Learning about the River Red Gum with Max Rush

The River Red Gum is essential to the Murray River ecosystem. "They're such an important cornerstone species," explains Max Rush, a guide with Murray River Trails. "Their flowers feed many birds and insects, and the hollows in the giant old gums provide habitat for hollow-nesting birds and possums."

These trees can live for centuries. Max shares that some River Red Gums are up to 800 years old, yet new recruits are still emerging, giving the forest a full range of ages.

Ring Trees, shaped by Aboriginal people, serve as natural markers. "They might indicate tribal boundaries or burial sites," Max explains. Canoe Trees, carved for making canoes, also showcase Indigenous ingenuity. "It's great to have these cultural markers - part of history for tens of thousands of years."

Visitors are often struck by the size and variety of River Red Gums. "Some have tiger-striped bark, others branch low, while some grow tall and straight," Max says. "But their sheer size is what really captures people's attention." Their flowers bloom in spring, often timed with receding floodwaters, attracting native bees, small insects, and parrots.

Flooding is vital to their survival. "Every River Red Gum is born of a flood," Max explains. "But reduced flooding due to water extraction puts young trees at risk." Their health reflects the condition of the river itself.

For Max, the Murray River landscape is deeply personal. "I was stuck in an office job but spent weekends in national parks. Eventually, I studied ecology - this landscape was too special to ignore."