By Joe Zhang, Social Work student
The Port Environment Centre ran a nocturnal torchlight tour as part of the River Night Walk on Friday 14th August 2026. As people gathered to discover the life usually hidden beneath the water, the Port River felt both familiar and new. The event created a chance to look more closely at a place that many people pass every day, and it also raised a different question: what does the Port River mean to the people who live, work and spend time around it?
As part of a social work placement, a small community project called the River Night Walk Interview explored this question with around 20 people attending the event. When participants were asked for one word they associated with the Port River, “dolphin” was the most common response. Others said “home”, “life”, “history”, “beautiful”, “wildlife” and “work”. When the conversation moved to personal connection, the answers became richer: “my backyard”, “peaceful”, paddling, dragon boating, leisure, work and exploring. One person said they felt lucky to live here, while another shared, “My dad grew up here and so did I.”
What these responses reveal is more than a list of things people enjoy about the river. They show how a place gradually becomes woven into everyday life. A river can be a workplace, a place to exercise, somewhere to meet friends, a childhood memory or part of a family story. Over time, these ordinary experiences can build a sense of belonging. The Port River may look like the same stretch of water to everyone, but its meaning is shaped by each person’s experiences, relationships and memories. This may explain why some attendees connected the river not only with recreation or wildlife, but with home and identity.
The connection to the Port River matters because our community wellbeing is inherent to the places where people build their lives. The interviews suggest that the Port River has social, emotional and practical importance to the community, along with environmental value. Protecting and caring for a place like the Port River therefore does not have to begin only with scientific knowledge or environmental campaigns. It can also begin by recognising what people already value: the dolphin they regularly see, the place where they paddle, the view that brings them peace, or the river that has been part of their family for generations. Listening to these stories gives community members a voice in describing what matters to them and helps reveal strengths and connections that may otherwise go unnoticed.
Another interview question asked whether people were aware of environmental issues affecting the Port River. Attendees mentioned pollution, rubbish dumping, microplastics, algal blooms, habitat loss, flooding and several other concerns. These responses suggest that environmental concern already exists within the community, although the depth of knowledge varies. When people begin to recognise the pressures facing a place they value and cherish, environmental issues can feel less distant and more personally relevant. Someone who sees the river as home, a place of recreation, part of their family history or simply somewhere that brings peace may be more likely to notice changes, talk about concerns, support local environmental activities, reduce behaviours that contribute to harm, or speak up for better protection of the river. There is strength of building on what is already meaningful to people. The interviews have identified the need for help to turn that existing connection into greater awareness, shared responsibility and collective action to protect a place that contributes to the wellbeing of the whole community.
The River Night Walk Interview was a small project, but perhaps that was its most important lesson: simple conversations can uncover much deeper relationships between people and place. The Port River is not only something that runs through the community. In many ways, it also runs through people’s memories, routines and sense of belonging. Events such as the River Night Walk create an opportunity to notice those connections again and to hear how differently the same place can be experienced. So, what is your relationship with the Port River?
