What can one of Australia's most iconic and mysterious animals teach us about the health of our rivers—and ourselves?

In this episode of the Hawkesbury Eco Hour podcast, Lyn Ward catches up with Dr Michelle Ryan, Senior Lecturer in Ecology and Environmental Science at Western Sydney University, Hawkesbury-Nepean Waterkeeper, and leading platypus researcher.

Michelle shares the latest on her platypus research, explains how environmental DNA is transforming wildlife conservation, and discusses why the platypus is such an important indicator of healthy waterways. She also talks about her role as Hawkesbury-Nepean Waterkeeper, the challenges facing our river system, and the positive steps communities can take to protect local waterways and biodiversity.

Inspired by her recent TEDx Hawkesbury talk, What the Platypus Can Teach Us About Connection, this conversation explores the links between people, wildlife and the rivers that sustain us all.

Whether you're a nature lover, a science enthusiast or simply curious about the remarkable wildlife of the Hawkesbury-Nepean, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Episode Links:

• Caring for Water Country https://westernx.edu.au/courses/caring-for-water-country

• TEDx Hawkesbury https://tedxhawkesbury.com/

• Hawkesbury Environment Network https://hen.org.au

• Contact the Hawkesbury Eco Hour Podcast podcast@hen.org.au

The plants beneath the trees are some of the hardest working in nature. In this episode of Eco Hour, Lyn Ward is joined by Matilda Julian, Emma Croker and Jade Paton from Hawkesbury Environment Network to celebrate the launch of Love Scrub - a beautiful new booklet exploring the native flora of the Hawkesbury and the wildlife that depends on it. Discover why "scrub" is so much more than undergrowth, the fascinating relationships between plants and animals, and how everyone can create habitat at home.

Episode Links:

• Hawkesbury Environment Network https://hen.org.au

• Contact the Hawkesbury Eco Hour Podcast podcast@hen.org.au

What is ecocide - and why is there a growing global movement to have it recognised as an international crime?

In this episode of Hawkesbury Eco Hour, Lyn speaks with with Alison McCarthy-Phillips about the meaning of ecocide, the international campaign for stronger environmental accountability, and why these conversations matter locally as well as globally.

We explore the balance between development and environmental protection, the role communities can play in shaping the future, and why language and law can influence the way society values the natural world.

A thoughtful and accessible discussion on one of the most important environmental conversations of our time.

Episode Links:

• Stop Ecocide International https://www.stopecocide.earth/ Australian Earth Laws Alliance https://www.earthlaws.org.au/

• Hawkesbury Environment Network https://hen.org.au

• Contact the Hawkesbury Eco Hour Podcast podcast@hen.org.au

In the third episode of our Wetlands series Eric and Nick talk with Rodney Molesworth about the importance of valley wetlands in the Hawkesbury ecosystem and the beautiful Blundells Swamp. Rodney has been a co-owner of the swamp since 1974 and has helped preserve this important wetland over the last 50 years. He also shares with Nick and Eric his latest project to help secure the long term future of Blundells Swamp and how people can help.

Episode Links:

• Blundells Swamp https://www.blundellswamp.com / https://www.facebook.com/blundellswamp

• Hawkesbury Environment Network https://hen.org.au

• Contact the Hawkesbury Eco Hour Podcast podcast@hen.org.au

Episode Links:

• Hawkesbury Environment Network https://hen.org.au

• Contact the Hawkesbury Eco Hour Podcast podcast@hen.org.au

World Wetlands Day this week celebrates the special place that wetlands hold globally in terms of biodiversity, food production and cultural practices.

In this episode of Hawkesbury Eco Hour, Nick chats with Eric about the unique biodiversity of the Hawkesbury wetlands and their remarkable bird life.

The swamps, lagoons, rivers and creeks of the Hawkesbury provide feeding and breeding grounds for a host of coastal waterbirds. They are also a vital refuge for inland species during periods of drought, and a wintering destination for a host of migrant waterfowl and waders which breed as far away as Siberia.

As Sydney expands, these unique wetlands are under increased threat, despite their enormous value to biodiversity, flood prevention, food production and ecotourism. Eric has been birding in the Hawkesbury wetlands for over 40 years and talks about some of the remarkable 300-plus species of birds that make this area home, as well as the challenges they face in a changing environment, which we must do more to protect.

Episode Links:

• Episode 6: Save Riverstone Wetlands from development, with Mark Fuller

• World Wetland Day https://www.worldwetlandsday.org/

• Land For Wildlife https://hen.org.au/about/land-for-wildlife/

• Cumberland Bird Observers Club https://www.cboc.org.au/

• Hawkesbury Environment Network https://hen.org.au

• Contact the Hawkesbury Eco Hour Podcast podcast@hen.org.au

The Riverstone Wetlands are a special ephemeral wetland in Western Sydney with a unique ecology, providing habitat for a wide range of wildlife, in particular an incredible variety of wetland birds, many of them vulnerable.

In this episode of Hawkesbury Eco Hour, we discuss the Riverstone Wetlands with Mark Fuller, President of the Cumberland Land Conservancy and a keen western Sydney birder. Mark is leading efforts to protect this valuable western Sydney site, which provides important habitat and feeding grounds for birds from across Western Sydney and far beyond.

Mark describes why the wetland's site just above the Hawkesbury-Nepean floodplain makes it such an important link between the Hawkesbury and other wetlands, and a key Sydney feeding ground for threatened migratory waders from as far away as Siberia and Japan, as well as endangered Australian species such as the beautiful Australian Painted Snipe

Find out more about the site, its birdlife, and how you can help in the fight to save it for future generations of wildlife and people.

Episode Links:

• Save Riverstone Wetlands https://hen.org.au/save-riverstone-wetlands/

• Hawkesbury Environment Network https://hen.org.au

• Contact the Hawkesbury Eco Hour Podcast podcast@hen.org.au

In this episode, we speak with Matilda Julian, Chair of the Hawkesbury Environment Network, long-time volunteer, Bushcare worker and passionate birder. Matilda shares her journey into environmental stewardship and what drives her deep connection to the Hawkesbury landscape.

We reflect on HEN's work throughout 2025, including bushcare projects with Colo High School, bush kindy, birding and bushcare activities, Streamwatch, community fundraisers, and initiatives such as kangaroo virtual fencing. Matilda also discusses HEN's role in key collaborations and committees across the Hawkesbury, including the Resilient Rivers for Resilient Hawkesbury Platypus Populations Project, supported by a $1 million grant. Plans and priorities for 2026 are also highlighted.

Episode Links:

• Hawkesbury Environment Network https://hen.org.au

• Contact the Hawkesbury Eco Hour Podcast podcast@hen.org.au