Caring for Country is an almost boundless task.
And when that Country spans about 1.3 million hectares across much of Gippsland, there’s always something to do.
On Country Rangers for the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC) have travelled the length of breadth of Gunaikurnai Country over the past few months, undertaking a wide variety of tasks to heal and protect the land (Wurruk) and waters (Yarnda) that are so important to all of us.
That work has included repairing public infrastructure, pulling out invasive weeds, protecting threatened and endangered species, building new amenities in public parks, cleaning and maintaining camping and visitor areas, burn-reduction, controlling pest animal species, and developing a native oyster industry in the Gippsland Lakes.
And when a bushfire breaks out on Country, many of these same Aboriginal men and women from GLaWAC, equipped and trained in firefighting, join the fire response force that is Forest Fire Management Victoria.
Such a massive job needs many helping hands.
Almost all of the work happening across Country is a collaborative effort between GLaWAC and partner agencies including Parks Victoria, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), Victorian Fisheries Authority, and the East and West Gippsland Catchment Management Authorities, to name just a few.
Healing Country is a team effort.
GLaWAC, Parks Vic and DEECA jointly manage 14 parks and reserves across Country, including the iconic Mitchell River National Park and Alpine National Park, Buchan Caves Reserve, Tarra Bulga National Park and Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park.
This NAIDOC Week, you can celebrate the deep and ongoing connection of Gunaikurnai people to Country by visiting one of these parks, bringing with you a spirit of learning and respect.
Because caring for Country should be everyone’s culture.
To learn more about the work GLaWAC does every day to heal and protect Gunaikurnai Country, visit gunaikurnai.org
