Fenella Jamieson’s Heywire-winning experience

The flowing Namoi River is often described as ‘the lifeblood’ of our region.

The riverbank is a popular place for family picnics, a calming spot where people can take a moment to sit and reflect or enjoy a long walk with friends.

And of course, the Namoi is an important resource for our agricultural industry.

For 21-year-old Fenella Jamieson the river has been a constant in her life.

“It’s definitely always been a ‘safe spot’ for me,” said Fenella in an interview with The Courier.

“It means and represents the community, it’s a family spot and it’s part of our family farm ‘Old Merihula’ where I grew up. I’m the third-generation to grow up there.”

And so when Fenella had to choose a topic to write about for the ABC’s Heywire storytelling competition, the river seemed a natural fit.

“It had to be about something really personal and I started to think about how intertwined I was with the river growing up and about my relationship with the river,” said Fenella.

“And how it was sad to see it slowly start to fade out.”

Fenella penned her story about the river – ‘My town is hurting but I still hold hope for its future’ in September last year when the Namoi was running dry.

This is Fenella’s story:

I have lots of river memories.

Days filled kayaking, swimming, fishing and exploring.

As a kid growing up with the Namoi River, in north-west New South Wales, I thought this was just normal.

But I’ve since discovered how rare those river play days actually were.

I’ll never forget the day I returned home from university to discover the bone-dry riverbed with my Dad.

Walking down expecting to hear a faint trickle, a splash, a bird but — silence.

I just couldn’t believe it. I looked over at my Dad and he looked just as shocked as me.

We’ve always had years of drought but never like this.

“You can see its bones,” my Dad said.

He said this staring at the exposed roots of the trees he planted before I was born, 20 years ago.

They were meant to hold the banks together in the event of a flood.

Grandad ran cattle, then my Dad followed in his footsteps, before turning his hand to cotton farming.

But farming is tough out here and they had several kids who wanted to attend university.

Well, I’ve always said my education was sponsored by the mines — but I don’t blame dad for changing jobs.

I don’t blame anyone who wants a secure job!

But as I walk the streets of my hometown, I see empty storefronts with for-sale signs.

People still say ‘hi’ but seem just as empty as the main street.

I feel like my town is hurting.

Everyone plays the blame game, accusations and attacks.

“Who took the water?”

“It’s the cotton farmers!”

“It’s the mines!”

“It’s climate change!”

“It’s the government!”

It’s ironic how our town feels like its drowning in a time of drought.

Who has the power to change it?

One of my Dad’s biggest goals is to run his own farm again and I really hope he does!

I don’t know what will happen to our river, to our town, but I still hold hope for its future.

Not fighting against ourselves, or the land but fighting for it.”

Fenella’s story about her beloved home town of Narrabri was recognised by the ABC when she was named as a Heywire winner for 2020.

“It’s been crazy,” said Fenella.

“It’s one thing to write something but then to hear it played back to you, and to receive everyone else’s opinions and support about it makes me feel a great sense of pride in my community.”

The ABC describes Heywire as “young regional Australians telling it like it is and making a difference”.

Heywire encourages the next generation to tell and share stories about their life outside the major cities in text, photo, video or audio format.

It aims to breakdown stereotypes and gives people between the ages of 16 and 22 the chance to take over the ABC and broadcast their stories on ABCTV, iView, ABC Local Radio, Triple J, Radio National, and ABC Online.

The initiative also supports regional Australians to develop skills in networking, project pitching and leadership, and also includes the annual Heywire Regional Youth Summit held in Canberra.

The summit in the nation’s capital is an opportunity for young people from around Australia to come together and discuss the issues they face and develop projects that could make a difference.

Fenella was one of the 37 Heywire winners who got to travel to Canberra recently for the youth summit.

“It was my pleasure to open the ABC Heywire morning tea in Parliament House last week,” said Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton.

“This year we welcomed 37 Heywire winners and 18 Trailblazers to Parliament House.

“I was particularly pleased to welcome Fenella Jamieson, Narrabri, Kirra Hampson, Dubbo, and Jade Cicak, Menindee, from the Parkes electorate.”

Mr Coulton said Heywire provided a ‘megaphone’ for young people and the towns that they represent.

“Over the past 22 years, over 11,000 young Australians have used Heywire to share their stories and ideas with a wide audience.”

Fenella said the week in Canberra was very beneficial and it was great to meet up with other young people from across regional Australia.

“We discussed community-based initiatives and pitched ideas.”

Fenella said she worked with a group to develop different proposals including ways to bridge the gap between older and younger generations as well as a program where communities could swap skills from financial skills to sewing or cooking.

Fenella said her parents Prue and Robert Jamieson were proud of her Heywire achievements, and in fact it was her Mum who inspired her to write and speak about the river.

Fenella also appeared on the ABC TV’s breakfast program while in Canberra and spoke about her excitement to learn of the recent rainfall in the Narrabri region.

She told the presenters that she couldn’t wait to go kayaking on the river when she returned.

“It just makes you fall back in love with the environment again,” Fenella told The Courier about the long-awaited change in the weather.

“I’m so excited, I work casually at Nurruby OOSH during university holidays and it was so great to see photos of the kids in the rain.”

Fenella is currently in her third year of university and is studying a bachelor of creative industries at the University of Newcastle.

She said that Heywire had been a fantastic experience and she hoped to work in the media in the future.