The Central Land Council will celebrate the opening of a new ranger hub in Kintore / Walungurru this Wednesday.
The Walungurru Rangers, community residents, members of the Central Western Desert Indigenous Protected Area sub-committee and CLC staff will open the hub at 11am with a celebration including purlapa (ceremonial dancing) and ribbon-cutting, followed by a barbecue and cake.
The hub replaces the group's modest current operational base, a small green garden shed.
The new facility has been purpose-built for the ranger program and will support CLC meetings. It includes a large shed and an office for up to 20 people, shade structures for outdoor meetings, an external toilet block and a barbecue area.
Central Land council chief executive Les Turner said the new hub is "a game changer for the Walungurru Rangers and the Kintore community".
"From humble beginnings in a small garden shed to this customised ranger hub, it's a testament to what can be achieved when communities, traditional owners and organisations work together. The rangers have earned this space through their hard work and dedication," he said.
Pintupi Homelands Health Service supported the establishment of the ranger group.
Health Service board of directors member Marlene Spencer said the new ranger office means rangers have a suitable place for their equipment, shovels and swags.
"They now have a place to get ready for their bush trips," she said.
Formed in 2019 with a grant from the 10 Deserts project, the ranger group includes four women and one male ranger, with three more male rangers joining soon.
Walungurru ranger Camilla Young said her people have been looking after country for generations.
"We are just following our grandmother and grandfather's footprints. My grandmother would take me out bush and teach me how to look after country," she said.
"Now, with the ranger program, we can keep teaching young ones how to look after country. They can get a job as a ranger," said Ms Young.
Michael Wheeler said he and his fellow rangers have "been waiting a long time for this".
"Many, many years. We now have a washing machine, toilets, and a big place to sleep. Other ranger groups now have room to stay when they visit," he said.
The hub allows the rangers to keep working with their colleagues from the Anangu Luritjiku Rangers from Papunya, the Katiti Petermann Indigenous Protected Area, the Warlpiri Rangers and the Kiwirrkurra Rangers from Western Australia.
