Ngoolark Rangers Winter 2019 Planting
Ngoolark Rangers showing strong growth
After a successful planting program in 2018 in partnership with Greening Australia in Katanning, Badgebup and Perenjori, a second round of planting work contracts was negotiated for 2019.
Greening Australia though the 20 million trees program requiring the planting of seedlings and saltbush on local Badgebup farms in the Great Southern.
This year's program saw the Ngoolark Rangers from Badgebup expand to include new recruits from Gnowangerup to join our ranks. Thanks to Robbie Miniter and the Gnowangerup Aboriginal Corporation, the new recruits joined BAC's Ngoolarrk Rangers in the planting program in July 2019 after the first major winter rains.
The team woke early each morning working hard and late as darkness fell. The support of cups of tea and refreshments from our local farmers helped keep spirits high as the teams worked though the cold and rain. With the technical support and training from Greening Australia upskilling the new recruits in planting, land management and conservation techniques, the program has been a great success in environmental, economic and social outcomes.
'Even some of the guys said that they can't believe how early they got up to get here, the feeling of achievement they get from working on the land and being able to earn money has an amazing effect on them." Julie Hayden. CO, BAC.
Badgebup Aboriginal Corporation and the Ngoolark Rangers are now in discussions to develop an MOU with Gnowangerup Aboriginal Corporation to undertake more work projects in 2020/21 across a range of conservation and land management projects.
Local Shires of Katanning, Kent and Gnowangerup have also commenced negotiations with BAC on potential works projects. Along with support from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservations and Attractions, it is hoped that a year-long works program of conservation and land projects can be developed for 2019/20 providing the rangers much needed regular employment while strengthening community and culture through the restoration of management of the land.
BAC has established this community enterprise with support from the Noongar Charitable Trust and SWALSC and are now a viable emerging community-based Ranger group in Noongar country.
