Working with Wadawurrung on Dja

Ranger Diary by Conservation Leading Hand Kim Hammond

As a conservation worker, I never know what to expect from each day. Most of the time, I’m busy managing weeds by different methods. But last week was special. I had the chance to work with the Wadawurrung’s Natural Resource Management team on their land, Dja (Country), at Kurrak Panyul (Point Impossible).

This area is important for the Wadawurrung people and their history. It’s also home to many animals and plants, including:

- The Karaaf wetlands, which are protected by an international treaty and host many birds that fly from far away places

- The Hooded Plover, a rare bird that nests on the beach and had two chicks this season

Our team of seven from Torquay to Apollo Bay joined the Wadawurrung team of five for three days. We worked together to remove the Italian Buckthorn, a weed that grows in the dunes. We covered a lot of ground and made the area healthier for the native species.

But we did more than just weed control. We also talked, shared stories and learned from each other. We formed a close bond that we want to keep growing. The Wadawurrung team invited us to join them for an ecological burn, a technique we haven’t used before. We were excited to learn more about their way of caring for the land.