27 June, 2025
The Murrunmala Dhawun Rangers, based at Coonabarabran LALC, were a small yet powerful presence at the inaugural Aboriginal Ranger Gathering at Trelawney Station at Somerton, outside Tamworth.
Just a tick over 12 months since their Ranger program started, Coonabarabran CEO Brandon Nixon explains how they are hopeful for more funding to put towards expanding their program to include a women and junior ranger team.
“Murrunmala Dhawun means giving life to Country in Gamilaraay language,’’ Brandon says. “It’s very important that we live not only on the land, but we live through the land so having this ranger program, that Coonabarabran has never had before, (is so important). “We’ve always relied on community involvement and volunteers so to have our Ranger Program up and running for the last 12 months has been pretty special and we’re definitely keen to continue and expand our Ranger Program.’’
Over the past 12 months Murrunmala Dhawun Rangers have been busy forging connections with Walaaybaa Rangers, from Tamworth LALC and South Coast LALCs, Bega and Batemans Bay. This included practical steps in how to prep for and experience cultural burns, welcomed experience and knowledge for burning on Gamilaraay Country.
Last month as part of the Protecting our Places (PoP) Grant through the NSW Government’s Environment Trust, the Murrunmala Dhawun Rangers met with ecologists on Gamilaraay Country at Burra Bee Dee conducting observations and analysis of plants and animals which will help guide their future land management practises.
Late last year Murrunmala Dhawun Rangers also spent time with Walaaybaa Rangers and Warddeken Land Management from Arnhem Land sharing land management practises and building cultural partnerships. Brandon and the Murrunmala Dhawun Rangers caught up with the Warddeken Land Management mob at Trelawney last week.
“We’re looking at building new connections, learning new technologies, learning what other Ranger groups do in their communities and the best way that we can manage land in traditional cultural ways, but also putting a modern spin on it,’’ Brandon says.
If you’re out on Gamilaraay Country, look out for Coonabarabran LALC and the Murrunmala Dhawun Rangers in their custom car wrap undertaken by Surf, Work & Street with artwork by Uncle Keith Hinton. The Artwork symbolises a meeting place where the Rangers will collaborate with Elders and Community about the work they will do. The larger circles represent all the traditional lands of the Gamilaraay People in the Coonabarabran Area. The special blue circle represents Forky Mountain.
Photo Credit – Brandon Nixon