“We have to look after country. That way country look (sic) after us.”

“Country for me is like life. The way we look after country is by protecting our wildlife, such as Dugong …”

“My mum and dad was doing it before I was (sic). Now it’s my turn. Once I finish doing my work for the day, I go back feeling light hearted because I have actually done something to my country to protect it”

Jodie Evans, Li Anthawirryarra Ranger.

17 May 2018. Strong Women on Country Melbourne Launch. SBS News

“My mother’s grandmother’s country I work on. It makes me feel good working on my grandmother’s land.

“I love my job. I get to learn new things each and every day.

Nathalia Dixon, Li Anthawirryarra Ranger.

17 May 2018. Strong Women on Country Melbourne Launch. SBS News

“We’ve built a lot of strength doing the things we’ve never thought we were capable of and it empowers us to keep going and try harder and learn more.

“The women out there, we’ve just got such a bond. We’ve become more like family. These women, some of them have never worked a steady, even part-time, job before and to see that change from them wanting to work more and more.

Justine Dillon Ngarang-Wal Gold Coast Aboriginal Association Incorporated (Guanaba) Indigenous Protected Area Coordinator.

17 May 2018. Strong Women on Country Melbourne Launch. SBS News

“I’ve become healthy, and I’ve become and knowledgeable person of culture and lore but also I’ve learnt about biodiversity and science.”

“The other ranger programs that I know of, in the Northern Territory and Western Australia or in Cape York, they’re pretty strong and I think it’s a big missed opportunity in South Australia. Working on Country programs in South Australia, just have a look at them and what they’re achieved. Let’s all get this right for the future”

Mick Starkey. Former Ranger.

15 January 2018. SA Indigenous Ranger Election Push. ABC News.

“This is important work, it keeps our culture alive, and we look after all our animals,

"All the Elders; they looked after them in the past and it's good to continue on that work they did a couple of hundreds of years ago looking after the land for our future generations."

Daniel Gomes, Minyuma IPA.

15 May 2017, ABC News

“People need country and country need people. You know, cause country look after us and we look after country.

“It’s like a fertiliser, we burn this country so that it comes back really good.

Terrah Guymala. Warddeken Land Management Senior Ranger.

30 November 2016. The Project.

“It’s a lot of work, non-stop. You know people may think we’re just sitting down and happily doing our work but no. We’re on top of it. If you leave the country un-burnt for 10 years someone will come and throw matches and that’s it.

“We want our children to learn both ways. To learn out traditional knowledge and culture, plus we want them to learn about a western kind of education as well.

Dean Yibarbuk. Warddeken Land Management Senior Ranger.

30 November 2016. The Project.

"I remember at one of the first ranger forums we went to, I was the only woman there,"

"Now we're almost half-half with the men. It's not just the ranger program that's been growing, but our women and our communities too."

Jess Bangu, Karajarri Senior Ranger,

KLC. 2 November 2016, WA Today

“This mob, I can see the old fellas they’ve got their young fellas with them and they know the countryside. I want to teach them properly, teach them youngest ones.”

Patrick Reid, Ngaanyatjarra Council

3 October 2016 Guardian Australia: Custodians rain fire from the sky to care for country 

“We have worked really hard to set up our Indigenous protected area and ranger groups but there’s more to do,” she said.

“Our rangers are maintaining the land, managing threats, spraying weeds, eradicating crazy ants, rescuing turtles, clearing ghost nets and this kind of funding boost could help us get the extra equipment we need to get those jobs done.”

Rarrtjiwuy Melanie Herdman. Chair of Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation.

The Guardian Australia. 19 July 2016

“It’s so critical that we continue to protect (country) and keep it strong.

“it provides a whole heap of opportunities for ‘em. Not only getting out on their country and making them feel healthy and strong but like they are contributing to the economy and feel like they are contributing to their family.

“it also creates a bunch of little niece jobs that fit in behind a ranger job.

Scott Gorringe. Mithaka Traditional Owner.

16 April 2016. The Point, NITV

I'm a ranger for life. This is my favourite job and I always work hard to protect our country and help my community.

Fabian Gaykamangu, ranger,

Crocodile Islands, Sydney Morning Herald

“They say when I got up I want to be a ranger. I want to look after country”

The young ones are looking at the ranger program, they're saying yeah, I want to be there, I want to be like that, when I grow up I want to be a ranger and look after my country

Dean Yibarbuk. Warddeken Land Management Senior Ranger.

8 April 2016. ABC News

“People on the ground are really active in providing a safeguard on the ground: looking after land, ferals, disease… the community rangers are the eyes and ears.

Dean Yibarbuk. Warddeken Land Management Senior Ranger.

The Guardian Australia. 22 July 2016.

“It’s about doing something for yourself and for the future generations. And it’s something that’s been passed on from generation to generation”

“Being a ranger is the best thing you can ever be. This is my dream job. I’ll never give up a ranger job for another job. You can chuck a million dollars at me. I don’t want that. Because my land is more precious to me than anything else”  

"A lot of the times I feel sad that my children aren't seeing the stuff that we have been seeing, that I saw as a child,"

Barbara Petrick, Arltarpilta Inelye Ranger Rangers – CLC, 26 May 2016, ABC News

“It’s really important for us to work out in the country. And it’s good to stay out in the country and to look after the country."

Horace Wikmunea, AAK Puul Ngantam Rangers,

26 May 2016. ABC News

"Me and my fellow colleagues from across all the ranger programs in Australia, we’re here together united to lobby and convince all the power brokers in Parliament that this is a program worth investing in and growing on the current investment."

Ned David, chair Gur A Baradharaw Kod the Torres Strait land and Sea Council.

16 March 2016. ABC News

"IPA is good for my people, the young people. All they're doing is just hanging around in the houses; you know, community all the time, every day. A bit boring: nothing to do, no jobs, no anything. We want it to go forward, make it better for my children."

Bobby West, Kiwirrkurra IPA.

30 September 2014. ABC News

“You’ll see it’s a very good thing for the benefit of my people and all the visitors to come here,” he said. “We are generous to bring people here, but they must do the right thing. What we require is that they must come through the right channel because the whole area is like our backyard.”

“On top of getting a better grip of what’s happening out on country … you’ve got the social side of things, including more jobs being created on country,” he said.

Djami Marika, Dhimurru.

November 2015. The Guardian Australia

Bardi Jawi Ranger Phillip (Bibido) McCarthy, Bardi Jawi Indigenous Protected Area coordinator Daniel Oades, Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation chair Melanie Herdman, Dhimurru Ranger Thomas Amagula, CLC Ranger Coordinator Benji Kenny, Ngadju senior traditional owner Les Schultz, Olkola senior traditional owner Michael Ross.

Launch of the Working for Our Country report.

November 2015. Parliament House, Canberra

Ngadju senior traditional owner, Les Schultz, Birriliburu IPA and Gingirana Ranger Hayley Atkins, Birriliburu IPA and Matuwa Kurrarra Kurrarra Ranger Lena Long, Spinifex Ranger Ethan Hansen, Olkola CEO Debbie Symonds and Operations Manager Tish Ross, Gur A Baradharaw Kod Torres Strait chair Ned David, Nantawarrina Rangers Ian Johnson and Sophia Wilton, Laynhapuy Ranger Mungurrapin Maymuru.

Launch of the Protecting Nature for All of Us report. March 2017.

Parliament House, Canberra

Nyaparu Rose, Nyangumarta Warrarn CEO
Matthew West, Kiwirrkurra IPA Ranger
Robbie Wongawol, Birriliburu IPA Ranger

Outback Forum,
Parliament House, Canberra. March 2016

"The work of women on country makes us all stronger, and through growing Indigenous ranger jobs and Indigenous Protected Areas and securing them for the long term, we are making an investment in nature, culture and community that we can all be proud of."

Pat Anderson AO, Alyawarre woman and Lowitja Institute and Referendum Council Chair

Sydney Launch of the Strong Women on Country Report. 17 August 2018.

National Centre for Indigenous Excellence, Sydney

“To take care of our country. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world because I love my country and that’s why I’m a ranger."

Karen Liddy,  Yintjingga Aboriginal Corporation Lama Lama Land Trust Chair and Ranger

Sydney Launch of the Strong Women on Country Report. 17 August 2018.

National Centre for Indigenous Excellence, Sydney

“Women on country means so much more than just jobs. It’s about building communities, it's about strengthening families, it’s about bringing a sense of pride and a sense of worth back to disillusioned groups.”

Debbie Symonds, CEO of the Olkola Aboriginal Corporation

Sydney Launch of the Strong Women on Country Report. 17 August 2018.

National Centre for Indigenous Excellence, Sydney

“This occasion today has been a fantastic initiative in [not only] acknowledging Indigenous women’s participation but our rights and what we can achieve when we are supported to do the work that we do on country.” 

June Oscar AO, Bunuba woman and Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. 

Sydney Launch of the Strong Women on Country Report. 17 August 2018.

National Centre for Indigenous Excellence, Sydney

"It’s not policy or politics, it is culture, it’s existence, it’s who we are now and into the future."

Albert Wiggan, Nyul Nyul Ranger

Celebration of 20 Years of Indigenous Protected Areas. 3 December 2018.

Parliament House, Canberra

“As rangers, we play an important role, walking in two worlds, and building bridges between them.” 

Devena Cox, Nyul Nyul Ranger

Letter to Country Needs People supporters. 26 November 2018.

 “I think the ranger program is really important for my people and our future generations.”

Zynal Cox, Nyul Nyul Ranger

Letter to Country Needs People supporters. 26 November 2018.

“The land is our songline, that’s our mother, they brought us into this world – the land, our country – and it’s important for others to know that IPA is important for every Yolgnu. We want IPA and we want to be recognised and respected.”

Velda Winunguj, Dhimurru Board Member and Ranger

Celebration of 20 Years of Indigenous Protected Areas. 3 December 2018. Guardian Australia.

Parliament House, Canberra

“[Australians] should work more closely with rangers around Australia to learn about what they need to help them, to train them and what elders want to see to do the same thing the Yolgnu have seen.”

Gathapura Mununggurr, Senior Dhimurru Ranger

Celebration of 20 Years of Indigenous Protected Areas. 3 December 2018. Guardian Australia.

Parliament House, Canberra

“This is an actual workplace. These are real jobs which give people access to cars, laptops, boats, training and skills.”

Gavin Bassani, chair of Yintjingga Aboriginal Corporation

20 December 2018.  The Guardian.

“My motto is if you look after country, country will look after you”

Anneleise Baird, Lama Lama Ranger 

20 December 2018. The Guardian. 

“For old people and the Nyangumarta people country is like medication… It gives you a bit of a boost, you feel healthy on country,” she told NITV News.

“A lot of our young people are juveniles, they go to prison, and that (the ranger programs) will keep them away from prison.”  

“That is where our heart is on our land, that’s why we have to protect it and take care of it – because country is always calling.”

Nyaparu Margaret Rose, CEO of the Nyangumarta Warrarn Aboriginal Corporation.

5 December 2018. NITV News Online.