Meet Doug Taylor and Dale Campbell, both Park Rangers in the Tjoritja-West Macdonnell National Park.
As Arrertne people, Dale and Doug both have a deep cultural connection to this region. Dale shares that as a “born and bred Alice Springs local, working out on Tjoritja-West McDonald National Park is a privilege because I'm working out on my Country, my family's country. It’s the best."
Sharing feelings of pride to be caring for Country and walking the pathways of their ancestors Doug says, “I’m an Arrertne person, so for me this is ancestral Country. As a ranger, it’s great that I can work on the Country of my ancestors, and at the same time exchange that knowledge with visitors, the significance of the ranges, because there’s so many important sites through here and along the trail.”
Based at spectacular Simpsons Gap, they manage a section of the world-famous Larapinta Trail. The 223km trail is divided into twelve sections that each take one or two days to complete. It stretches from Mparntwe (Alice Springs) to Rwetyepme (Mt Sonder). Dale tells us that “hundreds and hundreds of hikers come through the trail every year now. It’s one of the most spectacular hiking trails here in Australia. It gives you the whole overview of what the West Macdonnell Ranges are all about.”
Dale explains some of the work that the Ranger team does to maintain the trails and safety of walkers, as well as show us some of the incredible plants in bloom in the desert. “As you can see the country’s quite dry right now. Well up to 40°C, sometimes 50°C summer days. Being a park ranger, we provide water to the Lara-trail tanks, service the toilet blocks, even provide assistance for hikers that are injured. We also provide a bit of knowledge of the place. Giving education to them is one of the key things.”
Dale shows us the resurrection fern Cheilanthes lasiophylla. “After any bit of moisture that we get in Central Australia, the resurrection fern fingers will open and come back to life. After the moisture dries up, they eventually curl back up and go back to sleep.” Doug shows us an Eremophila freelingii in which “the honeyeaters have extracted all the nectar out” of the flowers.
People travel to Alice Springs from all over the world to experience not just the physical challenge of the hike, but also the spiritual connection to this ancient landscape. The plants, animals, waterholes and rock formations found here are deeply significant to the creation stories of the Arrernte people, including parts of the Akngwelye and Yeperenye Altyerre (Wild Dog and Caterpillar) dreaming stories.
"Our rangers' role is very, very diverse and different. It's so good for us as work, because we're not just doing one thing, we're doing lots of different things. Things like fire management, weed management, as well looking after the trail. It's a fantastic role and I feel very fortunate to be doing it” says, Doug. “Also, for our young people here, they have opportunities to be rangers. That’s what we want, we want our young people to work the country of their ancestors and feel good about it because this is their home. What better place to come to work, I mean – what an office!”
Featured Plants:
WOOLLY CLOAK-FERN - Cheilanthes lasiophylla
ROCK FUCHSIA BUSH - Eremophila freelingii
ROCK FIG - Ficus brachypoda
BLACK-FOOTED ROCK-WALLABY - Petrogale lateralis
SPEARWOOD - Pandorea doratoxylon
RIVER RED GUM - Eucalyptus camaldulensis
