Scott Herring, who tragically passed away earlier this year, arrived in the Kimberley as a teacher in 1995.

Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Culture Centre chief executive Peter Murray remembers him arriving at the remote community where Mr Murray and his family had grown up, and gradually learning a way of life far removed from his own.

Locals taught Mr Herring how to hunt, gather, and read the desert. He took it all in.

"When non-Indigenous people come out to the community, we share our values, and they earn that respect from the elders," Mr Murray said.

"He was one of the blokes that really earned that respect culturally."

Mr Herring did not expect respect just for showing up. He earned it over years, building trust with Elders and families, and learning from those whose land he called home.

Across his 30-year career in the Kimberley region, he worked at multiple Aboriginal corporations not only as a teacher, but as a mentor, organiser and a ranger co-ordinator. This included the Walalakoo Aboriginal Corporation, the Nyikina Mangala Rangers, KALACC, the Yiriman Project, and most recently with Parna Ngururrpa Aboriginal Corporation.

As Mr Herring moved into ranger programs across the Kimberley, his reputation grew.

"He gained more respect, regionally," Mr Murray said.

Mr Murray and his brother, KALACC support officer for Lore and culture Terry Murray, invited friends and family of Mr Herring to the recent Mindi Rardi Festival in Fitzroy Crossing, where Mr Herring was honoured through speeches and a reverent silence.

His longtime friend and colleague, Ewan Noakes, described him as having a gift for communicating with kids.

"He was just a rare, unique and really good person," Mr Noakes said.

Mr Murray echoed Mr Noakes' sentiment, saying, "He knew what to expect, and how to teach the kids, but also how to look at it on another level."

"Not just in the classroom, but out on country, you know, with the Yirriman Project.

"He was loved by Fitzroy Crossing community members."