GV Health Partnership
Successfully invited Goulburn Valley Health to join the RiverConnect partnership and elect a representative to the RiverConnect Implementation Committee. This new partnership is a crucial component towards progressing the health and wellbeing component of the RiverConnect Strategic Plan.
Illuminate the Burrow
Partnered with headspace Shepparton to host “The Burrow” at the major Illuminate 2023 light festival event which saw visitation of over 18,000 people across two days. The Burrow is a low sensory space for young people aged 16-25 and featured activities such as a chill space with nature journals and a craft space for nature art creations.
The Burrow 2.0 returned at Converge on the Goulburn 2025. Again the space was co-created with headspace Shepparton and included nature sound headsets, craft and a popular river love activity with notes on leaves pinned to canvas' designed by young people.
Launch of the RiverConnect Strategic Plan 2023-2028
Celebrated the launch of the RiverConnect Strategic Plan 2023-2028 with moving speeches from Uncle Ruben Baksh (YYNAC), Cr Spinks and Mayor Sali (GSCC), Carl Walters (GB CMA) Jane Roots (DEECA), Rod McLennan (Community), and students from Congupna Primary School, Berry Street School and ACE College.
Empowered Indigenous Youth
The Rumbalara Nangarna Homework Club students expressed their heartache in seeing their scar trees removed by illegal firewood practices. After reaching out to RiverConnect, they decided to host a community tree planting day to replant natives and highlight the importance of protecting our environment. The Nangarna Bush Revival Community Day was a huge success with over 230 primary school students taking part in eight activities hosted by partner organisations and groups.
Nurtured Stewardship Culture
Supported the Shepparton Mooroopna Urban Landcare Group (SMULG) to undertake weed removal after the floods of October 2022. SMULG contributed a combined 255 volunteer hours across 5 weeks to re move Nightshade and Bathurst Burr from a 3.95ha area.
Pollution Pirates
Organised major river clean-ups after the October 2022 floods with the removal of 8 cubic metres of rubbish from the Australian Botanic Gardens Shepparton and 3 tonnes of rubbish from Kaiela, the Goulburn River.
Caring for Nature - Youth Camp
Successfully designed, planned and delivered the RiverConnect 'Caring for Nature Camp'. A two-night immersive camp, targeted to young adults, designed to educate on environmental issues, create positive core memories and inspire continued contribution to nature. The camp utilised $6,393 received from Environmental Volunteering Hume Pilot through Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, $3,000 from the Australian and Victorian Governments in response to the 2022 flood event and in-kind support including swag equipment loan from Giz-A-Break and staff time from Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, Goulburn Murray Landcare Network and Greater Shepparton City Council.
River Tales and Trails
Designed, collaborated and delivered 'River Tales and Trails' to build awareness of the shared path connections and promote outdoor recreation for health and wellbeing. The pilot event invited community to walk, ride, run or roll and experience pop-up activities along a section of the shared path network. Activities occured between the Australian Botanic Gardens Shepparton in Kialla and the southern end of Tom Collins Drive / Victoria Park Lake.
12 RiverConnect partners accepted the invitation to join the day with a stall or activitiy along the shared path network. Including: Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project Pitstop Program, Parks Victoria, Forest First Management, Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, headspace Shepparton, Goulburn Valley Environment Group, Shepparton Mooroopna Urban Landcare Group, Friends of the Australian Botanic Gardens Shepparton and the Greater Shepparton City Councils Sustainability and Environment Team.
20 Years of RiverConnect
RiverConnect celebrated the formal 20-year milestone in November 2025 with 80 people representing 25 organisations gathering beside the Goulburn River at Victoria Park Lake. Stories were shared about how the RiverConnect program began with a simple but powerful idea: to foster a stronger community connection with the Goulburn and Broken Rivers in and around Shepparton and Mooroopna. Since its inception in 2005, Greater Shepparton City Council and the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority have proudly supported this collaborative journey.
Over the past two decades, RiverConnect has played a pivotal role in building appreciation for the significance of our local river environment through community events, partnerships, and school education programs. From bat nights to platypus spotting, canoeing adventures to native fish days with schools, and everything in between, RiverConnect has become an integral and valued part of the Greater Shepparton community. Thank you to all those that joined in the celebrations - here's to the next 20 years!