Convergence: wetlands and communities

Karyn Bradford, a former farmer now business owner, now textile artist, community advocate and very recently, Regional Expansion Officer for Wetland Care Australia.

Karyn's story is about turning around community attitudes to help protect a Ramsar listed wetland.

'For many years it was seen as a smelly, mozzie infested swamp. It was not valued by the community and locals were quite embarrassed by this eyesore in the centre of town' says Karyn.

With Karyn's initiative, the Community's perceptions turned around, they attracted funding and the Milang Wetland and Snipe Sanctuary Project was born.

With support from a Land & Water Australia Community Fellowship, Karyn will celebrate the 2003 International year of Fresh Water by sharing the Milang experience and exploring the relationship between on ground wetland repair projects and community building.