to the creation of the Murray Darling Basin to better manage water flows in the region, though balancing the needs of irrigators, towns and the environment has long been a fraught issue. Long-time Coorong fisherman Glen Hill believes the limited water reserved for the environment - half the amount recommended by scientists - should be released more strategically. The owner of Coorong Wild Seafood said the north of the lagoon was in great shape as freshwater from the river mouth could be easily released into it, while the more isolated south area was in a "terrible" state. He said better-timed water releases to coincide with favourable winds and weather conditions could help more freshwater enter the troubled southern lagoon. Mr Hill has been fishing the area for the prized Yellow-eye mullet and other commercially-important species for decades. Situated at the end of the Murray Darling Basin, Mr Hill said the Coorong was a highly productive fishery thanks to the high levels of nutrient "building blocks" swept downstream. Yet he was acutely familiar with the "domino effect" of harmfully-high salinity levels, knocking out species low on the food chain and leaving fish with little to eat. "When you get to around two times sea water salinity, things start to really go wrong," he said. A spokesperson from the South Australian Department for Environment and Water said the government was committed to protecting the Coorong's ecological character. "This work is achieved by optimising delivery of water for the environment and investing in infrastructure and restoration strategies to improve and protect the health of the system," the spokesperson said. The health of the lagoon vastly improved during the 2022 River Murray floods but the spokesperson said more needed to be done to restore its long-term health. This included refining freshwater flows and working with other basin states to ensure climate science informs its broader management.
West Australian
4 days ago
- Science
- West Australian
'Salty soup': climate threat to vital lagoon ecosystems
Healthy, well-balanced coastal lagoons at the intersection of salty seas and fresh waterways make ideal fish nurseries and attractive spots for migratory birds. Yet a warming climate paired with competition for water upstream is degrading these ecological hotspots, ramping up their salt content and putting marine life under stress. Emerging research suggests the potential for lagoon wetlands to act as carbon sinks - when an ecosystems draws down more carbon dioxide than it releases - is hindered when in a degraded state. University of Adelaide microbial ecologist Christopher Keneally said the habitats tend to emit more methane and nitrous oxide, both potent greenhouse gas emissions, when in poor shape. His post-doctoral research focused on the Ramsar-listed Coorong in South Australia, the traditional lands of the Ngarrindjeri people, underlines the importance of keeping these critical habitats in good health. It's not just an Australian problem, he explained, with brackish wetlands in arid and temperate climate zones worldwide under threat from rising temperatures. Characterised by somewhat choked ocean access, lagoons are already under pressure from human activity as freshwater use by towns, farms and industry leaves less for the environment at the end of river basins. Now higher rates of evaporation under rising temperatures, less rainfall, and sea level rise bringing in more saltwater from the ocean are contributing to higher salt and nutrient concentrations. "A single hot, dry summer, like the one we have recently experienced, can completely shift this important habitat into a salty, green soup," Dr Keneally said. Such conditions upset the invisible and delicate "microbiomes" of lagoon waters, with microbial diversity diminished while salt-tolerant species survive. Unbalanced microbial communities can potentially lead to harmful algae blooms and low-oxygen "dead zones" that kill fish. In addition, microbial species with anaerobic metabolisms favour high salinity environments. These species tend to produce methane, undermining the habitat's role as a productive carbon sink. While an emerging area of research, Dr Keneally said estimations of methane production were "probably underestimated" and should be better integrated into global climate models. Occasional heavy rainfall and floods serve to "freshen up" coastal wetlands, rebalancing salt and other nutrient levels, as occurred in the South Australia's Coorong region in 2022. Yet sporadic downpours cannot be relied upon. "Conditions might improve for a couple of years, but those high rainfall events are not dependable, and in the dry periods, we often see permanent losses of biodiversity, Dr Keneally said. Careful management of freshwater releases to keep salinity and nutrient levels at optimal levels was billed as part of the solution. Listed as an internationally-important wetland under the Ramsar convention for migratory birds in the 1980s, the Coorong has long been a research priority and its condition taken seriously. The Millennium Drought led to the creation of the Murray Darling Basin to better manage water flows in the region, though balancing the needs of irrigators, towns and the environment has long been a fraught issue. Long-time Coorong fisherman Glen Hill believes the limited water reserved for the environment - half the amount recommended by scientists - should be released more strategically. The owner of Coorong Wild Seafood said the north of the lagoon was in great shape as freshwater from the river mouth could be easily released into it, while the more isolated south area was in a "terrible" state. He said better-timed water releases to coincide with favourable winds and weather conditions could help more freshwater enter the troubled southern lagoon. Mr Hill has been fishing the area for the prized Yellow-eye mullet and other commercially-important species for decades. Situated at the end of the Murray Darling Basin, Mr Hill said the Coorong was a highly productive fishery thanks to the high levels of nutrient "building blocks" swept downstream. Yet he was acutely familiar with the "domino effect" of harmfully-high salinity levels, knocking out species low on the food chain and leaving fish with little to eat. "When you get to around two times sea water salinity, things start to really go wrong," he said. A spokesperson from the South Australian Department for Environment and Water said the government was committed to protecting the Coorong's ecological character. "This work is achieved by optimising delivery of water for the environment and investing in infrastructure and restoration strategies to improve and protect the health of the system," the spokesperson said. The health of the lagoon vastly improved during the 2022 River Murray floods but the spokesperson said more needed to be done to restore its long-term health. This included refining freshwater flows and working with other basin states to ensure climate science informs its broader management.
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Science
- Perth Now
'Salty soup': climate threat to vital lagoon ecosystems
Healthy, well-balanced coastal lagoons at the intersection of salty seas and fresh waterways make ideal fish nurseries and attractive spots for migratory birds. Yet a warming climate paired with competition for water upstream is degrading these ecological hotspots, ramping up their salt content and putting marine life under stress. Emerging research suggests the potential for lagoon wetlands to act as carbon sinks - when an ecosystems draws down more carbon dioxide than it releases - is hindered when in a degraded state. University of Adelaide microbial ecologist Christopher Keneally said the habitats tend to emit more methane and nitrous oxide, both potent greenhouse gas emissions, when in poor shape. His post-doctoral research focused on the Ramsar-listed Coorong in South Australia, the traditional lands of the Ngarrindjeri people, underlines the importance of keeping these critical habitats in good health. It's not just an Australian problem, he explained, with brackish wetlands in arid and temperate climate zones worldwide under threat from rising temperatures. Characterised by somewhat choked ocean access, lagoons are already under pressure from human activity as freshwater use by towns, farms and industry leaves less for the environment at the end of river basins. Now higher rates of evaporation under rising temperatures, less rainfall, and sea level rise bringing in more saltwater from the ocean are contributing to higher salt and nutrient concentrations. "A single hot, dry summer, like the one we have recently experienced, can completely shift this important habitat into a salty, green soup," Dr Keneally said. Such conditions upset the invisible and delicate "microbiomes" of lagoon waters, with microbial diversity diminished while salt-tolerant species survive. Unbalanced microbial communities can potentially lead to harmful algae blooms and low-oxygen "dead zones" that kill fish. In addition, microbial species with anaerobic metabolisms favour high salinity environments. These species tend to produce methane, undermining the habitat's role as a productive carbon sink. While an emerging area of research, Dr Keneally said estimations of methane production were "probably underestimated" and should be better integrated into global climate models. Occasional heavy rainfall and floods serve to "freshen up" coastal wetlands, rebalancing salt and other nutrient levels, as occurred in the South Australia's Coorong region in 2022. Yet sporadic downpours cannot be relied upon. "Conditions might improve for a couple of years, but those high rainfall events are not dependable, and in the dry periods, we often see permanent losses of biodiversity, Dr Keneally said. Careful management of freshwater releases to keep salinity and nutrient levels at optimal levels was billed as part of the solution. Listed as an internationally-important wetland under the Ramsar convention for migratory birds in the 1980s, the Coorong has long been a research priority and its condition taken seriously. The Millennium Drought led to the creation of the Murray Darling Basin to better manage water flows in the region, though balancing the needs of irrigators, towns and the environment has long been a fraught issue. Long-time Coorong fisherman Glen Hill believes the limited water reserved for the environment - half the amount recommended by scientists - should be released more strategically. The owner of Coorong Wild Seafood said the north of the lagoon was in great shape as freshwater from the river mouth could be easily released into it, while the more isolated south area was in a "terrible" state. He said better-timed water releases to coincide with favourable winds and weather conditions could help more freshwater enter the troubled southern lagoon. Mr Hill has been fishing the area for the prized Yellow-eye mullet and other commercially-important species for decades. Situated at the end of the Murray Darling Basin, Mr Hill said the Coorong was a highly productive fishery thanks to the high levels of nutrient "building blocks" swept downstream. Yet he was acutely familiar with the "domino effect" of harmfully-high salinity levels, knocking out species low on the food chain and leaving fish with little to eat. "When you get to around two times sea water salinity, things start to really go wrong," he said. A spokesperson from the South Australian Department for Environment and Water said the government was committed to protecting the Coorong's ecological character. "This work is achieved by optimising delivery of water for the environment and investing in infrastructure and restoration strategies to improve and protect the health of the system," the spokesperson said. The health of the lagoon vastly improved during the 2022 River Murray floods but the spokesperson said more needed to be done to restore its long-term health. This included refining freshwater flows and working with other basin states to ensure climate science informs its broader management.
7NEWS
20-05-2025
- Politics
- 7NEWS
Inside Anthony Albanese's historic meeting with Pope Leo
Pope Leo XIV has met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in a private audience at the Apostolic Palace inside Vatican City, with Albanese using the opportunity to invite the pontiff to Sydney in 2028. It is 16 years since an Australian PM had a private audience with a pope, the pair discussing shared concerns around global conflicts and the resulting humanitarian impacts. The prime minister reflected on the Holy See's important role in promoting dialogue as part of international efforts to achieve just and lasting peace and to alleviate suffering. Albanese formally invited the Pope to Australia for the 54th International Eucharistic Congress, which Sydney is hosting in 2028, presenting His Holiness with a formal letter of invitation. Pope Benedict XVI was the last pontiff to visit Australia back in 2008 for World Youth Day. There was a gift exchange as part of the occasion. Albanese presented His Holiness with Australian red wine and artwork by indigenous artist Amanda Westley, who is part of the Ngarrindjeri tribe in South Australia. The artwork is called Raukkan, meaning meeting place, and is named after a Ngarrindjeri community located 80km southeast of Adelaide. Albanese also had his mum Maryanne's rosary beads blessed by the Pope. The Prime Minister congratulated Leo on his election and thanked him for the invitation to attend the mass, which marks the start of his pontificate. Albanese is now flying home from Rome and will stop over in Singapore, where will meet re-elected Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. The Vatican detailed the Pope's meeting with Albanese in a statement, stating that 'warm appreciation was expressed' for the relations between the pontiff and Australia, specifically the Catholic Church's contribution to society and education. 'An exchange of views then took place on the socio-political situation of the country, focusing in particular on themes of mutual interest, including environmental protection, integral human development and the freedom of religion,' the statement concluded.
Sydney Morning Herald
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Kysaiah Pickett opens up on his culture, his future and his ‘safe space'
The Melbourne Football Club is Kysaiah Pickett's 'home away from home'. He loves the club, and the club loves him. Pickett the footballer could not be happier. Home for Pickett, though, is not Melbourne. It's more than 3000 kilometres away on the other side of the country in Quairading, a town in Western Australia's Wheatbelt region about one-and-a-half hours' drive out of Perth. Pickett spoke of the significance of home in a documentary produced by the Demons of the visit he made in May last year to introduce his first baby Belleny to his extended family. It's where he grew up until he moved back to South Australia to complete his education. 'That's where I spent most of my childhood,' Pickett told this masthead. 'I've got a lot of memories there. My home, all my family still live there. My home, my safe space.' The AFL's Sir Doug Nicholls Round has given Pickett, from Yamatji Noongar on his mother's side and Ngarrindjeri through his father, the chance to celebrate his heritage through football. There is extra meaning this year. His father, the comedian, sculptor and artist Kevin Kropinyeri, designed the Demons' Indigenous guernsey. The shield represents both the traditional Ngarrindjeri warriors, Kropinyeri said, and past, present and future players - 'the warriors of the Melbourne Football Club'. The weaving design symbolises the love of the club and the Ngarrindjeri text, 'YARN MAWUN WUNNAMURKAKUL PROLIN AMBE NGARIMATINLINY AMBI' translates to, 'All hearts beat true for the red and the blue'. The Ngarrindjeri do not have a word for 'every', but do have one for 'all'. The message is pertinent for Pickett, whose playing future at Melbourne has been the subject of speculation since he expressed his homesickness to coach Simon Goodwin at his exit meeting last year.
