The largest macroinvertebrate monitoring citizen science program of its kind in Australia.

Twice a year, community members and scientists come together to test for waterbugs at six sites along the Bellinger and Kalang catchments.

FREE EVENT

Macro Muster 8

Bellingen Riverwatch

Now calling for volunteers

Join in the biggest macroinvertebrate monitoring program in Australia and meet the amazing little creatures that call these rivers home!

We are trying to build the Macro Muster into a large event that, not only gathers biannual macro data useful for the protection of these rivers, but also, over time, connects hundreds of young people from this area with these incredible rivers and inspires the next generation of earth stewards!

We are currently calling for people 8+ to register as ‘Testers’ and people aged 14+ to register as ‘Helpers’ at our seventh Macro Muster, coming up in October, during National Water Week.

FRi 30 MAy , 4pm-7.30pm

Bellingen Showground

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Registrations close 5pm Wednesday 21st May 2025.

Macro Muster 8 Teachers (TBC)

  • Andrew Mclagan

    Bellingen Riverwatch Volunteer

  • Charelle Harkins

    Bellingen Riverwatch Volunteer

  • Helen Davies

    Bellingen Riverwatch Volunteer

  • Justine Elder

    Elder Enviro

  • Nic Denshire

    Bellingen Riverwatch Volunteer.

  • Pat Brenton

    Bellingen Riverwatch Volunteer

  • Dr Peter French

    Bellingen Riverwatch Volunteer

  • Dr. Nakia Belmer

    Scientist - Estuaries and Catchments
    Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

  • Alyssa Philips

    Technician
    Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Macro Muster 8 Helpers (TBC)

  • Asheley Goodwill

    Senior Land Services Officer, Natural Asset Protection, North Coast Local Land Services

  • Benn Wolhuter

    Bellingen Riverwatch Volunteer

  • Dr. Brian Hawkins

    Scientist, DCCEW - Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Saving our Species

  • Cassandra Vockler

    Bellingen Riverwatch Volunteer

  • Daisy Sully

    Bellingen Riverwatch Volunteer

  • Fiona McMullin

    Bellingen Riverwatch Volunteer

  • Henare Degan

    Bellingen Riverwatch Volunteer

  • Lily Kostka

    OzGREEN

  • Lisa Wooldridge

    Bellingen Riverwatch Volunteer

  • Sam Daykin

    OzGREEN

BELLINGEN RIVERWATCH MACRO muster volunteers

    • Ahlia D.

    • Alan W.

    • Andrew M.

    • Andrew V.

    • Andrew Y.

    • Anna D.

    • Anna J.

    • Anton J.

    • Anunda G.

    • Aoife T.

    • Aria S.

    • Ashlee C.

    • Ashley S.

    • Belinda S.

    • Ben M.

    • Benn W.

    • Beverly G.

    • Bianca L.

    • Bon S.

    • Bruce N.

    • Cassandra H.

    • Cassandra V.

    • Cath C.

    • Cath E.

    • Chelsey E.

    • Daisy S.

    • Dala V.

    • Dala W.

    • Daniel C.

    • Daniela R.

    • Danny G.

    • David C.

    • Dimity L.

    • Elliot N.

    • Elvy L.

    • Erik N.

    • Erin S.

    • Fiona M.

    • Forbes S.

    • Fran C.

    • Henare D.

    • Ishani H.

    • Ivy D.

    • James T.

    • Jason E.

    • Jeanine H.

    • Jess H.

    • Joel G.

    • Jonothan w.

    • Josh K.

    • Josh M.

    • Kai U.

    • Kaleb R.

    • Keith C.

    • Kerry M.

    • Kobi S.

    • Lachlan M.

    • Leah C.

    • Leanne U.

    • Lesley F.

    • Lisa W.

    • Luke S.

    • Maddie M.

    • Marco M.

    • Michele M.

    • Monty S.

    • Nitesh G.

    • Olive T.

    • Oliver W

    • Oscar W.

    • Pat B.

    • Pauline K.

    • Pippa N.

    • Primrose F.

    • Quade M.

    • Rebecca B.

    • Ros C.

    • Rowan S.

    • Seanna C.

    • Serena B.

    • Skye C.

    • Stella V

    • Steve A.

    • Suzie J.

    • Talei M.

    • Tenille S.

    • Tess D.

    • Tom W.

    • Toni W.

    • Tracey M.

    • Wendy F.

    • Zac F.

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more info about Macro Muster 7

INFO BOOKLET FOR PARTICIPANTS

What are Macroinvertebrates?

Freshwater macroinvertebrates (or waterbugs) are small invertebrates that live in freshwater and can be seen with the naked eye or a hand magnifier. These include juvenile stages of many insects like dragonflies, damselflies, mayflies, caddisflies, water beetles, and more.

Each type of waterbug has a certain sensitivity to pollution or water quality changes in their waterway. So, the type and number of bugs found in a waterway, can tell you how healthy it is.

More about the Helper role

  • A HELPER is a community member who help the TESTER volunteers sort, count and identify waterbugs at a Muster.

  • The HELPER role is suitable for people aged 14+ with a keen interest in science who have attended a muster before and are happy to help others who are new to the Muster.

    Identifying, writing and counting and assisting others is involved. You do not have to be a scientist or have a background in science.

    All HELPERS require a Working with Children Check.

  • Register as a HELPER at the link below.

Register as a helper :

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  • "I love meeting like-minded people and discovering new forms of life."

    - Macro Tester Volunteer, Macro Muster Round 2, 2022

  • "It's a really fun way to do science."

    - Student, Orama Public School Macro Workshop, 2022

Collecting Volunteers hold an important role

Our collecting volunteers sample 6 sites the day before the muster and bring the samples to the event to be tested by the community.

Collecting Volunteers are assigned a site and head out to their site the day of the Community Count (Friday 30th May 2025) with nets, waders and buckets to collect a waterbug sample.

Collectors hold an important role in the program. It is important that we obtain comparable and accurate samples.

As such, those new to the collecting role are paired up with experienced collecting volunteers who help them use the correct techniques.

Image : Paul Fahy

Our macro program was requested by the scientists supporting the recovery of the critically endangered Bellinger River Snapping Turtle.

“The ongoing recovery of the Bellinger River Snapping Turtle in the Bellinger Catchment is linked directly to the aquatic macroinvertebrate communities of the catchment’s rivers. Not only are aquatic macroinvertebrates an important component of the Bellinger River Snapping Turtle diet, the macroinvertebrate communities are sensitive to changes in water quality and will, therefore, be an important indicator of river health into the future.”
— - Shane Ruming, Saving our Species, Department of Planning and Environment

Questions?

Contact Lily with any questions about this event. Contact Amy about the Macro Muster in general.

PREVIOUS macro MUSTERS

Award-winning program

Bellingen Riverwatch received two River Basin Management Awards in 2023.

Featured
Bellingen Riverwatch receives national award
Bellingen Riverwatch receives national award

Bellingen Riverwatch, one of the largest citizen science water quality monitoring programs in NSW, and the largest citizen science macroinvertebrate monitoring program in Australia, recently received two national awards at the River Basin Management Society Awards Gala.

Read More →

Bellingen Riverwatch Steering Committee

  • Dr Melissa Giese

    Senior Team Leader, Ecosystems and Threatened Species (North East), Biodiversity Conservation and Science, Department of Planning and Environment

  • Dr Nakia Belmer

    Scientist - Estuaries and Catchments, Science Division, Department of Planning and Environment

  • Dean Kelly

    Yurruungga Aboriginal Corporation

  • Adrian Dickson

    Senior Scientist River Assessment – Estuaries and Catchments Science, Science, Economics and Insights, Department of Planning and Environment

  • Daniel Cain

    Senior Project Officer - Threatened Species, Biodiversity and Conservation, Department of Planning and Environment

  • Asheley Goodwill

    Senior Land Services Officer, Natural Asset Protection, North Coast Local Land Services

  • Celeste Lymn

    River and Biodiversity Officer, Bellingen Shire Council

  • Andrew Yager

    Project Manager, Bellinger Landcare

  • Justine Elder

    Elder Enviro

  • Shane Ruming

    Threatened Species Officer, Saving our Species, Department of Planning and Environment

  • Chris Ormond

    Threatened Species Officer, Saving our Species, Department of Planning and Environment

  • Sue Lennox

    Co-Founder, OzGREEN

  • John Schmidt

    Senior Coast and Estuary Officer, Biodiversity and Conservation Division

    Water, Floodplains & Coast (North East), Department of Planning and Environment

  • Ingrid Garland

    Apex Enviro Solutions, NSW Waterwatch

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