David Doyle’s Wontanella specialises in native foods, local produce and sharing traditional stories about flora and fauna.
Story + Photos Andrew Hull
In western NSW, fresh water from the Darling/Baaka tumbling over the weirs and into the Menindee Lakes is a siren call for fishers, who join the pelicans and waterbirds taking advantage of the native fish following their noses upstream to the meet the rushing water. Nearby, in Kinchega National Park, David Doyle is preparing the fresh catch to cater for a function of visiting land carers and conservationists. His business, Wontanella, specialises in native foods, local produce, and sharing stories about the flora and fauna of the area, including its traditional uses.
“Wontanella actually means ‘many waters’,” David says, “and while it can be associated with any water source, it’s generally only used around the Menindee Lakes area. So, Menindee Lakes and the river and creeks are referred to around here as Wontanella in Barkindji language. We chose that name because we hope that, like the water that feeds in, we’re able to feed some of that back out into the community by employing locals and sharing knowledge.”
This story excerpt is from issue #162
Outback Magazine: Aug/Sep 2025
