Aboriginal Rangers from across New South Wales, the ACT and Northern Territory will converge near Tamworth in mid-June for the first-ever Ranger Gathering, hosted by Tamworth Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) and the Walaaybaa Rangers.
The inaugural event, which will be held at Trelawney Station, Somerton, from 16th to 20th June, has attracted overwhelming interest from across the country, with more than 145 Rangers set to attend.
Ms Fiona Snape, CEO of Tamworth LALC, said the team initially expected around 20 or 30 participants but were soon flooded with registrations.
“We’re overwhelmed by the interest,” she said. “We’re not aware of any other gatherings like this being held before, and it’s been incredible to see the demand.”
The week-long program will focus on sharing Aboriginal cultural knowledge and best-practice techniques in land and environmental management. It includes workshops and demonstrations in cultural burning, native grain processing, thermal imaging, drone technology, digital mapping, feral animal control and species monitoring.
“There’s a full day dedicated to cultural burning, and we’ve been preparing for that for quite some time,” Ms Snape said. “It’s a great example of how ancient practices are blending with modern technology.”
Participants will also have the chance to explore how technology is being used to enhance on-Country care, with sessions on data collection tools, environmental monitoring equipment and pest management innovations.
“There’s colleges involved too, showing how it all fits into the broader training and education picture,” Ms Snape said. “This is about capacity-building for the long term, not just for our Rangers but for all the communities they support.”
The Tamworth LALC only established its own Walaaybaa Ranger team in early 2023, but the group has already built a strong reputation through cultural exchanges with other Ranger teams, including one from the Northern Territory who will also attend the event.
Senior Walaaybaa Ranger Bareki Knox said the idea for the Gathering came from a desire to extend those rich learning opportunities to more teams across the State.
“We wanted to give other teams, especially those that are newer, a chance to experience the kind of knowledge sharing that has been so valuable for us,” he said. “We didn’t expect such a huge response, but it just shows how needed this kind of event is.”
The Gathering will also provide a platform for experienced Rangers to showcase their cultural knowledge and technical expertise, sharing the unique strategies and tools they use to care for Country.
“Our practice draws on the deep knowledge of Country that has been passed down by our ancestors and mixes that with best-practice science and technology to support our work,” Mr Knox said. “It’s a special field to be working in, and this event is about celebrating that.”
While the Walaaybaa Rangers are busy finalising preparations, Ms Snape said the Gathering is shaping up to be more than just a one-off event.
“This is about starting a legacy of connection, learning and leadership in land management, led by First Nations people. We’re really proud to be hosting it.”
For more information, contact Ms Snape on 0458 764 197.
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