Four Hope Vale locals with family ties to the Lama Lama people have begun work as rangers with Yintjingga Aboriginal Corporation thanks to the support of the Hope Vale Community Development Program.
Marcus Bowen, Levi Flinders and Dylan and Harold Nipper have now joined the team undertaking land management works in the Lama Lama National Park, 300km north-west of Cooktown.
The rangers’ work also includes assessing and documenting the natural and cultural values and managing and implementing key environmental activities.
In 2008, Lama Lama National Park became Queensland’s first jointly managed protected area. It is managed by the Lama Lama Land Trust and state government.
The country is managed in a way that recognises the importance of the country to the Traditional Owners, while being driven by biodiversity conservation based on the keystone that natural and cultural values are inseparable.
The new employees will further strengthen the workforce undertaking this work.
The Hope Vale Community Development team supported the four men to apply, assisted with transport to Cooktown and prepared them for successful face-to-face interviews and later with transport to Cairns for their inductions.
This article appeared in Cape York Weekly, 10 August 2021.
