When environmental scientist Tony Sharley opened a Fund with Australian Communities Foundation (ACF), he had a mission in mind: restore a vital part of Australia’s natural heritage.
As a self-proclaimed “river boy” who’s spent many summers by the Murray River in the South Australian town of Renmark, Tony has always wanted to “help people understand the magic” of the Murray.
After decades working in river and wetland management – from the Murray-Darling Basin to Kakadu National Park – he created Murray River Trails, an eco-tourism business offering guided walks and boat trips through the beautiful Riverland region he calls home.
“I’m very familiar with issues that arise in river systems in Australia – whether they’re conservation issues around protecting habitat or vulnerable species or political issues,” Tony says, “I’ve got a good understanding of how the Murray works; an ecological lens helps you see what’s missing.”
One native species that’s sadly missing is the Murray cod, Australia’s largest freshwater fish. Once plentiful, cod populations have plummeted due to habitat loss, with just 16 per cent of their natural levels estimated to be left in South Australia.
For Tony, who “always wanted to do something meaningful for the River,” the vulnerable cod population was enough to spur him to take action.
It was a chance meeting with an ACF staff member that inspired Tony to open a Fund to begin his conservation mission.
“All the barriers I had seen with developing a foundation – having to be personally responsible for the highest level of governance, strong legal support, administration and financial transparency – simply disappeared.
“I’m looking at us as a small business and going, ‘I wouldn’t have time to manage our main business’, because I’d want to do it well… ACF made it all possible.”
All the barriers I had seen with developing a foundation simply disappeared… ACF made it possible
Starting out as a Gumnut Account, the Murray River Trails Fund matured into a Corporate Fund in 2024, and has been supporting a unique conservation initiative ever since: fish hotels.
The fish hotels mimic the natural red gum logs that were once abundant in the Murray River. Millions of fallen logs were removed in the steamboat era, stripping the river of its natural underwater habitat.
Inspired by one of his guides, Kym – an avid recreational fisherman who had helped build similar structures downstream – Tony and Kym designed large, pyramid-shaped fish hotels made from red gum logs and concrete pipes for the cod to breed in.
Each hotel is 2.6 square metres at its base, costs around $7,000 to build and install, with the goal of placing 10 in the River by mid-2026. And thanks to a successful donor pitch, the Murray River Trails Fund has already raised $38,000 – mostly from past guests.
“Having ACF behind us gave our pitch credibility,” Tony says. “When you ask people for money, they want to know it’s going somewhere responsible. ACF’s governance and responsiveness have been outstanding. The communication has been fantastic. We’ve never felt like we were on our own.”
ACF CEO Andrew Binns says the Murray River Trails Fund provides a great example of how Fundholders can scale impact: “One of the biggest advantages of a donor-advised fund is flexibility. You can start small and expand as your ambitions grow.”
“Murray River’s story is also a great reminder of how effective personal connections can be. Your own community can be a powerful source of support – and when you’re asking for contributions, governance often matters.”
If we can be a catalyst for government and community projects, that’s a legacy worth leaving
Looking ahead, Tony hopes the fish hotels will not only support cod populations, but also inspire broader action.
“We will never fully restore the population on our own, but if we can be a catalyst for government and community projects, that’s a legacy worth leaving.”
With the support of ACF and a growing community of donors, that legacy is already taking shape.
Learn more and get involved
- Help protect the Murray River by supporting the Murray River Trails Fund
- Interested in giving through a Gumnut or Corporate Giving Fund? Start the conversation
Main image credit: Murray River Trails.
