New Sea Rangers Base Opens At Dungeness

Opening ceremony of the new facilities at Dungeness. Photo source: Facebook  

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Community members, Traditional Owners, partner organisations and local supporters gathered at Lucinda on Saturday 6th June to celebrate the official opening of the new Dungeness Sea Rangers Base.

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Hosted by Girringun Aboriginal Corporation, the community open day marked an important milestone for the organisation's Sea Rangers program, which plays a significant role in marine conservation, research, cultural stewardship and environmental protection across the Girringun Nation.

Located at Dungeness, the new base has been established with support from the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, providing expanded facilities to support ranger operations and future growth.

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Girringun Aboriginal Corporation CEO Whitney Rassip said the new facility represented much more than a building.

"This really means a lot to us. The Dungeness Sea Ranger Base isn’t just a building, it’s a place for our people, our culture, and looking after land and sea country the way our old people always have.

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"We are creating a space to expand our sea country operations, open opportunities for our Traditional Owner groups and allow better access to our southern and inland management footprints.

"This day is about pride, honouring our Elders, and the future we’re building together."

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The event also highlighted the work undertaken through TUMRA (Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements), which supports the sustainable management of protected marine species and contributes to important research and monitoring programs throughout the Hinchinbrook region.

Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation CEO Joe Morrison said the organisation was proud to support the project.

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"The new Dungeness Sea Rangers Base will support the Girringun rangers to fulfill their innate responsibility to care, protect and manage Country."

Among those attending the opening were volunteers from the Lucinda Coast Guard, who congratulated the Sea Rangers on the milestone and welcomed opportunities for future collaboration on the water.

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The Coast Guard acknowledged the Rangers' important role in providing stewardship of the traditional lands and waters around Hinchinbrook and the Palm Islands, while working alongside organisations including Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to protect local marine environments.

Volunteers also highlighted the pathways the Rangers create for young Indigenous people to gain recognised skills, qualifications and employment opportunities while remaining connected to Country.

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Lucinda Coast Guard members said they looked forward to working alongside the Sea Rangers in the future through joint training exercises, on-water operations and search and rescue activities, strengthening partnerships between local organisations dedicated to protecting the region's waterways and supporting the community.

This spirit of cooperation was a fitting reflection of the day itself, which celebrated not only a new facility, but also the partnerships, cultural knowledge and shared commitment that will help guide the future of land and sea management across the Girringun Nation.

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