Murnong; returning Yam Daisy to Melbourne's Merri Creek by Plant Heroes

There are only three populations remaining in Melbourne of Murnong or 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘢. They are not self-sustaining.

𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘢 or Murnong is a type of Yam Daisy. For the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and other Aboriginal groups in south-eastern Australia, the Murnong has been an important cultural food source for thousands of years. But today only three populations are remain in Melbourne, and today we visit one on the banks of the Merri Creek.

Over years of missteps and mistakes (and occasional breakthroughs), the Merri Creek Management Committee has worked with traditional custodians, the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung, to learn what this species requires. It was less to do with the plant and more about the special relationship with people, in this place.

The creators hope this story goes a little way to acknowledging the need to place cultural knowledge as core to conservation planning and developing 'right-way' projects.

Interviewees: Brian Bainbridge, Michael Longmore and Charley Woolmoore
Production and Narration: Chantelle Doyle
Music: Zoe Elliot
zoeelliot.wordpress.com/

Video:https://youtu.be/lDpYR67oD2I

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Website: www.plant-heroes.com/

Produced in collaboration with the Merri Creek Management Committee, Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Joe’s Market Garden (CERES) .

Supported by the Australian Network for Plant Conservation and Ross Trust NESP Threatened Species Recovery Hub, University of New South Wales & University of Melbourne.