Our Midwest Aboriginal Ranger Program team had recently held its final MARP Regional Meeting for the year. Hosted by our Western Mulga crew, it was a very eventful day.
Joined by our Kwelena Mambakort Aboriginal Corporation and DBCA teams, they all had the opportunity to show each other what great things their groups have been doing over the past year! We were pleased to have Elders representing regions across the Northern Agricultural Region giving their input and learning what our Ranger teams have been doing.
Western Mulga ranger Wayne Dekker showcased an amazing collection of Aboriginal tools and art such as Boomerangs, traditional shields, bowls, spears, and tapping sticks. Wayne then played the Didgeridoo and explained how his talent to play it took him to all kinds of different places and how it led to him being an Aboriginal Ranger.
‘Really great to see everyone and I’m looking forward to what the future holds with the Ranger program’ stated DBCA Ranger Thomas McPhee
We then travelled out to Ellendale Pool, where Naaguja Traditional Owner Derek Councillor gave us wonderful insight into the area’s significance to the old people. Derek also explained the dreaming story on how Ellendale Pool and other significant sites in the Geraldton-Greenough area were created.
After Ellendale Pool, we moved on to Gunnado Farm to look around, followed by a discussion led by Senior Conservation Planning Officer Dr. Amanda Bourne on Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program. She discussed the program’s aims, progress to date, emerging opportunities, the plans for implementation in the region, and how our Ranger teams can be involved in the program. Amanda then asked the group how their day-to-day activities in their respective organisations can be affected by drought. Collaboratively the group identified the impacts of drought in the Northern Agricultural Region and potential responses. To finish, everyone shared their highlight of the year; answers ranged from learning about culture to teaching others about culture and the MARP camp out at Milligan Island to gaining employment and keeping busy with work.
Amanda said, ‘It was such a great day; it was nice seeing everyone and talking about the Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program. My highlight of the day was seeing the group’s highlight of their year.’
It was an excellent year for our Midwest Aboriginal Ranger Program, it was great to see everyone, and we’re very pleased to see the progress the program is making and look forward to what the future holds for the MARP.
Taj Mamid – Midwest Aboriginal Ranger Program Administration Support Officer
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