Russell Cox has been involved in volunteering activities for the Mallee Catchment Management Authority (CMA) for 12 years. To recognise 30 Years of WaterWatch Citizen Science and Russell’s achievements, we spoke with him to understand what motivated him to start volunteering and why he has continued to monitor for so many years.
“I commenced my working career in 1974 in the Electrical Distribution Industry, specifically the State Electricity Commission of Victoria, working in the Management/Technical area before retiring permanently due to ill health in 2008. This technical knowledge provided me with some of the skills I need to assist the Mallee CMA to undertake WaterWatch testing.
I commenced volunteering in 2011 when one of Mallee CMA employees approached me to undertake WaterWatch monitoring, and being available, I said yes. This sort of activity out in the open air helps me to combat the down sides of my anxiety disorder. Initially I had five sites – three in Sandilong Creek which runs through the Riverside Golf Club, one on the Southern side of the golf course, and one in a creek off the Murray River behind the golf course.
In 2014, I was asked to include WaterWatch monitoring at Kings Billabong. There are three monitoring sites here, on the west site of the Levee Bank; at the Regulator; and near the Bridge at the Psyche Pumps.
As recorded in the WaterWatch Database I have undertaken over 500 site visits.
In addition to these site visits, in 2016 I volunteered to undergo training in how to collect, observe and record creature data (macro-invertebrates), which I monitor at Sandilong Creek.
In early 2018 another Citizen Science project commenced at the Mallee CMA which was Bird monitoring. After training I was asked to monitor the birds at Catfish Billabong, located on the Merbein Common. I conduct this activity in conjunction with my WaterWatch monitoring days.
I enjoy these Citizen Science volunteer activities because I have a natural interest in nature and the environment. One of the tools I use in these activities is photography which records the ever-changing environment that I visit when undertaking WaterWatch monitoring and bird data recording.
I also know and understand that the data I record assists the Mallee CMA make informed decisions about the environment with hard scientific and reliable data to back up their decisions. The data also contributes to an overall picture of these facets of nature across Victoria.”
The Mallee CMA would like to thank Russell for his many years of ongoing service as a WaterWatch volunteer and for the invaluable data he provides.
“I’m doing something for the environment, I’m doing something for future generations and that is a good thing.”
– Mr Russell Cox, WaterWatch Volunteer, Kings Billabong
