Interview with Merv Ryan

Merv Ryan is a spokesperson for the Dharawal peoples. He grew up in La Perouse and now works with Sutherland Shire Council for recognition and respect of Dharawal culture and Aboriginals who now live, work and study in the area. This interview was conducted by Else Kennedy

Merv Ryan (third from the left) at a reconciliation event at Cook's Landing May 2008 (Chris Lane: St George and Sutherland Shire Leader)

What is the significance of Kurnell to local Aboriginal people?

The Aboriginal people at Kurnell are all Dharawal people. I grew up in La Perouse but now I live in Sutherland. We always come over here fishing, hunting and everything. Cut trees for didgerdoos and all that. The feed sources in the mangroves are very good. We go and do towra and all that. 

How has industry affected the way people use the land?
With all the businesses and that, the refineries and the desalination plant, it’s hard to know what’s good and bad. The national park there is still alright. But out in the water its changed a lot since when we were kids.

Have you noticed a difference in what you catch when you’re fishing out there from when you were a kid? 
Yeah, we’ve lost of lot of fish. We’ve lost some fish species. The seafood’s not very good for Aboriginal people there anymore. Now they’ve got laws you can’t get Abalone this and that. 

Trevally caught off Towra Point (http://kfsreports.blogspot.com/)

And what about in Towra Point? You need a permit to go in there now.
I can go in there (Towra point) because I work for national parks. Out there we’ve got an island with little Terns. They fly from Europe they start to nest in there. But know I don’t know if the Terns are gonna come back or not. The big thing now is we’ve got cane toads in Towra Point. We make traps and we trap them. In parts of Towra we’ve got aboriginal burial grounds, so we’ve got to look after all that as well.