Young Aboriginal Rangers Meet to Discuss Feral Animals and Careers

By Caroline Horn

ABC South East SA

Topic: Indigenous Australians

Far west coast rangers photograph a little dunnart as part of their work.

In short:

The first South Australian Aboriginal Land and Sea Ranger Conference brought together over 200 rangers.

There are now 29 ranger groups in the state as part of the federal government's program.

What's next:

The rangers will continue to work on maintaining Country and fighting feral animals and plants.

Over 200 Aboriginal rangers from across South Australia came together, sharing laughter and good-natured teasing.

This meeting was an invaluable shared learning experience for those caring for Country.

The conference was held in Hahndorf, organised by the Alinytjara Wiluṟara Landscape Board and Daryle Clarke.

The conference brought together rangers from across the state to network and understand shared challenges.

Many young rangers have three years or more of formal recognition and experience.

Others are just starting out and will be joined by more newcomers after the federal government's announcement.

Shared challenges

There are 29 Indigenous ranger groups in South Australia, and the conference was a chance for them to network.

Kim Krebs is the general manager of the Alinytjara Wiluṟara Landscape Board.

The board covers over 250,000 square kilometres, including the APY lands and Maralinga Tjarutja.

Daryle Clarke and Kim Krebs attended the conference.

The area covered by the board is west of the Stuart Highway.

The first rangers to join the program are now inspiring others.

You can't be what you can't see, and that's what we're trying to create.

Rangers work with their communities to protect indigenous plants and animals.

They also care for environmentally and culturally important sites.

Sometimes they do this work with funding, and sometimes it comes from the heart.

Rangers have helped bring back the warru in areas it had disappeared from.

A ranger from the APY lands released a warru back onto Country.

Inspiring for the future

Brendan Kartinyeri is a role model in his community.

He's a ranger from Meningie, working for four years after completing a Certificate III.

Now employed by the Ngarrindjeri Lands and Progress Aboriginal Corporation, he follows in his father's footsteps.

Brendan Kartinyeri and Ashley Reid are Ngarrindjeri rangers working in the Coorong.

He feels lucky to live and work around the Coorong.

There's just something about it, it's special.

The young ranger wants to keep working to reduce the impact of European carp and other feral species.

You could walk in and see your feet, but I grew up with a muddy lake.

Feral impact

The impact of feral animals was a big talking point at the conference.

Jaru West, Clifford Weetra, and Cameron Clarke of the Yarluwar-Ruwe Rangers worked with Birdlife Australia.

They tried to protect the eggs of the vulnerable fairy tern from four-wheel drives on the beach.

But the work continues, every little effort helps.

Mr Clarke said rangers monitor shorebirds, turtles, and fish, and work with Flinders University.

Rangers from the APY lands attended the conference in the Adelaide Hills.

After exchanging knowledge, the rangers returned to Country to continue their work.

Stepping stone

Mr Clarke said the Indigenous ranger groups have a broader view of language and culture.

They are encouraged to complete TAFE training and gain qualifications.

Being a ranger might not be a career for everyone, but it can build opportunities.

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