World Female Ranger Week (June 23–30) is a time to honour the strength, skill and spirit of the women who protect, heal and lead on Country. In the Northern Territory, First Nations women rangers are not just part of the story; they are the backbone of it. They are scientists, knowledge holders, fire managers, educators and cultural custodians.
From the saltwater to the stone country, they walk the songlines their grandmothers taught them, and they bring that wisdom into every patrol, every burn, every classroom, every map. This isn't work they do for recognition. They do it for Country. For community. For culture.
Across the NT, women rangers are managing fire the old way; cool burns, early in the dry season, led by knowledge that predates Western science. They're monitoring threatened species, removing invasive weeds, and running Junior Ranger programs to pass it all on. They're doing the hard work — and the heart work — every day.
These women are the cultural and environmental protectors of our time. Their leadership ensures language is spoken, children are raised with pride, and Country is cared for the way it should be.
Two stories follow, each from a different part of the Northern Territory, but bound by the same strength. Not just case studies; they are proof of what happens when First Nations women are given the tools and trust to lead.
Take Eslyn Wauchope, a Senior Ranger with the Garngi Rangers on Croker Island in West Arnhem Land. Recently, her team worked with Border Force to locate and report illegal fishers camping in a remote creek. For Eslyn, ranger work is about protecting Country, learning from Elders, and teaching the next generation. Her duties include patrolling the sea for illegal fishing, marine species monitoring, ghost net removal, fire management, and controlling feral animals and weeds. Eslyn takes pride in combining traditional knowledge with modern conservation to keep Country strong and ensure the land and sea are cared for the right way.
And Theresa Lemon, a Senior Ranger with the Malak Malak Rangers at Daly River and the first Indigenous woman to become a Fisheries Inspector. She works closely with Charles Darwin University to monitor the critically endangered sawfish population. Theresa also leads cultural activities for women and children, sharing knowledge on bush tucker, weaving, and caring for Country. Her ranger duties include fire management, feral animal control, and weed removal. A role model in her community, Theresa blends science with culture, empowering others to protect land and waterways through connection, education, and leadership on Country.
Their stories are not one-offs; they are the blueprint.
When First Nations women are empowered to lead on Country, entire communities thrive. Children grow up seeing their mothers, aunties and sisters in positions of strength. Culture is protected. Biodiversity is restored. Futures are built from the ground up, rooted in knowledge that has stood the test of time.
This World Female Ranger Week, we don't just celebrate their work; we back it, we invest in it, and we elevate it. Because when you stand behind First Nations women rangers in the Northern Territory, you're not just protecting land.
You're protecting life, legacy, and a future where Country is strong because our women are leading the way.
