Oceania Ranger Forum 2022

22/10/2022

Okay, so this will be the last post before moving back to the CORA Facebook post. Re COVID...

Unfortunately, there was always the threat of COVID rearing it's head at a major event such as our Forum.

While we aren't obligated to do anything anymore as far as contact tracing etc, we wanted to make our delegates aware (out of courtesy) that someone has reported a case already...there could be more to come.

So please be mindful when returning to your communities and families, and test (and wear masks) if any symptoms.

Take care ❤️

21/10/2022

Hi everyone, this will be our last post... Please connect with us on our CORA page, where we will create an Oceania Ranger Forum 2022 album for everyone to share their photos.

This week has been amazing, and for those of you who attended, I hope you are thrilled that you were part of something very special!

I hope you agree that this Forum was one of the best! The success was testament to the efforts of a small team of dedicated rangers. Thankyou Andy Davies, Eric Teirney, Rodney Chambers, Tegan Dalman, Kit Howden, Darren Van Hoof, Bill Wheeler and Jen Pitman and Lucy Gibson (who were unable to join us).

This past week has been the reward for our efforts - a mix of rangers from Oceania (New Zealand, Australia, Samoa, Solomon Islands and representatives of Papua New Guinea) coming to discuss common issues, and cross pollinate ideas, challenges and solutions to better take on our roles ensuring the protection of our precious cultural and natural values, and special places within this amazing part of the world.

Thankyou for being such a wonderful crowd to hang out with for the week, apologies to the dodgy MCing and safe travels home.

See you soon!!

19/10/2022

The IRF's regional body Council of Oceania Ranger Associations (CORA) is currently hosting the inaugural Oceania Ranger Forum in Rotorua Aotearoa/ New Zealand.

The Oceania Ranger Forum has brought together over 180 rangers from Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, Solomon Islands and the USA to collaborate on the theme of inclusive conservation.

The first of its kind, this Forum was developed to encourage rangers to cross pollinate and develop relationships with a view to growing ranger associations in the Oceania region.

With the support of our partners, including the International Ranger Federation, The Thin Green Line Foundation, Universal Ranger Support Alliance, Fireground/ EMERG, Department of Conservation (NZ) and many others, we have supported delegates to engage in Māori culture, network with like-minded people, experience inclusive conservation and inspire a range of personal and professional development opportunities and friendships.

With field trips today, this Oceania Ranger Forum has been a truly inspiring, informative and memorable occassion for all.

18/10/2022

The very first Oceania Ranger Forum official photo!

13/10/2022

Sandi K-Zarka has a bed in a Shared room available at local backpackers - $145 for four nights total, bunk bed - family room with only two people max. Prefer female. Please leave name in comments below and Sandie will contact you. Dates Monday 17th - 21st

08/10/2022

Not long now people! 10 days to go...who's getting excited?

Don't forget to pack anything you have that could be included in our auction - raising funds for our Oceania family who might need it.

06/10/2022

Please support Amanda as she continues to help support rangers to attend the Oceania Ranger Forum

30/09/2022

Something wonderful for a Friday! A long-awaited reveal of the Oceania Ranger Forum agenda :)

Da dah!!! Who's excited now?

29/09/2022

We're getting close!! With only a bit over two weeks to go, delegates are fine tuning their travel plans.

Many Aussies are flying in too Auckland and looking for lifts to Rotorua. If you have a spare seat and don't mind making a new friend, feel free to comment below and let anyone know of your situation?

I'm aware of two people needing a lift from Auckland to Rotorua on Monday afternoon (arriving from Australia at 2.35pm) and returning to Auckland the following Sunday. Can anyone help?

18/09/2022

Who wants their photo on the front cover?

We are looking for a spectacular photo that depicts our Oceania Ranger Forum theme 'inclusive conservation'.

Show me what you got? Special gift for the photographer of the photo we select for the cover. I need as soon as possible please...either post in comments or PM me.

17/09/2022

Five things you need to know before travelling to New Zealand:

1. You no longer need to be vaccinated to enter New Zealand. This applies to all travellers. Please check with your airline as they may still require proof of vaccination.

2. You do not need to take any COVID-19 tests or self-isolate when you arrive. However, you will get free rapid antigen tests (RATs) at the airport. We encourage you to test on the day you arrive and on day 5/6.

3. Check your passport and apply for a visa if you need one

If you are not a New Zealand or Australian citizen, you may need to apply for a visa or a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) to enter New Zealand. Check if you need a visitor visa or NZeTA here: https://www.govt.nz/browse/immigration-and-visas/visitor-visas-and-the-nzeta/check-if-you-need-a-visitor-visa-or-an-nzeta/

4. Complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration

Anyone flying to New Zealand must complete a NZTD here: https://www.travellerdeclaration.govt.nz/

You do not need to complete one if you are transiting through New Zealand.

5. We strongly encourage you to get travel insurance

Before you buy travel insurance, we recommend you check what cover it provides for COVID-19-related events, including medical treatment, the cost of changing flights or paying for accommodation if you need to isolate.

You can find more information about preparing to travel to, or transiting through New Zealand here: https://covid19.govt.nz/international-travel/travel-to-new-zealand-by-air/preparing-to-travel-to-new-zealand/

11/09/2022

Urgent call for assistance!

So I don't have to steal anything of the internet...would anyone have some beautiful photos of Rotorua that I could use for our Forum program?

Also any photos that support our 'inclusive conservation' theme would be appreciated.

And I need them as soon as possible please :) Please email [email protected] with who is to be credited.

Thankyou :)

09/09/2022

Kia ora, important notice...

Anyone who has purchased or been nominated to attend the Oceania Ranger Forum, should have received an email last night from the organising committee.

Important information is needed such as clarifying your attendance, dietary requirements and field trip options. If you haven't received an email and believe you should have, please email [email protected] asap. Some of the field trip options numbers are limited.

Happy planning your trip to Rotorua :)

02/09/2022

Ka hoki nei au ki Te Mānukatūtahi, kūreitanga rā o Mataatua, ki taku kuia ki a Wairaka, whakahau ake nei, kia whakatāne au i ahau.
Ko Ngāti Hokopū te hapū. Ko Te Whare o Toroa te marae. Ko Ngāti Awa te iwi. Ko Merenia taku ingoa.

Merenia has a Bachelor of Arts in Development Studies and Media Studies from Victoria University of Wellington, and a Bachelor of Te Reo Māori from Te Wānanga o Raukawa.

Merenia attended the United Nations Permenant Forum on Indigenous Issues as a youth delegate in 2018. Since then, she has returned home with her young whānau to Whakatāne as a Communications and Engagement Advisor for Korehāhā Whakahau and to further serve Iwi and hapū-led aspirations.

Becoming a māmā to Te Haeata (3) and Te Rangitūmai (6 marama) has been a powerful driver in wanting to address the structural, relational, and everyday disconnect between ourselves, each other and our environments.

Merenia's presentations is called: Remembering people and place
Moving beyond conservation towards reconciliation. Real-life examples of indigenous-led initiatives that offer a beacon for meaningful environmental justice.

We look forward to meeting you Merenia :)

02/09/2022

WE ARE FULLY BOOKED!!

We are pleased to announce we have reached our full capacity for the Oceania Ranger Forum! :)

If you have missed out, you may send us your details to [email protected] to be put on a list in case anyone cancels. But no promises...

We look forward to seeing the 180 Oceania delegates in October.

31/08/2022

Please meet another one of our DOC champions presenting at the Oceania Ranger Forum - Chelsea Brown-Gurnick. Her presentation is about what kaitiakitanga (guardianship) is in all its mana (power).

Born and raised in Te Hapua, Chelsea is a proud descendant of Ngāti Kuri and uri of Te Ngaki. With strong connections to these lands that predate the great waka migration of 750, Chelsea is devoted to the protection of her lands, people and all living things that inhabit her home.

Chelsea is a founding member of 4th Gen and her reason for doing the mahi (work) that she does - is to restore what is lost and to protect what we have in our rohe. She knows that her purpose in life is to live, breath and work for home and she hopes that she will be able to do this all from Te Hapua soon.

The establishment of 4th Gen has enabled her to execute her aspirations for her people and whanua (family). Chelsea is conscious that she walks on the shoulders of her tupuna and is continuing their mahi. She is the connection that 4th Gen is a part of the haukainga of Te Hapua and ensuring that she is bringing her people with her.

We are really looking forward to meeting you Chelsea :)

30/08/2022

Tena koutou katoa...(greetings to you all).

My name is Kohu Kohiti and I work for the Department of Conservation as a Heritage and Visitor Ranger. As a ranger in this field of work, allows me to protect my Maori heritage culture and show it to all visitors from all walks of life to experience.

I started my journey with the Department in 2009 and now I work in the rohe (area) I grew up in which is my birth place. Maori heritage culture is very important and it’s important to recognise the history or have an understanding as workers when we are out on water or on land. My presentation is going to be around cultural safety in workplace.

We look forward to meeting Kohu :)

Only 12 tickets left people!!

27/08/2022

Here's our next speaker for the Oceania Ranger Forum - Jade King-Hazel.

Jade is the Director Operations - Eastern North Island (ENI), within Te Papa Atawhai (Department of Conservation - DOC). She was previously the Operations Manager - WWO (Whakatane, Whirinaki, Opotiki), leading a team of 30 across a district spanning from East Cape to Ōtamarākau and south to Whirinake – Te Pua a Tane Forest Park. Raukūmara Pae Maunga restoration project falls within her Director region and is one of the biggest Jobs For Nature projects.

Jade was one of the first cadets to join a scheme which had the ambition of training them in the full range of Te Papa Atawhai work with a view to having them eventually take up conservation leadership roles in their own iwi (tribe). In this case, that is Ngāti Awa and Jade was nominated to the cadet scheme with the full backing of the iwi. At the time she started her cadetship in Whakatane in 2008, the district was managed by the very experienced John Sutton. Her years as a cadet was the catalyst for her passion for the environment and in particular the whenua.

Once Jade graduated from her cadetship she moved into a Ranger position and gained more experience and met the many faces of Te Papa Atawhai. Her time as a cadet, ranger and Operations Manager meant that she was able to relate to all roles and responsibilities. She has a unique lens that most Director’s would not have because she has been in the trenches and has gained the experience and knowledge from those positions.

When asked about leadership style Jade refers to the leadership model of an older generation close to home demonstrating leadership through actions. Among those, she singles out her grandmother Sharon Tutua along with former Te Rūnanga O Ngāti Awa Chairman Joe Mason , Te Tapatoru a Toi Chairman Te Kei Merito and former Te Rūnanga O Ngāti Awa CEO Leonie Simpson. She also refers to the senior leadership within Te Papa Atawhai including her predecessor, John Sutton.

We look forward to meeting Jade in October :)

26/08/2022

Only 20 tickets left people! Don't miss out :)

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/oceania-ranger-forum-2022-tickets-267919122307?fbclid=IwAR1jzH73voRKD9mQJXUMHIjcE_rM0LzExVSZaVqknZp6-oS3SoWX0hc4eWU

The Oceania Ranger Forum 2022 will bring Oceania rangers together to network and share professional experiences.

24/08/2022

G’day Ranger Gang, I’m a Ranger from the North Coast of NSW in Australia. I’ve been a Ranger since 2014 starting as a graduate Ranger with National Parks in South Australia, where I worked for over 5 years, before doing a short stint in central Australia for National Parks NT then landing my dream gig with NPWS NSW.

Inspired by the colleagues I’ve worked with, and Sean Willmore’s original adventure to film the Thin Green Line Documentary, I have kicked off my own expedition to showcase our amazing region here in Oceania and the wonderful protected area workers who look after it.

I’m taking a year off work unpaid to travel solo around Oceania in order to meet and film Oceania Rangers sharing their stories in the amazing places you manage. It is a journey to discover, connect and empower the Rangers of Oceania with the aim to be the catalyst that initiates meaningful change for Oceania Rangers, your communities and the natural and cultural heritage you protect.

During the next 12 months to World Ranger Day 2023, I will cross three oceans, visit eight nations and travel over 30,000 km. One thousand five hundred of those kilometres will be hiked (yes…my feet are already hurting just thinking about the total distance!), with each kilometre representing a Ranger on the 2023 IRF Honour Roll to raise awareness for fallen Rangers.

I will be speaking with schools along the way, sharing the journey on social media (..trust me, not my forte!) and raising funds for a special Oceania Fund within the Thin Green Line Foundation that will specifically support Ranger-led initiatives and opportunities in our very own Oceania region.

I can’t wait to meet you all at the Forum and share with you my journey so far, the characters I’ve met, the great stories they’ve shared and how you can get involved and help with the expedition or even the subsequent documentary.

You can find out more at:

Website: https://www.walkingthethingreenline.com

Instagram:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/walkingthethingreenline

17/08/2022

VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE!

If you are still sitting on the fence about whether to come to the Oceania Ranger Forum you need to decide quick! We only have 37 tickets left, and we happen to know that Auckland and Wellington Councils are about to swallow a big chunk of them!!

Please get in quick if you don't want to miss out :)
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/oceania-ranger-forum-2022-tickets-267919122307

17/08/2022

Meet Jarrod, Colin and Jamie (Bruv)) building relationships and forming partnerships through having their voices heard...

Jarrod Edwards has been involved in land and heritage management for 23 years. Currently employed as Working on Country Coordinator for the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service, he is also studying a Bachelor of Natural Environment and Wilderness Studies at UTAS and hoping to work in the Marine Management space when he completes his degree. Sea Country is his passion.

Jarrod is passionate about creating opportunities for Aboriginal people and believes that through partnerships and collaboration, Aboriginal people will finally re-find their voices when it comes to speaking for and caring for Country.

A passionate educator, he enjoys talking to people about Country and about why Country matters to everyone irrespective of ethnicity, nationality or geography.

With three decades of experience in Tasmanian Aboriginal heritage management and assessment Colin Hughes is one of the leaders in his field.

Colin qualified as an Aboriginal Heritage Officer in 1991, he has been the Senior Aboriginal Heritage Officer and manager of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Land and Sea Council, a Senior Aboriginal Heritage Officer in Aboriginal Heritage Tasmania and was an independent consultant for many years.

He was a Truwunna Ranger on his island home in the Bass Strait – Cape Barren Island and has an extensive knowledge of Tasmanian Aboriginal history and heritage. Is experienced in identification, analysis, protection, and interpretation of Aboriginal heritage ,
has experience in Aboriginal fire practices, has a commitment to sharing knowledge and skills and passionate and determined approach to learning and challenges.

He has a strong ability to create rapport with a wide range of stakeholders. Is trained in osteological identification, was one of three Aboriginal wardens under the Aboriginal Relics Act 1975, a mutton birder, a proud father of two daughters and a passionate Carlton (AFL) supporter.

Jamie Langdon has been involved in Cultural and Management and protection for most of his working life.

Working for the Tasmanian Aboriginal Land and Sea Council and the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre working on land that has been handed back to our people for several years, prior to working for the Parks and Wildlife.

Currently a Working on Country Aboriginal Ranger for Parks and Wildlife, he has been in this position for 5 years. During this time he has done a secondment to Aboriginal Heritage Tasmania where he was a part of the Cultural Management group focused on recording, monitoring and preserving culturally significant sites and landscapes alongside Heritage Officers and archaeologists within the Tasmanian World Heritage Area.

During his time with Parks and Wildlife Tasmania he has represented his people and the department in Nepal at the World Ranger Congress in 2019 also at the ANZOG Conference in Melbourne that same year.

His passion is working on my country and preserving and protecting my peoples Cultural Heritage and country left for me by my old people.

Title: From conflict to collaboration in caring for our Country – building relationships and forming partnerships through having our voices heard.

Summary: Our talk will focus on our collective efforts to have our voices heard as Aboriginal people in speaking for our Country. Over the last few years we decided to try doing things a different way when it came to the management of our Country and our values.

We believed that the only way we could effectively change the dialogue around how Country is being managed was to honestly and collectively recognise that within a shared landscape competing interests impact how Country is managed and how these competing interests or ideologies impact us all and our Country.

Through the Healthy Country Planning framework we hope that we can embed a more holistic view of what Country is and how as Aboriginal people we view all aspects of Country as being related including us as people and our relationship to Country.

Partnerships and collaborative conservation opportunities are something that benefit everyone and through honesty and meaningful engagement we hope to build a shared stewardship of lutruwita/Tasmania that will benefit generations.

We look forward to see you in Aotearoa.

14/08/2022

Our next two presenters have a wealth of experience and are going to utilise it to showcase how we need to be emotionally healthy rangers.

Let me introduce Peter Cleary and Gayle Hardie...

Gayle Hardy has held significant roles in both the public and private sector focusing on organisational development and change and strengthening community leadership. Gayle has worked with both the IRF and TGLF since 2015 to assist and improve rangers!

Peter Cleary has worked as a field ranger at the Phillip Island Nature Parks in Victoria, Australia for the past 28 years. His duties include wildlife care and rehabilitation, habitat protection, pest animal control, enforcement and visitor management and engagement.

Pete has also worked in Kakadu National Park where he broadened his understanding of cultural heritage management. During his career, Pete has also served as President of the Victorian Rangers Association and as the Oceania Rep on the International Rangers Federation.

Their presentation: Becoming a More Emotionally Healthy Ranger

Purpose: To understand why being emotionally healthy is so important in our role as Rangers.

Outcomes: Recognition of our own strengths and emotional health levels and their impact on others; application of tools and techniques to be more effective and emotionally healthy as a Ranger.

13/08/2022

The Oceania Ranger Forum wouldn't be happening if it wasn't for the support of our friends at The Thin Green Line Foundation (TGLF)!

We love what they do for rangers and their families, and we are pleased that Jennifer Mann will be representing TGLF and presenting on their support programs for Rangers around the world.

So let me introduce our next speaker from TGLF - Jennifer Mann :)

Before joining TGLF, Jennifer worked as a Ranger in her home country of Scotland. Her work was predominantly focussed on the protection of breeding raptors and monitoring nest success. Jennifer also managed a successful environmental education program, focussed on the recent reintroduction of Beavers to Scotland. Upon relocating to Australia, Jennifer landed a role with Parks Victoria in the Dandenong Ranges, Victoria, where she tried her best to learn some Aussie slang and get used to the warm weather!

Now working as the Programs Coordinator with The Thin Green Line Foundation, Jennifer manages the Foundation’s grant-giving operations, ensuring all projects are focussed on delivering tangible and positive impacts for Rangers. Jennifer is excited to embark on her first trip to New Zealand for the Oceania Forum to meet more of Oceania’s Rangers and present on TGLF’s growing body of work with Indigenous Rangers in Australia.

Thin Green Line Foundation are here to help Rangers. If you and your colleagues would like to support our work, or if you need some extra support yourselves, we will be happy to chat with you at the Oceania Congress. See you then!

For tickets/registration to the Oceania Ranger Forum go to:
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/oceania-ranger-forum-2022-tickets-267919122307

04/08/2022

MASSIVE DRUM ROLL PLEASE...For Jim and Jean Thomas presenting on the Tenkile Conservation Alliance and the amazing work this award-winning pair have done with 42 communities in Papua New Guinea, and still do, with the development of an online portal/app called 'Mother Nature'...

We are extremely lucky to have this highly-regarded pair present at our Forum...

About Tenkile Conservation Alliance (TCA)
The Tenkile Conservation Alliance (TCA) is a not-for-profit organisation in Papua New Guinea and registered charity in Australia. Our vision is the people of PNG and their places are respected, valued, protected and enhanced in the context of their
overall well-being; including their natural resources, habitats, ecosystems, communities, cultures and local economies. The Tenkile is a critically endangered tree kangaroo found only in the Torricelli Mountain Ranges of northern PNG. TCA works directly with the 42 village communities who own the Torricelli Mountain range which is home to 50% of PNG’s bird species, 65% of PNG’s frog and reptile species and 40% of PNG’s mammals species. The movie ‘Into the Jungle’ was produced to document the work being led by the Thomas family who have made the organisation
the success that it is today.
https://tenkile.com/

About Jim Thomas – Chief Executive Officer for TCA
Jim is a zoologist and a conservationist who is devoted to protecting the Torricelli Mountain Range in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Jim has been managing the Tenkile Conservation Alliance (TCA) for 20 years. His work in PNG has seen the organisation grow and develop, bringing a holistic approach to conservation and
development. He has successfully implemented projects valued over $US8 million, which has built a reputation for TCA as the best conservation-based organisation in PNG. Jim is a strong networker bringing Professor Tim Flannery and Dr Jane Goodall to the organisation as patrons.

Jim is a La Trobe University Distinguished Alumni Award winner (2012), was awarded the Australian Geographic Conservationist of the year award in 2013 with his wife Jean, received the Prince Albert II of Monaco Award for Biodiversity on behalf of the TCA in 2018 and was awarded the prestigious Logohu Medal from the
PNG Governor General in 2019. He has published many works on biodiversity,conservation and protected areas and has also written policy for the PNG Government. Jim is a member of three commissions of the IUCN and IUCN’s Primary Forest Task Team.

Jim now works from Australia where he coordinates programs with his staff in PNG via the internet and TCA’s online portal. Jim is helping to build the portal and phone applications for TCA, which is being used by its’ staff and stakeholders.

About Jean Thomas – Chief Operating Officer for TCA
Jean began her career with animals by breeding laboratory mice for medical research and then moved into the zoo industry working with native fauna before relocating to Papua New Guinea to work for the Tenkile Conservation Alliance nearly 20 years ago.

Jeans background in science and teaching gives her an ability to transform complicated text and higher thinking concepts into a simple format which has been important for the capacity building of the Tenkile Conservation Alliance team. She has designed, produced and conducted various training programs including village drama, teacher training, natural resources management, project management, health (water / sanitation / hygiene / nutrition / HIV / family planning) and livestock husbandry. This has led to community engagement and mobilization among 42
villages and the local protection of nearly 100,000 hectares of rainforest.

Consequently, Jean was awarded the Future for Nature Award in 2010, The Age Magazine top 100 most influential and interesting people in 2010, Australian Geographic Conservationist of the year in 2013 and Telstra Business Women Award for Social and Purpose Enterprise in Victoria 2015. Jean now works from Australia where she manages all the administration, finances, governance, policy and planning activities for the Tenkile Conservation Alliance.

She also runs a Bed and Breakfast called ‘The Jungle Stays’ in the wet tropic’s world heritage area of far north Queensland is a conservation life coach and has her own consulting company.

Our presentation summary:
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 across the world, Tenkile Conservation Alliance (TCA) has changed the way we operate. We have built an online portal we call ‘Mother Nature’ which contains all of our data. All staff on the ground in Papua New Guinea (PNG) have access to a bespoke phone app we have called PAM Protected
Areas Monitoring’.

This app is designed for TCA staff and Rangers totalling 112 people to be engaged in the monitoring of their forests. They record everything they see – animal, plant, spirit, cultural area of significance and environmental damage. All of the data goes directly to the Mother Nature portal which is analysed and
mapped using Geo referencing. There is no need for ex-patriot staff to be on the ground leaving the organisation to be fully managed by local PNG staff.

The automated data analysis also means there is no need or dependency on external technical expertise from academia for data analysis. The mother nature system does the work for us providing instant results and graphics for on-the-go adaptive management.

Although the app is still in the initial stages, we have already received over 8,000 data entries in less than six months of field use. The app is proving to be fully inclusive and engaging amongst our staff with more apps to be built in the future.

For tickets/registration to the Oceania Ranger Forum go to:
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/.../oceania-ranger-forum...

01/08/2022

Next on the agenda is Gavin Bensemann with his presentation: Growing and innovating conservation awareness amongst our rangatahi (young people/younger generation)...

Gavin is a currently a Park Ranger for Auckland Council focusing on Education in the Waitakere Ranges. He has over 25 years of experience in the outdoor education and conservation space in New Zealand, in a variety of roles. From being an Outdoor Instructor, owning his own outdoor facilitation business and now being a Ranger. The importance of developing a connection to nature amongst youth is his driving passion.

Gavin specialises in programme development and bringing the outdoors alive, empowering youth to make change for the future, which he believes is something we can all find value in.

We are looking forward to meeting you Gavin :)

31/07/2022

It’s now time to reveal the other half of the MC team...and that would be me!! 😊

How cool has it been seeing all the World Ranger Day posts today? Commemorating the 150 rangers we lost this year and celebrating the amazing work rangers do towards preserving and protecting our natural and cultural values. I TOO, STAND BY RANGERS!

This year’s World Ranger Day theme is DIVERSITY: Rangers are no strangers to diversity. Which coincidently is the reason I love, and am proud, to call myself a ranger.

I get to work in some of the most beautiful and special places, with a bunch of amazing like-minded people, and partake in a variety of roles. As rangers we are truly Jack and Jill’s of all trades, masters/missus of none! One day is never the same and I certainly feel satisfied that I’m doing something worthwhile with my life.

From an early age, I had a strong desire to protect nature. Born in Aotearoa (New Zealand), the beautiful landscapes and wild countryside made an impression on me. When my family relocated to Australia, my curiosity for all creatures great and small grew immensely, with me pursuing a career as one of nature’s protectors.

For the last 25 years I have worked as a ranger with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS), passionate about protecting biodiversity and our special natural and cultural heritage.
But I’m even more passionate about supporting, promoting and protecting those—like me—wanting to be on the ‘frontline’ protecting nature.

So, in recent years I have put my hand up as Chair of the Queensland Rangers Association and since 2019, the Oceania representative for the International Ranger Federation and Chair of the Council of Oceania Ranger Associations.

Lots of long titles I know, but my main intention of taking on these roles has been to bring together Oceania Rangers to engage on common interests and opportunities, supporting one another, build cross-border friendships and share experiences.

I have driven and contributed to developing innovative ways to build on ranger skills, wisdom and resilience needed to thrive in our chosen careers. As one of the main drivers of the inaugural Oceania Ranger Forum, I’m excited to see an array of ranger professionals and conservation workers come together to discuss common topics and concerns. By bringing a diverse and dynamic team together is going to make a positive impact on the natural, cultural and recreational resources and places within the Oceania region.

I truly believe, that by connecting personally and sharing experiences and knowledge with like-minded people, will enhance one’s professional and personal development, not to mention the tools and skills you pick up from colleagues. The connections alone, could potentially make a dramatic impact on your career.

The Oceania Ranger Forum is the first of its kind, with the theme of ‘Inclusive Conservation’ flowing on from this year’s World Ranger Day theme.

The theme is about ensuring that a ‘diverse’ and/or combination of visions/expertise and personnel are needed to achieve effective socially relevant, economically productive and environmentally sustainable outcomes.

It’s not too late to get the early bird fee of $150AUD (until midnight tonight), otherwise we still have plenty of tickets at full price for $180.00AUD.

And please join Aubrey and I Thursday night 10pm Melbourne time for the Ranger Roundtable webinar to discuss how we are embracing diversity in our Oceania Ranger Forum.

I look forward to meeting you in Rotorua :)

HAPPY WORLD RANGERS DAY…Jolene Nelson

Oh and one last shout out...to Amanda Dudgeon as she starts her amazing adventure Walking the Thin Green Line...Good luck you little champion, you are very inspirational! See you next week in Queensland :)